How to decode a 1991 Mazda Protege VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1991 Mazda Protege VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), representing critical information about the vehicle’s origin. Specifically, it identifies the manufacturer’s name, the vehicle type, and the location of manufacture. For a 1991 Mazda Protege, the WMI “JM1” signifies that it was produced by Mazda Motor Corporation, designated as a passenger car, and manufactured in Hiroshima, Japan, within the Hiroshima Prefecture. This precise WMI code is essential for vehicle identification, allowing for the retrieval of detailed manufacturing data and ensuring the validation of the vehicle’s authenticity. Understanding the WMI is crucial for vehicle registration, identification, and regulatory compliance.
List of WMI Codes for a 1991 Mazda Protege
WMI: JM1
- Model Years Covered: 1991-2003
- Example VIN: JM1BG2240M0272179
- Manufacturer Name: Mazda Motor Corporation
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Hiroshima
- State or Province: Hiroshima Prefecture
- Country: Japan
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1991 Mazda Protege VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 1991 Mazda Protege:
| Known VDS for a 1991 Mazda Protege | |
|---|---|
| BG224 | BG226 |
Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.
Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 1991 Mazda Protege VIN.
Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.
10th Character in the 1991 Mazda Protege VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| M | 1991 |
11th Character in the 1991 Mazda Protege VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1991 Mazda Protege Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Hiroshima | Japan | Mazda Motor Corporation | JM1BG2240M0272179 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1991 Mazda Protege
The final 6 characters in a 1991 Mazda Protege’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1991 Mazda Protege’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1991 Mazda Protege is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Mazda Protege; the VIN is typically located here and can be seen through the windshield.
- Look at the door frame or door post of the driver’s side door of your Mazda Protege, as the VIN is often found on a label or sticker where the door latches when it is closed.
- Check under the hood of the Mazda Protege to find the VIN on the front of the engine block which is sometimes stamped directly onto the metal.
- Inspect the rear wheel well of the Mazda Protege; sometimes the VIN can be found above the tire on the frame.
- Examine the trunk area of your Mazda Protege, especially underneath the spare tire, where a VIN label or sticker might be present.
What info can a 1991 Mazda Protege VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, possibly indicating this vehicle is from the year 1991, offering insights into its age and potential market value.
- Body Class and Size: The VIN may indicate the body class and size of the vehicle, possibly identifying it as a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, providing insight into its design and capacity.
- Engine Specifications: Details about the engine are specified, including the model being BPE, with a displacement ranging from 1835.35 CC (or 1.835 L) and operating between 103 to 113 brake horsepower, indicating the vehicle’s potential power capacity.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for this vehicle is Gasoline, possibly offering relevant information for fuel economy considerations.
- Manufacturing Information: The VIN decodes to reveal the vehicle was possibly manufactured in Hiroshima, Japan by Mazda Motor Corporation, possibly offering insight into the production origin and quality standards of the vehicle.
- Safety and Restraint Systems: Information such as the presence of passive belts and manual seat belt type is possibly encoded in the VIN, providing insights into potential safety features.
- Vehicle Identification: Specific details like the engine number of cylinders being 4 may mark significant identifiers that can possibly aid in understanding the performance and maintenance expectations of the vehicle.
Don’t have your 1991 Mazda Protege’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1991 Mazda Protege
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 1835.351168 |
| Displacement (CI) | 112 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.835351168 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 103 |
| Engine Brake (hp) To | 113 |
| Engine Model | BPE |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | Protege |
| Model Year | 1991 |
| Other Restraint System Info | PASSIVE BELT |
| Plant City | Hiroshima |
| Plant Company Name | Mazda Motor Corporation |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JM1BG224*M0 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | JM1BG2240M0272179 |
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