How to decode a 2004 Buick Century VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2004 Buick Century VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle and provides insight into where it was built and its type. The WMI for the 2004 Buick Century, “2G4,” reveals that this passenger car is manufactured by General Motors LLC in Warren, Michigan, United States. Specifically, the first digit “2” indicates that the vehicle was manufactured in North America. The subsequent characters, “G4,” are assigned to General Motors for specific models, in this case, the Buick Century. This identification system is critical for recognizing vehicle specifications and origins, making the WMI an integral part of a vehicle’s identification.

List of WMI Codes for a 2004 Buick Century

WMI: 2G4

Model Years Covered: 1997-2005
Example VIN: 2G4WS52J041157816
Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Warren
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2004 Buick Century 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 2004 Buick Century:

Known VDS for a 2004 Buick Century
WS52J	WS55J

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 2004 Buick Century 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 2004 Buick Century VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
4	2004

11th Character in the 2004 Buick Century VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2004 Buick Century Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
1	Oshawa #2	Ontario	Canada		2G4WS52J041157816

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2004 Buick Century

The final 6 characters in a 2004 Buick Century’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

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How to find a 2004 Buick Century’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2004 Buick Century is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Buick Century, specifically near where the dashboard meets the windshield. The VIN should be visible from outside the vehicle.
Open the driver’s door and examine the door pillar (the door jamb area). The VIN can often be found on a sticker or plate where the door latches when closed.
Check the engine bay. The VIN may be stamped onto the engine block or mounted on a plate in the engine compartment of the 2004 Buick Century.
Review your vehicle’s documentation such as the title, registration, or insurance papers, which will always list the VIN for your Buick Century.
Inspect the trunk area. Sometimes the VIN might be located under the spare tire, or on the trunk lid or the compartment’s area walls.
Peek beneath the spare tire. Occasionally, Buick Century models may have the VIN stamped in the metal or on a sticker where the spare tire is stored.

What info can a 2004 Buick Century VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can indicate the vehicles model year, potentially pointing towards a 2004 Buick Century, providing insights into the age and potential technology of the vehicle.
Engine Specifications: Detailed information about the engine, such as it possibly being a 3.1L V-Shaped with Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI) system and potentially having six cylinders, may offer insights into the vehicle’s performance and fuel efficiency.
Safety Features: The presence of front airbags for both the driver and passenger, and side airbags for the driver seat only, could be inferred from the VIN, potentially illustrating the vehicle’s commitment to safety.
Fuel Type: Understanding a vehicle possibly utilizes Gasoline as its primary fuel from the VIN may assist in evaluating fuel economy and environmental impact.
Manufacturing Details: The VIN decodes to reveal the vehicle was possibly manufactured in Oshawa #2, Ontario, Canada, potentially providing background on its origin and possibly influencing its build quality.
Body Class and Size: Information that the vehicle is classified as a Sedan/Saloon with four doors and windows could aid in painting a picture of its size, physical layout, and capacity.
Additional Features: Details like the vehicle possibly having a manual seat belt type and an indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) type could offer deeper insights into the vehicle’s equipment and safety technology.

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2004 Buick Century

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	3100.0
Displacement (CI)	189.17360669367
Displacement (L)	3.1
Doors	4
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Model	LG8
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Model	Century
Model Year	2004
Other Engine Info	Name Plate: Buick
Plant City	Oshawa #2
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Canada
Plant State	Ontario
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	Custom
Side Air Bag Locations	Driver Seat Only
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Indirect
Vehicle Descriptor	2G4WS55J*41
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Windows	4
Sample_VIN	2G4WS55J041176605