How to decode a 1986 Buick Electra VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1986 Buick Electra VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique three-letter or digit sequence that forms the first part of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), pinpointing the vehicle’s manufacturer, country of origin, and vehicle type. For instance, the 1986 Buick Electra, produced by General Motors LLC, is encompassed under the WMI “1G4.” This particular sequence reveals that the vehicle was manufactured in the United States, specifically in Warren, Michigan. It further indicates it falls under the passenger car category, as per its registration details and manufacturing specifics. The WMI is a crucial component in the automotive industry, serving as a foundational identifier for vehicles worldwide.
List of WMI Codes for a 1986 Buick Electra
WMI: 1G4
- Model Years Covered: 1982-1984, 1986-1990
- Example VIN: 1G4CW69B2G1452308
- 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 1986 Buick Electra 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 1986 Buick Electra:
| Known VDS for a 1986 Buick Electra |
|---|
| CW69B |
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 1986 Buick Electra 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 1986 Buick Electra VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| G | 1986 |
11th Character in the 1986 Buick Electra VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1986 Buick Electra Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wentzville | Missouri | United States | Wentzville Assembly | 1G4CW69B2G1452308 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1986 Buick Electra
The final 6 characters in a 1986 Buick Electra’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Buick Electra’s VIN below:
How to find a 1986 Buick Electra’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1986 Buick Electra is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1986 Buick Electra. The VIN should be visible through the windshield on a plate mounted to the dashboard.
- Look at the door pillar on the driver’s side when you open the front door of your Buick Electra. There should be a VIN plate or sticker where the door latches.
- Check under the hood of your Electra for a VIN number, which may be located on the firewall or on a manufacturer’s label attached to the engine compartment.
- Inspect the trunk area. On some models, the VIN might be found on the trunk lid, in the trunk floor, or in the compartment where the spare tire is stored.
- Explore the frame of the Buick Electra; sometimes the VIN is stamped into the frame itself, which may be visible from under the vehicle. 6. Review your vehicle’s documentation, such as the title, registration, or insurance papers, where the VIN of your 1986 Buick Electra will be listed.
What info can a 1986 Buick Electra VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1986, which provides insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Engine Specifications: The VIN often contains details like the engine’s displacement (such as 3.8L or 3800CC), configuration (V-shaped), and the number of cylinders (in this scenario, 6), providing valuable insights into the vehicle’s performance and power.
- Fuel Type: Information on the primary fuel type the vehicle uses, which in this scenario is gasoline, can be decoded from the VIN, offering valuable details for potential buyers or mechanics.
- Vehicle Type and Body Class: The VIN can usually identify the vehicle’s type, such as a Passenger Car, as well as its body class, in this example, a Sedan/Saloon. This information can provide valuable insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Manufacturing Details: The VIN can disclose manufacturing specifics, such as the plant city (Wentzville), plant country (United States), and the manufacturing company’s name (Wentzville Assembly), providing valuable historical and production information about the vehicle.
- Safety Features: Available safety features like the type of seat belt (Manual in this instance) can also be encoded within the VIN, offering insights into the vehicle’s safety specifications.
- Engine Manufacturer: The VIN often includes the name of the engine manufacturer, which in this case is Buick, providing valuable information for understanding more about the vehicle’s engine characteristics.
Don’t have your 1986 Buick Electra’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1986 Buick Electra
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 3800.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 231.89022755998 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.8 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Buick |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | Electra |
| Model Year | 1986 |
| Plant City | Wentzville |
| Plant Company Name | Wentzville assembly |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Missouri |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1G4CW69B*G1 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1G4CW69B2G1452308 |
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