How to decode a 1988 Buick Regal VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Buick Regal VIN
World Manufacturer Identifiers (WMIs) are unique codes assigned to every vehicle manufacturer globally, serving as an integral part of a vehicle’s identification number (VIN). Each WMI distinctly identifies the manufacturer, guaranteeing that no two vehicles made by different producers share the same initial sequence in their VINs. For instance, the 1988 Buick Regal, a passenger car manufactured by General Motors LLC in Warren, Michigan, USA, bears the WMI “2G4.” This specific WMI provides details about the vehicle, implying its manufacture by General Motors in the United States, particularly focused on passenger vehicles. WMIs such as “2G4” are essential for regulatory compliance, vehicle tracking, and ensuring the authenticity of the vehicle’s origin.
List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Buick Regal
WMI: 2G4
- Model Years Covered: 1988-2004, 2011-2017
- Example VIN: 2G4WB14W9J1493106
- 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 1988 Buick Regal 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 1988 Buick Regal:
| Known VDS for a 1988 Buick Regal | |
|---|---|
| WB14W | WD14W |
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 1988 Buick Regal 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 1988 Buick Regal VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| J | 1988 |
11th Character in the 1988 Buick Regal VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1988 Buick Regal Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshawa #2 | Ontario | Canada | 2G4WB14W9J1493106 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Buick Regal
The final 6 characters in a 1988 Buick Regal’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Buick Regal’s VIN below:
How to find a 1988 Buick Regal’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1988 Buick Regal is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1988 Buick Regal. The VIN should be viewable from outside the vehicle, just below the windshield on the driver’s side.
- Check the door frame on the driver’s side of your Buick Regal for a sticker with the VIN when you open the door, typically located where the door latches (door jamb).
- Look under the hood of the 1988 Buick Regal; the VIN might be stamped on the engine block or on a plaque attached to the strut tower or firewall.
- Inspect the trunk area of your Buick Regal for a VIN stamp or label, which could be found under the spare tire or on the trunk lid.
- Consult the vehicle’s title, registration, or insurance documents, as these will have the VIN listed for your Buick Regal.
What info can a 1988 Buick Regal VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1988, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Vehicle Specifications: The VIN decodes the vehicle as a Buick Regal Custom coupe with a V-Shaped 2.8-liter, six-cylinder engine, providing detailed mechanical information.
- Fuel Type: The VIN reveals that the vehicle uses Gasoline with a Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) system, indicating insights into the fuel system.
- Plant Information: The VIN encodes the manufacturing location as Oshawa #2, Ontario, Canada, offering specific details about where the vehicle was assembled.
- Safety Features: The VIN indicates the presence of Automatic seat belt type, giving a glimpse into the safety specifications of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Doors: The VIN specifies the body class as a Coupe with 2 doors, providing insights into the vehicle’s design and structural attributes.
- Engine Manufacturer: The VIN notes the engine manufacturer as CPC, which can be crucial for identifying the origin and manufacturer-specific engineering behind the vehicle’s powertrain.
Don’t have your 1988 Buick Regal’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Buick Regal
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Coupe |
| Displacement (CC) | 2800.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 170.86648346525 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.8 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | CPC |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | Regal |
| Model Year | 1988 |
| Plant City | Oshawa #2 |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Canada |
| Plant State | Ontario |
| Seat Belt Type | Automatic |
| Trim | Custom |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 2G4WB14W*J1 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 2G4WB14W9J1493106 |
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