How to decode a 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial sequence of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which uniquely identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer, its type, and the country of manufacturing. For the 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van, the WMI codes “1GC” for trucks and “1GN” for Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles (MPV) signify that these vehicles were manufactured by General Motors LLC in Warren, Michigan, United States. These WMIs ensure that the Chevrolet Astro Van’s origin and vehicle type can be immediately recognized, providing crucial information for registration, service, and historical research purposes. Each WMI is specific to the manufacturer and often to the vehicle type, making it an essential tool for tracking the automotive industry’s vast array of products.
List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van
WMI: 1GC
- Model Years Covered: 1986-1992, 1994-2005
- Example VIN: 1GCDM15Z2JB253569
- Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Warren
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States WMI: 1GN
- Model Years Covered: 1987-2005
- Example VIN: 1GNDM15Z8JB201354
- Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Warren
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van 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 Chevrolet Astro Van:
| Known VDS for a 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van |
|---|
| DM15Z |
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 Chevrolet Astro Van 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 Chevrolet Astro Van VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| J | 1988 |
11th Character in the 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | Baltimore | Maryland | United States | Na-Truck Platform | 1GCDM15Z2JB253569 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van
The final 6 characters in a 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Chevrolet Astro Van’s VIN below:
How to find a 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet Astro Van. The VIN is usually located here and can be seen through the windshield.
- Open the driver’s side door and inspect the door pillar (the door jamb area). The VIN should be on a sticker or plate where the door latches when it is closed.
- Examine the engine block. Your Chevrolet Astro Van’s VIN can sometimes be found stamped on the engine itself.
- Check the frame of the vehicle. Sometimes the VIN might be located on the chassis, near the windshield washer container.
- Look at the vehicle’s title, registration, or insurance papers where the VIN of your Chevrolet Astro Van will be listed.
What info can a 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van 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.
- Body Class and Size: The VIN can provide information about the body class, indicating the vehicle’s overall size and intended usage. For example, it may suggest that the vehicle is a Van, offering insights into its design and functionality.
- Engine Specifications: Detailed engine information, such as the V-Shaped configuration, displacement measurements (in CC, CI, and L), and the fact that it’s a 6-cylinder engine manufactured by CPC, can be encapsulated within the VIN, providing valuable insights into the vehicle’s power and performance potential.
- Fuel System and Type: The VIN can reveal the type of fuel system used by the vehicle, for example, Gasoline with a Throttle Body Fuel Injection (TBI) system, highlighting the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and potential performance characteristics.
- Drive Type and Weight Class: It can indicate the drive type, such as 4x2, and categorize the vehicle within a weight class, such as Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb, offering insights into the vehicle’s handling and capability.
- Manufacturing Details: The VIN can unveil manufacturing specifics such as the Plant City (Baltimore), Plant Country (United States), and State (Maryland), providing clues about production origin which can affect parts availability and vehicle value.
- Safety and Design Features: While not explicitly outlined in every VIN, certain digits can imply safety standards compliance and design features, such as inclusion in the Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle category, hinting at versatility and design intentions concerning passenger conveyance and safety.
Don’t have your 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Chevrolet Astro Van
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Van |
| Brake System Type | Hydraulic |
| Displacement (CC) | 4300.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 262.40209960734 |
| Displacement (L) | 4.3 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | CPC |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Throttle Body Fuel Injection (TBI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
| Model | Astro Van |
| Model Year | 1988 |
| Other Engine Info | 90 Degree |
| Plant City | Baltimore |
| Plant Company Name | NA-Truck Platform |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Maryland |
| Series | Small Van |
| Trim2 | 1/2 ton nominal |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1GNDM15Z*JB |
| Vehicle Type | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle |
| Sample_VIN | 1GNDM15Z8JB201354 |
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