How to decode a 1988 Dodge Ram Van VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Dodge Ram Van VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), critical for identifying the vehicle manufacturer, type, and the location of manufacturing. The WMI “2B7” is specifically associated with Dodge Ram-Van models manufactured by FCA Canada Inc. in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. This designation covers Dodge Ram-Van models produced in the years from 1981 and 1983 to 2002. The provided WMI denotes that the vehicle is categorized under trucks, clarifying the vehicle’s primary purpose and design intention. This identifier is essential for vehicle registration, identification, and in tracking the history and recalls associated with the vehicle.
List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Dodge Ram Van
WMI: 2B7
- Model Years Covered: 1981, 1983-2002
- Example VIN: 2B7GB13XXJK159793
- Manufacturer Name: FCA Canada Inc.
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Windsor
- State or Province: Ontario
- Country: Canada
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1988 Dodge Ram 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 Dodge Ram Van:
| Known VDS for a 1988 Dodge Ram Van | |
|---|---|
| GB13X | HB23Y |
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 Dodge Ram 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 Dodge Ram Van VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| J | 1988 |
11th Character in the 1988 Dodge Ram Van VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1988 Dodge Ram Van Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | Windsor | Ontario | Canada | Pillette Road Assembly | 2B7GB13XXJK159793 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Dodge Ram Van
The final 6 characters in a 1988 Dodge Ram Van’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Dodge Ram Van’s VIN below:
How to find a 1988 Dodge Ram Van’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1988 Dodge Ram Van is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1988 Dodge Ram Van, which is a common place to find the VIN. It is typically visible from the outside through the bottom corner of the windshield.
- Look at the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Dodge Ram Van. The VIN might be on a label or a sticker where the door latches when closed.
- Check the engine block of the Dodge Ram Van, as the VIN is sometimes stamped onto the engine itself.
- Inspect the frame beneath the vehicle, the VIN may be stamped on the chassis of the Dodge Ram Van, particularly in an area close to the front.
- Look at your vehicle’s registration, insurance, and service records. The VIN for your Dodge Ram Van will be listed on these legal and service documents.
What info can a 1988 Dodge Ram Van VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating its age and potential market value, possibly being from the year 1988.
- Vehicle Type and Body Class: It can disclose the vehicle type, like a Truck, and the body class, such as a Cargo Van, providing insights into the functionality and design of the vehicle.
- Engine Details: Information on the engine, including its configuration (V-Shaped), displacement (3.9 liters or 3900.0 cc), and horsepower (starting from 125 hp), is commonly revealed, giving an idea of the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
- Fuel Type: The VIN usually specifies the primary fuel type the vehicle uses; in this case, it may run on Gasoline, indicating potential fuel efficiency and compatibility with fuel types.
- Manufacturing Information: Details about the manufacturing, such as the Plant City (Windsor), Plant Country (Canada), and the specific Plant Company Name (Pillette Road Assembly), are often encoded, providing a backstory on where and by whom the vehicle was built.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: The VIN can specify the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, placing this vehicle in Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg), which can help in understanding the vehicle’s size and capacity limits.
- Safety Features: Basic safety features such as the type of seat belt (Manual) installed in the vehicle can be inferred, offering a glimpse into the safety standards and specifications of the vehicle at the time of manufacturing.
Don’t have your 1988 Dodge Ram Van’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Dodge Ram Van
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Cargo Van |
| Displacement (CC) | 3900.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 237.99260196945 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.9 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 125 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | CMC |
| Engine Model | 2 BBL |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
| Model | Ram Van |
| Model Year | 1988 |
| Plant City | Windsor |
| Plant Company Name | Pillette Road assembly |
| Plant Country | Canada |
| Plant State | Ontario |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Trim | B150 |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 2B7GB13X*JK |
| Vehicle Type | Truck |
| Sample_VIN | 2B7GB13XXJK159793 |
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