How to decode a 1996 Ford Contour VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1996 Ford Contour VIN
World Manufacturer Identifiers (WMIs) are unique codes used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle worldwide. For the 1996 Ford Contour, the WMI indicates that it was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in Mexico, specifically in Rioverde, S.L.P. This code, beginning with “3FA,” reveals crucial information about the vehicle’s origin, including the country, manufacturer name, and the specific type of vehicle, which in this case is a Passenger Car. The WMI is a vital component of a vehicle identification number (VIN), serving as a global standard for classifying vehicles. It provides a standardized way to describe and identify vehicles produced by different manufacturers around the world.
List of WMI Codes for a 1996 Ford Contour
WMI: 3FA
- Model Years Covered: 1995-1996, 1998-2000
- Example VIN: 3FALP6535TM129390
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company, Mexico
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Rioverde
- State or Province: S.L.P.
- Country: Mexico WMI: 1FA
- Model Years Covered: 1995-2000
- Example VIN: 1FALP65L7TK230129
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Dearborn
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1996 Ford Contour 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 1996 Ford Contour:
| Known VDS for a 1996 Ford Contour | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| LP653 | LP65L | LP66L | LP67L |
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 1996 Ford Contour 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 1996 Ford Contour VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| T | 1996 |
11th Character in the 1996 Ford Contour VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1996 Ford Contour Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | Kansas City | Missouri | United States | 1FALP65L7TK230129 | |
| M | Cuautitlan | State Of Mexico | Mexico | 3FALP6535TM129390 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1996 Ford Contour
The final 6 characters in a 1996 Ford Contour’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Ford Contour’s VIN below:
How to find a 1996 Ford Contour’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1996 Ford Contour is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1996 Ford Contour. You can usually see the VIN through the windshield on a metal plate.
- Examine the door frame on the driver’s side of the Ford Contour, as the VIN might be located on a sticker where the door latches when closed.
- Check the engine bay, as the VIN can also be stamped onto a part of the engine block or on a metal plate attached to the engine chassis in the Ford Contour.
- Inspect the trunk area of your Ford Contour; the VIN might be found under the trunk mat or on the spare tire wheel well.
- Review your vehicle’s registration documents, insurance papers, or title, where the VIN of your 1996 Ford Contour will be recorded.
What info can a 1996 Ford Contour VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1996, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Vehicle Type and Body Class: The VIN can specify that the vehicle is a Passenger Car with a body class of Sedan/Saloon, giving detailed insights into its design and structure.
- Engine Details: The VIN may provide specifications such as the engine manufacturer, engine configuration, and the number of cylinders. For example, it identifies an In-Line engine manufactured by Ford with 4 cylinders.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type a vehicle uses can be determined, with this specific example running on Gasoline.
- Safety Features: The VIN can indicate the presence and location of airbags, such as 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) front airbags.
- Production Location: Information regarding the manufacturing location, including the city, country, and sometimes the state, is often included. The Ford Contour example was manufactured in Cuautitlan, Mexico.
- Other Vehicle Specs: Additional detailed information, like displacement (in CC, CI, and L), horsepower, and specific seat belt types, can offer more comprehensive insights into a vehicle’s specifications.
Don’t have your 1996 Ford Contour’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1996 Ford Contour
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 2500.00 |
| Displacement (CI) | 152.559360236830 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.50 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Brake (hp) To | 170 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Model | Contour |
| Model Year | 1996 |
| Other Engine Info | Fuel Injection Type: Electronic Fuel Injection |
| Other Restraint System Info | Seat Belts: Active Belts( all designated positions with 3-point belts in all outboard positions) |
| Plant City | Cuautitlan |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Mexico |
| Plant State | State Of Mexico |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Trim | LX |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 3FALP66L*TM |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 3FALP66L8TM104207 |
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