How to decode a 1998 Ford Contour VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Ford Contour VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is part of the initial sequence of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), specifically the first three characters, which indicates the vehicle’s manufacturer, country of manufacture, and vehicle type. For the 1998 Ford Contour, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, the relevant WMIs are “1FA” for vehicles produced in the United States and “3FA” for those manufactured in Mexico. These identifiers denote that the vehicle is a passenger car made by Ford, with “1FA” vehicles assembled in Dearborn, Michigan, USA, and “3FA” vehicles in Rioverde, S.L.P., Mexico. This distinction in WMI is essential for understanding where the vehicle was manufactured, its manufacturer, and its type, providing crucial information for regulations, standards, and tracking.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Ford Contour

WMI: 1FA

Model Years Covered: 1995-2000
Example VIN: 1FAFP68G1WK182658
Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Dearborn
State or Province: Michigan
Country: United States WMI: 3FA
Model Years Covered: 1995-1996, 1998-2000
Example VIN: 3FAFP66L1WM136692
Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company, Mexico
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Rioverde
State or Province: S.L.P.
Country: Mexico

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1998 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 1998 Ford Contour:

Known VDS for a 1998 Ford Contour
FP68G	FP663	FP66L	FP65Z	LP653	FP65L	FP653

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 1998 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 1998 Ford Contour VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
W	1998

11th Character in the 1998 Ford Contour VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 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		1FAFP68G1WK182658
M	Cuautitlan	State Of Mexico	Mexico		3FAFP66L1WM136692

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Ford Contour

The final 6 characters in a 1998 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 1998 Ford Contour’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 1998 Ford Contour is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Ford Contour. The VIN can typically be seen by looking through the windshield at the corner where it meets the dash.
Open the driver’s side door and inspect the door jamb on the Ford Contour. The VIN may be located on a decal or a metal plate where the door latches when closed.
Look in the trunk area of your Ford Contour. Sometimes, the VIN is also placed in the trunk under the spare tire or on the trunk’s hinge mechanism.
Examine the engine bay. The VIN might be stamped on the engine block or affixed to the firewall within the engine compartment of your 1998 Ford Contour.
Check your vehicle’s documentation. The VIN for your Ford Contour will also be listed on the vehicle’s registration documents, insurance papers, and the title.

What info can a 1998 Ford Contour VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 1998, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Vehicle Type and Body Class: The Ford Contour is classified as a Passenger Car with a Sedan/Saloon body style, offering insights into its general shape and utility.
Engine Specifications: The engine features a 2.0-liter displacement, an In-Line configuration, and is made by Ford with an output of 130 horsepower. It operates with a Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) valve train design and supports up to 4 cylinders.
Fuel Type: The vehicle runs on Gasoline as its primary fuel source, giving a glimpse into its efficiency and environmental impact.
Safety Features: Standard safety features include front airbags located in the 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) and manual seat belts, enhanced with 3-point belts in all outboard positions for added security.
Manufacturing Details: The Ford Contour was manufactured in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, suggesting the geographic origin of this specific vehicle model.
Vehicle Identification: The provided VIN, 1FALP6530WK140454, encodes crucial information about the vehicle, such as its specific model, engine type, and production details.

Don’t have your 1998 Ford Contour’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Ford Contour

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	2000.0
Displacement (CI)	122.04748818946
Displacement (L)	2.0
Doors	4
Engine Brake (hp) From	130
Engine Configuration	In-Line
Engine Manufacturer	Ford
Engine Number of Cylinders	4
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	1998
Other Engine Info	EFI
Other Restraint System Info	Seat Belts: 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
Series	LX
Trim	Sport
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	3FALP653*WM
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	3FALP6533WM108672