How to decode a 2000 Ford Contour VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2000 Ford Contour VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes distinctly identify the manufacturer and country of origin for vehicles. For the 2000 Ford Contour, two relevant WMIs highlight its production locations and affiliations. The WMI code “3FA” signifies Ford Motor Company’s vehicles produced in Rioverde, S.L.P., Mexico, marking them as passenger cars. Meanwhile, “1FA” is assigned to those manufactured in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, also underlining their classification as passenger cars. These WMIs form the initial segment of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), playing a crucial role in vehicle identification and tracking.

List of WMI Codes for a 2000 Ford Contour

WMI: 3FA

Model Years Covered: 1995-1996, 1998-2000
Example VIN: 3FAFP66L1YM112346
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: 1FAFP66L0YK136547
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 2000 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 2000 Ford Contour:

Known VDS for a 2000 Ford Contour
FP66L	FP663	FP66Z	FP68G

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 2000 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 2000 Ford Contour VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
Y	2000

11th Character in the 2000 Ford Contour VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2000 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		1FAFP66L0YK136547
M	Cuautitlan	State Of Mexico	Mexico		3FAFP66L1YM112346

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2000 Ford Contour

The final 6 characters in a 2000 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 2000 Ford Contour’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2000 Ford Contour is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Ford Contour 2000. Look through the bottom of the windshield for the VIN number on a metal plate.
Inspect the door jamb on the driver’s side door of your Ford Contour. There should be a VIN sticker or plate on the area where the door latches.
Look at the firewall of the vehicle’s engine compartment; the VIN may be stamped onto a plate in this area on the Ford Contour 2000.
Check any official documentation related to the vehicle, such as the title, registration, or insurance policy, which should all have the VIN listed for your Ford Contour.
Examine underneath the spare tire in the trunk; sometimes, the VIN is located in this area on a sticker or plate for additional verification on a Ford Contour 2000.

What info can a 2000 Ford Contour VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2000, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Engine Type: The VIN may offer details about the vehicle’s engine, such as a 2.0-liter engine by Ford with 4 cylinders and a minimum of 125 brake horsepower, giving a potential indication of the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
Fuel Type: It seems that the primary fuel type specified for the vehicle is gasoline, which can contribute to understanding the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
Safety Features: The VIN indicates the presence of front air bags for the 1st row (driver and passenger), possibly highlighting essential safety elements of the vehicle.
Body Class and Doors: The VIN can provide information on the body class, indicating that the vehicle is a Sedan/Saloon with four doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and capacity.
Manufacturing Location: The VIN suggests that the vehicle was assembled in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, potentially shedding light on the manufacturing standards associated with the vehicle’s production.
Vehicle Specifics: The VIN also discloses specific characteristics such as the model name “Contour,” series “SE,” and additional engine information such as “EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection,” providing a comprehensive look into the vehicle’s design and technological features.

Don’t have your 2000 Ford Contour’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2000 Ford Contour

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	2500.0
Displacement (CI)	152.55936023683
Displacement (L)	2.5
Doors	4
Engine Brake (hp) From	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	2000
Other Engine Info	EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection
Plant City	Kansas City
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	United States
Plant State	Missouri
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	SE
Valve Train Design	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Descriptor	1FAFP66L*YK
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	1FAFP66L0YK136547