How to decode a 1988 Ford Escort VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Ford Escort VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle and provides specific information about it. The WMI for a 1988 Ford Escort, designated as “1FA,” reveals that the vehicle was made by Ford Motor Company, headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. These initial digits are part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), serving to detail the manufacturer’s identity, the vehicle type, and the country of assembly. In the case of this Ford Escort, the “1FA” indicates it is a passenger car produced by Ford in the U.S. Understanding the WMI is crucial for registering a vehicle, tracking its history, and identifying specifications or recalls.
List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Ford Escort
WMI: 1FA
- Model Years Covered: 1984, 1986, 1988-1999
- Example VIN: 1FAPP9596JW387048
- 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 1988 Ford Escort 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 Ford Escort:
| Known VDS for a 1988 Ford Escort | ||
|---|---|---|
| PP959 | PP209 | PP909 |
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 Ford Escort 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 Ford Escort VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| J | 1988 |
11th Character in the 1988 Ford Escort VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1988 Ford Escort Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T | Edison | New Jersey | United States | 1FAPP2097JT164114 | |
| W | Wayne | Michigan | United States | 1FAPP9596JW387048 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Ford Escort
The final 6 characters in a 1988 Ford Escort’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Ford Escort’s VIN below:
How to find a 1988 Ford Escort’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1988 Ford Escort is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1988 Ford Escort, the VIN should be visible through the windshield.
- Open the driver’s side door to find the VIN on the door jamb area, it may be on a sticker or a plate where the door latches.
- Inspect the engine block for the VIN as it’s sometimes stamped onto the engine itself in older vehicles like the Ford Escort.
- Check the vehicle’s registration documents, insurance papers, or title, as these documents often record the VIN.
- Examine the rear wheel well above the tire; in some models, the VIN might be found in this unusual spot.
- Look beneath the spare tire in the trunk area or hatchback of the 1988 Ford Escort, as sometimes the VIN is located there.
What info can a 1988 Ford Escort VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, suggesting that it may be from the 1988 model year, offering insights into its age and potential market value.
- Vehicle Type and Body Class: The VIN might indicate that the vehicle is a Passenger Car with a body class of Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback, giving detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Engine Details: Key engine specifications such as a 1.9-liter displacement, Inline configuration, and a horsepower starting from 90 can possibly be revealed. The engine might be manufactured by Ford.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for this vehicle is reported to be Gasoline, which could provide insight into the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
- Production Details: Manufacturing details often include the production country, city, and state, such as the United States, Edison, New Jersey, respectively.
- Restraint and Safety Features: Information like the presence of manual and automatic seat belts, along with other restraint systems like Passive Belts (front)/ Active Belts (rear), can generally be identified.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): It typically categorizes the vehicle within Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less), indicating its weight classification and potential usage.
Don’t have your 1988 Ford Escort’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Ford Escort
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback |
| Displacement (CC) | 1900.89942400 |
| Displacement (CI) | 116.00 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.9 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 90 |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| 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 | Escort |
| Model Year | 1988 |
| Other Engine Info | Central fuel injection |
| Other Restraint System Info | Passive Belts (front)/ Active Belts (rear) |
| Plant City | Edison |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | New Jersey |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual and Automatic |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1FAPP909*JT |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1FAPP9091JT217222 |
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