How to decode a 1989 Ford Escort VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1989 Ford Escort VIN
WMIs, or World Manufacturer Identifiers, are unique codes assigned to every vehicle manufacturer and are integral to the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) system. The first three characters of a VIN, the WMI, identify the vehicle’s manufacturer, country of origin, and vehicle type. For example, 1989 Ford Escorts have a WMI starting with “1FA”, indicating that these vehicles were manufactured by Ford Motor Company in the United States, specifically in Dearborn, Michigan, and classified as passenger cars. These identifiers provide vital information for vehicle registration, identification, and tracking purposes, ensuring a global standardization for vehicle identification.
List of WMI Codes for a 1989 Ford Escort
WMI: 1FA
- Model Years Covered: 1984, 1986, 1988-1999
- Example VIN: 1FAPP9598KT183435
- 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 1989 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 1989 Ford Escort:
| Known VDS for a 1989 Ford Escort | ||
|---|---|---|
| PP959 | PP93J | 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 1989 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 1989 Ford Escort VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| K | 1989 |
11th Character in the 1989 Ford Escort VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1989 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 | 1FAPP9598KT183435 | |
| W | Wayne | Michigan | United States | 1FAPP93JXKW328762 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1989 Ford Escort
The final 6 characters in a 1989 Ford Escort’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1989 Ford Escort’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1989 Ford Escort is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1989 Ford Escort, near the windshield, to find the VIN number displayed on a metal or plastic plate.
- Examine the door frame on the driver’s side of your Ford Escort, where a sticker typically contains the VIN especially when you open the door and look at the area where the door latches to the car.
- Check under the hood of the 1989 Ford Escort for a VIN plate that might be attached to the engine block or mounted on the firewall or the strut tower.
- Inspect the vehicle’s paperwork, such as the title, registration, or insurance papers, which should list the VIN for your Ford Escort.
- If your Ford Escort has its original parts, the VIN might also be stamped on various components like the transmission, so consult a mechanic or an official service manual for exact locations.
What info can a 1989 Ford Escort VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating the year 1989, which can give insight into the technology and design era of the car.
- Vehicle Specifications: This VIN data highlights a 1989 Ford Escort, featuring a 1.9-liter engine inline configuration with a displacement of 1900.89942400 CC or approximately 116 CI, emphasizing the engine’s size and type.
- Fuel Type: It is specified that the primary fuel type for this vehicle is Gasoline, providing essential information for fuel economy and environmental considerations.
- Safety Features: The VIN indicates that the vehicle is equipped with passive belts for the front seats and active belts for the rear, indicating the type of safety measures installed.
- Engine Details: With an engine output of 110 horsepower and incorporating electronic fuel injection, the data reflects the vehicle’s performance capabilities and fuel management system.
- Manufacturing Details: Manufactured by Ford in Wayne, Michigan, United States, these details provide insight into the origin and quality standards of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Size: The VIN specifies that the vehicle is classified as a Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback with 2 doors, contributing to understanding the vehicle’s design purpose and available utility space.
Don’t have your 1989 Ford Escort’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1989 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 | 110 |
| 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 | 1989 |
| Other Engine Info | Electronic Fuel Injection |
| Other Restraint System Info | Passive Belts (front)/ Active Belts (rear) |
| Plant City | Wayne |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Michigan |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual and Automatic |
| Turbo | No |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1FAPP93J*KW |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1FAPP93JXKW328762 |
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