How to decode a 1988 Ford Taurus VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Ford Taurus VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique three-letter or three-digit sequences that automotive manufacturers use to identify the make and country of origin of their vehicles. For the 1988 Ford Taurus, the WMI “1FA” signifies that the vehicle was produced by Ford Motor Company in the United States, specifically in Dearborn, Michigan. This code is part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) system, offering a standardized method to track vehicles on a global scale. Through the WMI, one can determine not only the manufacturer and country of manufacture but also gain insights into the vehicle’s type, such as it being a passenger car. This coding system plays a crucial role in vehicle tracking, registration, and recall operations around the world.
List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Ford Taurus
WMI: 1FA
- Model Years Covered: 1987-2019
- Example VIN: 1FABP50U2JA215997
- 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 Taurus 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 Taurus:
| Known VDS for a 1988 Ford Taurus | |
|---|---|
| BP50U | BP52U |
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 Taurus 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 Taurus VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| J | 1988 |
11th Character in the 1988 Ford Taurus VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1988 Ford Taurus Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Atlanta | Georgia | United States | 1FABP50U2JA215997 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Ford Taurus
The final 6 characters in a 1988 Ford Taurus’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Ford Taurus’s VIN below:
How to find a 1988 Ford Taurus’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1988 Ford Taurus is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1988 Ford Taurus. The VIN is usually located here and visible through the lower corner of the windshield.
- Examine the driver’s side door jamb of your Ford Taurus. When you open the door, you’ll find a sticker or a plate with the VIN where the door latches.
- Check under the hood of your 1988 Ford Taurus. The VIN may be stamped on the engine block or on a plate attached to the engine compartment.
- Inspect the rear wheel well on the driver’s side. Sometimes the VIN is stamped above the tire.
- Look underneath the spare tire in the trunk area. Some 1988 Ford Taurus models may have the VIN located there.
- If you have the original documentation or owner’s manual of your Ford Taurus, the VIN should be printed on it, typically on the front cover or within the first few pages.
What info can a 1988 Ford Taurus VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, suggesting it may be from around 1988, potentially offering insights into the vehicle’s age and market value.
- Vehicle Specifications: The VIN may contain basic specifications like the make and model being Ford Taurus, along with the engine type being V-shaped with a 3.0-liter displacement.
- Fuel Type: The VIN provides hints about the fuel type, possibly indicating the vehicle’s fuel usage and efficiency, with the fuel type noted as Gasoline.
- Safety Features: The VIN may include details about safety features, such as noting the type of seat belts as Manual, possibly indicating standard safety measures for the model at the time of manufacture.
- Engine Specifications: The VIN might offer specifics about the engine, including horsepower, cylinder count, and fuel injection type, providing insights into the vehicle’s performance and fuel efficiency.
- Manufacturing Location: The VIN can specify the vehicle’s manufacturing location, potentially indicating that it was manufactured in the United States, with further details including the city of manufacture, such as Atlanta, Georgia, offering insight into its production origin.
- Body Class and Size: It can describe the body class, possibly indicating a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, offering a hint about the vehicle’s size and type suitable for passenger use.
Don’t have your 1988 Ford Taurus’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Ford Taurus
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 2982.445648 |
| Displacement (CI) | 182 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.0 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 140 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| 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 | Taurus |
| Model Year | 1988 |
| Other Engine Info | EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection |
| Plant City | Atlanta |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Georgia |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | GL |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1FABP52U*JA |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1FABP52U1JA237020 |
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