How to decode a 1989 Ford Taurus VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1989 Ford Taurus VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) assigned by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle and specific attributes related to its production. For the 1989 Ford Taurus, the WMI “1FA” signifies it is a vehicle manufactured by Ford Motor Company in the United States, specifically in Dearborn, Michigan. This section of the VIN provides insight not only into the manufacturing location but also into the vehicle type, in this case, indicating it is a passenger car. WMIs serve as a cornerstone in vehicle identification, ensuring a unique and globally recognized identity for every vehicle on the road. They play a crucial role in vehicle tracking, registration, and recall actions.
List of WMI Codes for a 1989 Ford Taurus
WMI: 1FA
- Model Years Covered: 1987-2019
- Example VIN: 1FABP53U8KG211575
- 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 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 1989 Ford Taurus:
| Known VDS for a 1989 Ford Taurus | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BP53U | BP54Y | BP52U | BP50U |
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 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 1989 Ford Taurus VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| K | 1989 |
11th Character in the 1989 Ford Taurus VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1989 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 | 1FABP54Y2KA200740 | |
| G | Chicago | Illinois | United States | 1FABP53U8KG211575 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1989 Ford Taurus
The final 6 characters in a 1989 Ford Taurus’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 Taurus’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1989 Ford Taurus is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Inspect the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Ford Taurus; the VIN can usually be seen through the windshield on the lower corner.
- Look at the door post (where the door latches when it is closed) on the driver’s side door jamb for a sticker that often contains the VIN for your 1989 Ford Taurus.
- The VIN can also be found on the firewall of the engine compartment in some Ford Taurus models.
- Check your vehicle’s official documents such as the title, registration, or insurance papers where the VIN of your Ford Taurus should be listed.
- Some older Ford Taurus models may have the VIN stamped on the frame near the rear tire or under the front hood on a secondary latch or radiator support.
What info can a 1989 Ford Taurus VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, suggesting it could be the year 1989, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Vehicle Specifications: The vehicle is potentially a Ford Taurus LX with a V-shaped engine having an engine displacement of 3.0 liters or 182 cubic inches, delivering power around 140 horsepower.
- Body Class and Size: This Ford Taurus features a Sedan/Saloon body type and possibly has 4 doors, fitting the description of a spacious and comfortable passenger car.
- Engine and Performance: The engine, which is manufactured by Ford, could be a gasoline-fueled V6, possibly equipped with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) for efficient performance.
- Fuel Type: It might operate on Gasoline, aligning with common fuel types for vehicles of its era, emphasizing efficiency and performance.
- Manufacturing Details: The vehicle was possibly assembled in Chicago, Illinois, United States, indicating its potential production location and potentially influencing its design and specifications.
- Safety and Comfort Features: It may include Manual seat belt type, highlighting the safety features available for the model year 1989.
Don’t have your 1989 Ford Taurus’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1989 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 | 1989 |
| Other Engine Info | EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection |
| Plant City | Chicago |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Illinois |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | L |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1FABP50U*KG |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1FABP50U9KG269991 |
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