How to decode a 1981 Honda Accord VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1981 Honda Accord VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which specifically identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle. It provides insight into where the vehicle was made, the manufacturer’s name, and the vehicle type. For the 1981 Honda Accord, the WMI is “JHM,” indicating that the vehicle was produced by Honda Motor Co., Ltd, a company based in Tokyo, Japan. The “J” in the WMI signifies that the vehicle was manufactured in Japan, a common identifier for vehicles produced by Japanese companies. This WMI code is crucial for accurately identifying vehicles, tracing their history, and providing specific information about their manufacturing origin.
List of WMI Codes for a 1981 Honda Accord
WMI: JHM
- Model Years Covered: 1981-1995, 1997, 1999-2009, 2013-2014, 2017
- Example VIN: JHMSM3425BC126428
- Manufacturer Name: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Tokyo
- State or Province: Musashi
- Country: Japan
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1981 Honda Accord 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 1981 Honda Accord:
| Known VDS for a 1981 Honda Accord | ||
|---|---|---|
| SM342 | SM333 | SM345 |
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 1981 Honda Accord 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 1981 Honda Accord VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| B | 1981 |
11th Character in the 1981 Honda Accord VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1981 Honda Accord Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Sayama | Saitama | Japan | JHMSM3425BC126428 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1981 Honda Accord
The final 6 characters in a 1981 Honda Accord’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Honda Accord’s VIN below:
How to find a 1981 Honda Accord’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1981 Honda Accord is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Honda Accord, near where the dashboard meets the windshield. It is often visible from outside the vehicle through the windshield.
- Inspect the driver’s side door jamb on your 1981 Honda Accord; the VIN can frequently be found on a sticker or plate where the door latches when it is closed.
- Check the front of the engine block of your Honda Accord. The VIN might be stamped onto the engine itself.
- Look closely at the rear wheel well above the tire. Sometimes on older vehicles like the 1981 Honda Accord, the VIN can be found stamped in the metal there.
- Examine the front of the car frame, near the container that holds windshield washer fluid. Older models, such as your 1981 Accord, might have the VIN in this location.
- Review your Honda Accord’s vehicle registration documents, title, and insurance papers; the VIN will be listed on these documents.
What info can a 1981 Honda Accord VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year, potentially indicating the year 1981, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Size: A VIN can disclose the body class and size, for example, a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, portraying a specific vehicle structure.
- Engine and Transmission Details: It may reveal detailed engine information, like a displacement of 1751 CC (1.751 L or 106.85 CI) and transmission details including 3 speeds and an automatic style.
- Manufacturing Location: The vehicle’s manufacturing details, including the plant city of Sayama, plant state of Saitama, and plant country of Japan, are likely encoded within the VIN.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The VIN can provide insights into the vehicle’s weight class, potentially falling into Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less).
- Safety Features: Indications of safety features can be inferred, such as the type of seat belt, which might be manual for this particular vehicle model.
- Trim and Vehicle Descriptor: Additional details like the trim level, possibly highlighted by “DX”, and a unique vehicle descriptor portion of the VIN might offer further insights into vehicle specifications and variations.
Don’t have your 1981 Honda Accord’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1981 Honda Accord
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 1751 |
| Displacement (CI) | 106.852575909 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.751000 |
| Doors | 4 |
| 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 | Accord |
| Model Year | 1981 |
| Plant City | Sayama |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Plant State | Saitama |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Transmission Speeds | 3 |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Trim | Accord 4Dr |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JHMSM345*BC |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | JHMSM3451BC024988 |
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