How to decode a 1996 Honda Prelude VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1996 Honda Prelude VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are a vital part of the 17-character identification number known as the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), unique to every vehicle. The WMI specifically represents the manufacturer and provides essential information about the vehicle, such as the country of manufacture, vehicle type, and the manufacturing company. For example, the 1996 Honda Prelude has a WMI of “JHM,” which indicates that the vehicle was manufactured by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. in Japan. This tells us that the vehicle is a passenger car produced in Musashi, Tokyo. Understanding the WMI is crucial for identifying and verifying specific vehicle details, aiding in everything from vehicle recall operations to registration and inspection processes.
List of WMI Codes for a 1996 Honda Prelude
WMI: JHM
- Model Years Covered: 1981-1982, 1985-2001
- Example VIN: JHMBA8242TC000362
- 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 1996 Honda Prelude 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 1996 Honda Prelude:
| Known VDS for a 1996 Honda Prelude | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BA824 | BB225 | BB215 | BB117 |
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 1996 Honda Prelude 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 1996 Honda Prelude VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| T | 1996 |
11th Character in the 1996 Honda Prelude VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1996 Honda Prelude Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Sayama | Saitama | Japan | JHMBA8242TC000362 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1996 Honda Prelude
The final 6 characters in a 1996 Honda Prelude’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1996 Honda Prelude’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1996 Honda Prelude is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1996 Honda Prelude. You can usually see the VIN through the windshield on a small built-in plate.
- Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb. The 1996 Honda Prelude often has a sticker or metal plate with the VIN where the door latches.
- Peer under the hood and locate the front engine block. The VIN could be stamped onto the engine itself in your Honda Prelude.
- Review the rear wheel well. Sometimes the VIN can be found above the tire.
- Check the trunk area of your Honda Prelude, particularly underneath the spare tire where a VIN label might be affixed.
- Examine your vehicle’s title, registration, or insurance papers, which should list the VIN of your 1996 Honda Prelude.
What info can a 1996 Honda Prelude VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating the year 1996, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Engine Specifications: Detailed engine characteristics including a 2.2-liter engine displacement, 190 horsepower, and an in-line 4-cylinder configuration might be encoded within the VIN, showcasing the specific engine details.
- Fuel Type: The vehicle’s fuel type may be indicated as gasoline in the VIN, offering insights into fuel preferences and potential efficiency.
- Safety Features: The presence of front airbags for the driver and passenger in the first row may be identified through the VIN, highlighting essential safety components.
- Body Class and Doors: The VIN can possibly uncover the vehicle’s body class as a Coupe with 2 doors, offering a glimpse into the design and style of the vehicle.
- Transmission and Engine Manufacturer: It may denote a manual/standard transmission style and possibly specify Honda as the engine manufacturer, providing potential specifics about the vehicle’s performance components.
- Manufacturing Details: The VIN discloses that the manufacturing plant might be located in Sayama, Saitama, Japan, shedding light on the vehicle’s potential production origin.
Don’t have your 1996 Honda Prelude’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1996 Honda Prelude
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Coupe |
| Cooling Type | Water |
| Displacement (CC) | 2157 |
| Displacement (CI) | 132 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.2 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 190 |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Manufacturer | Honda |
| Engine Model | H22A1 |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1A: 3,000 lb or less (1,360 kg or less) |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Model | Prelude |
| Model Year | 1996 |
| Plant City | Sayama |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Plant State | Saitama |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Transmission Style | Manual/Standard |
| Trim | V-TEC |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JHMBB117*TC |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | JHMBB1171TC000451 |
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