How to decode a 1991 Lexus LS VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1991 Lexus LS VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer and region of production. For the 1991 Lexus LS, the WMI “JT8” signifies that the car was manufactured by Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan, specifically in the city of Toyota, Aichi Prefecture. This code is integral in providing detailed information about the vehicle, including its manufacturing origin. In the case of the Lexus LS, the WMI indicates that it is a passenger car produced by one of Japan’s premier automotive companies. This system of identification is critical for vehicle registration, recall enforcement, and for consumers to verify the authenticity and origin of their vehicle.
List of WMI Codes for a 1991 Lexus LS
WMI: JT8
- Model Years Covered: 1990-2000
- Example VIN: JT8UF11E0M0059697
- Manufacturer Name: Toyota Motor Corporation
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Toyota City
- State or Province: Aichi Prefecture
- Country: Japan
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1991 Lexus LS 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 1991 Lexus LS:
| Known VDS for a 1991 Lexus LS |
|---|
| UF11E |
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 1991 Lexus LS 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 1991 Lexus LS VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| M | 1991 |
11th Character in the 1991 Lexus LS VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1991 Lexus LS Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Tahara | Aichi | Japan | Toyota Motor Corporation-Tahara Plant | JT8UF11E0M0059697 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1991 Lexus LS
The final 6 characters in a 1991 Lexus LS’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1991 Lexus LS’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1991 Lexus LS is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1991 Lexus LS where the windshield meets the dash. The VIN should be visible from outside the vehicle.
- Open the driver’s side door of your Lexus LS to examine the door jamb. There should be a VIN plate or sticker in the area where the door latches.
- Check under the hood of your Lexus LS; the VIN might also be located on the front of the engine block.
- Inspect the frame of the vehicle near the driver’s side front wheel. On some Lexus models, the VIN is stamped onto the chassis in this area.
- Look at the rear wheel well directly above the tire; sometimes the VIN can be found stamped into the body in this location.
- If the car has its original paperwork or a maintenance book, the VIN will be noted on these documents as well.
What info can a 1991 Lexus LS VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 1991, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Engine Type and Specifications: The VIN indicates that the vehicle is powered by a V-shaped, 4.0-liter (3969 CC, 242.2 CI) engine with 8 cylinders, capable of delivering between 250 to 300 horsepower, showcasing the level of detail about engine capabilities and design the VIN can provide.
- Fuel Type: It is indicated that the vehicle uses gasoline as its primary fuel, which is evidence of how VINs can identify the type of fuel a vehicle is designed to use.
- Safety Features: According to the VIN data, the sedan comes equipped with a driver seat-only front airbag, demonstrating how VIN data can reveal specific safety features of a vehicle.
- Vehicle Specifications: The VIN provides basic Toyota LS 400 model information, including that it is a luxury sedan with a 4-door body class, detailed engine model (1UZ-FE), and manufactured by Toyota in Tahara, Japan, all of which are specified within the VIN.
- Transmission Type: The VIN features an automatic transmission with 4 speeds, indicating how VINs can detail vehicle drivetrain specifics.
- Plant Information: The VIN reveals that the vehicle was constructed at the Toyota Motor Corporation - Tahara Plant in Aichi, Japan, showing how VINs can trace a vehicle’s manufacturing origin to a specific location and company.
Don’t have your 1991 Lexus LS’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1991 Lexus LS
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 3969 |
| Displacement (CI) | 242.2 |
| Displacement (L) | 4 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 250 |
| Engine Brake (hp) To | 300 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Toyota |
| Engine Model | 1UZ-FE |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | Driver Seat Only |
| 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 | LS |
| Model Year | 1991 |
| Plant City | Tahara |
| Plant Company Name | Toyota Motor Corporation-Tahara plant |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Plant State | Aichi |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | LUXURY SEDAN |
| Transmission Speeds | 4 |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Trim | 400 |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JT8UF11E*M0 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | JT8UF11E0M0059697 |
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