How to decode a 1997 Mercury Cougar VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Mercury Cougar VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique sequences used to identify the manufacturer of vehicles globally. For the 1997 Mercury Cougar, the WMI code “1ME” specifically indicates that the vehicle was manufactured by Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. This series of characters is the first segment of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which provides essential information about the vehicle, including its manufacturer, vehicle type, and the country of production. The 1997 Mercury Cougar is classified as a passenger car, reflecting its design and intended use. This WMI code is crucial for accurately identifying the vehicle’s origins and manufacturing details.
List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Mercury Cougar
WMI: 1ME
- Model Years Covered: 1981, 1983-1997
- Example VIN: 1MELM62W0VH627861
- 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 1997 Mercury Cougar 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 1997 Mercury Cougar:
| Known VDS for a 1997 Mercury Cougar | |
|---|---|
| LM62W | LM624 |
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 1997 Mercury Cougar 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 1997 Mercury Cougar VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| V | 1997 |
11th Character in the 1997 Mercury Cougar VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1997 Mercury Cougar Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H | Lorain | Ohio | United States | 1MELM62W0VH627861 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Mercury Cougar
The final 6 characters in a 1997 Mercury Cougar’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1997 Mercury Cougar’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1997 Mercury Cougar is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1997 Mercury Cougar. The VIN should be visible through the windshield on a small metal or plastic plate.
- Examine the door jamb on the driver’s side for a label or sticker where the door closes, which may list the VIN for your Cougar.
- Check under the hood of your Mercury Cougar; the VIN might be stamped on the front of the engine block.
- Take a look at the rear wheel well on the driver’s side. Sometimes the VIN can be found above the tire.
- Inspect the trunk area of the Cougar, where the VIN might be found under the trunk lid, on the trunk floor, or in the spare tire compartment.
- If the VIN is not found in any of these locations, you can check your vehicle’s title, registration, or insurance papers, which should list the VIN for your 1997 Mercury Cougar.
What info can a 1997 Mercury Cougar VIN reveal?
- Model Year and Make: The VIN provides insights into the vehicle’s model year, highlighting it as a 1997 Ford Cougar, offering critical details about its age and manufacturer.
- Engine Specifications: The VIN discloses a 4.6L V-Shaped engine with 8 cylinders and an output ranging from 190 to 210 horsepower, manufactured by Ford with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) at the Romeo Engine Plant.
- Body and Design: The VIN specifies the vehicle as a 2-door Sedan/Saloon, delivering crucial information about its body class and design, aiding potential buyers or enthusiasts in understanding its structure.
- Fuel Type and Efficiency: The primary fuel type specified is Gasoline, providing users with an approximate estimate of fuel efficiency and expected performance, along with engine displacement and horsepower.
- Safety Features: Safety features include front airbags for both the driver and passenger in the first row, and manual seat belts with 3-point belts in all outboard positions, offering valuable insights into the vehicle’s safety standards.
- Manufacturing Details: The VIN pinpoints the vehicle’s manufacturing location to Lorain, Ohio, United States, providing market value to enthusiasts and historians interested in the vehicle’s production lineage.
- Valve Train Design: The VIN mentions a Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) valve train design, offering further details about the engine’s inner workings, valuable for those with a mechanical interest.
Don’t have your 1997 Mercury Cougar’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Mercury Cougar
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 4604.764984 |
| Displacement (CI) | 281 |
| Displacement (L) | 4.6 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 190 |
| Engine Brake (hp) To | 210 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | Cougar |
| Model Year | 1997 |
| Other Engine Info | EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection, Romeo Engine Plant |
| Other Restraint System Info | Seat Belts: 3-point belts in all outboard positions. |
| Plant City | Lorain |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Ohio |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Valve Train Design | Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1MELM62W*VH |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1MELM62W0VH627861 |
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