How to decode a 1988 Nissan Maxima VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Nissan Maxima VIN
The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which uniquely identify the manufacturer of the vehicle. It reveals the manufacturer’s name, vehicle type, and the country and city of production. For the 1988 Nissan Maxima, the WMI “JN1” signifies that the car was manufactured by Nissan Motor Company, Ltd., indicating it as a passenger car produced in Chuo-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. This system allows for easy identification and provides essential information about the vehicle’s origin and manufacturing. WMIs serve as a standardized method to classify vehicles globally, aiding in vehicle tracking, registration, and recall processes.
List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Nissan Maxima
WMI: JN1
- Model Years Covered: 1981, 1985-2003
- Example VIN: JN1HU11P2JT610199
- Manufacturer Name: Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Chuo-Ku
- State or Province: Tokyo
- Country: Japan
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1988 Nissan Maxima 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 1988 Nissan Maxima:
| Known VDS for a 1988 Nissan Maxima |
|---|
| HU11P |
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 1988 Nissan Maxima 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 1988 Nissan Maxima VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| J | 1988 |
11th Character in the 1988 Nissan Maxima VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1988 Nissan Maxima Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T | Yokosuka | Kanagawa | Japan | Oppama Plant | JN1HU11P2JT610199 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Nissan Maxima
The final 6 characters in a 1988 Nissan Maxima’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Nissan Maxima’s VIN below:
How to find a 1988 Nissan Maxima’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1988 Nissan Maxima is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard near the windshield on the driver’s side of your 1988 Nissan Maxima; the VIN can usually be seen from outside the vehicle.
- Check the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Nissan Maxima; there is often a sticker or plate with the VIN where the door latches when closed.
- Examine the firewall of the engine compartment; the 1988 Nissan Maxima often has the VIN stamped onto a metal plate in this area.
- Take a look at your vehicle’s registration documents, insurance papers, or title; the VIN for your 1988 Nissan Maxima should be clearly printed there.
- Inspect the frame or undercarriage of the car; occasionally the VIN is stamped on the frame or chassis of the vehicle.
- Look in the service and maintenance booklets; sometimes, the dealership may have recorded the VIN of your 1988 Nissan Maxima when any service was performed.
What info can a 1988 Nissan Maxima VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1988, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Manufacturing Details: Production specifics, such as the plant city being Yokosuka and the plant company name being Oppama Plant in Japan, are encoded, indicating the geographic origin of the vehicle’s assembly, potentially offering insight into its manufacturing history and location.
- Vehicle Specifications: This VIN indicates that the vehicle is a Maxima model, featuring a V-shaped engine configuration, a displacement of 3 liters, and operates with a 4x2 drive type, providing insights into its performance capabilities and drive system, potentially influencing its handling and traction abilities.
- Engine and Fuel Features: Engine-related insights can be gained, including that it has a gasoline 6-cylinder engine model VG30E manufactured by Volvo with Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI), offering clues to its power, efficiency, and fuel system type, affecting its performance and fuel economy.
- Safety Features: Safety attributes are identified, such as the presence of an automatic seat belt type and a motorized 2 points automatic belt system, indicating the vehicle’s efforts towards occupant safety, which can be crucial information for potential buyers concerned about safety features.
- Body and Design: The VIN indicates the vehicle is designed as a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, providing a clear picture of the vehicle’s body style and size, which can be crucial for potential buyers or enthusiasts looking for specific body types.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: Classified under Class 1, with a GVWR of 6,000 lb or less, this detail aids in understanding the vehicle’s weight category, impacting its handling, safety, and possibly its usage and restrictions, potentially influencing its performance and transportation limitations.
Don’t have your 1988 Nissan Maxima’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Nissan Maxima
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 2960 |
| Displacement (CI) | 180.630282520 |
| Displacement (L) | 3 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Volvo |
| Engine Model | VG30E |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Engine Stroke Cycles | 4 |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) |
| 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 | Maxima |
| Model Year | 1988 |
| Other Restraint System Info | Motorized 2 Points Automatic Belt System |
| Plant City | Yokosuka |
| Plant Company Name | Oppama plant |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Plant State | Kanagawa |
| Seat Belt Type | Automatic |
| Valve Train Design | Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JN1HU11P*JT |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | JN1HU11P2JT610199 |
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