How to decode a 1988 Pontiac Safari VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Pontiac Safari VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which signifies the manufacturer, vehicle type, and the country of manufacture. For the 1988 Pontiac Safari, the WMI “1G2” specifies that the vehicle was manufactured by General Motors LLC, indicating its assembly by a major American automotive company. The vehicle type identified in the WMI relates to a passenger car, showcasing its intended use for personal transportation. This particular model was assembled in Warren, Michigan, highlighting its production in the United States. The WMI thus serves as an essential tool for identifying key information about vehicles, including the 1988 Pontiac Safari, by delineating its manufacturing origin, type, and associated company at a glance.
List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Pontiac Safari
WMI: 1G2
- Model Years Covered: 1988
- Example VIN: 1G2BL81Y9JA204542
- Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Warren
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1988 Pontiac Safari 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 Pontiac Safari:
| Known VDS for a 1988 Pontiac Safari |
|---|
| BL81Y |
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 Pontiac Safari 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 Pontiac Safari VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| J | 1988 |
11th Character in the 1988 Pontiac Safari VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1988 Pontiac Safari Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Lakewood Heights | Georgia | United States | Lakewood Assembly | 1G2BL81Y9JA204542 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Pontiac Safari
The final 6 characters in a 1988 Pontiac Safari’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1988 Pontiac Safari’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1988 Pontiac Safari is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1988 Pontiac Safari. Typically, the VIN can be seen through the windshield on a plate mounted to the dashboard.
- Look at the driver’s side door frame on your Pontiac Safari for a sticker or plate when the door is open, specifically at the area where the door latches.
- Check under the hood of your 1988 Pontiac Safari; the VIN might be located on a sticker or plate on the firewall or near the engine compartment.
- Inspect the rear wheel well directly above the tire; sometimes the VIN can be found stamped onto the body in this area of your Pontiac Safari.
- View the underside of your Safari where the frame or chassis meets the body; the VIN could be stamped on the frame itself.
- If you have the documentation for your Pontiac Safari, the VIN should also be on the vehicle title, registration, or insurance documents.
What info can a 1988 Pontiac Safari VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, possibly indicating the year 1988, potentially shedding light on the vehicle’s age and the technologies employed during that period.
- Body Class and Size: Through the VIN, the body class, such as a Wagon with 4 doors, may be indicated, offering insights into the vehicle’s design and functional capacity.
- Engine Specifications: The VIN discloses detailed engine specifications, including a V-Shaped configuration, 8 cylinders, and a displacement of 5 liters (5000 CC or 305.1187204736 CI), which might be key indicators of the vehicle’s power and performance capabilities.
- Manufacturing Details: Information about the vehicle’s manufacturing, including the plant city (Lakewood Heights), plant country (United States), and the specific name of the plant company (Lakewood Assembly), may evidence the vehicle’s origin and assembly location.
- Model-Specific Information: The VIN specifies model-related information, indicating a Safari model with the trim “Safari Wagon” from the series “Export Only - Parisienne,” which can assist in identifying the vehicle’s specific market segment and design characteristics.
- Safety Features: The type of seat belts (Manual) used in the vehicle can be identified, potentially giving insight into the safety features and standards adhered to during the vehicle’s manufacture.
- Vehicle Type and Engine Manufacturer: A VIN can classify the vehicle as a Passenger Car and provide the name of the engine manufacturer, in this case, BOCL, which may aid in understanding the vehicle’s intended use and performance reliability.
Don’t have your 1988 Pontiac Safari’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Pontiac Safari
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Wagon |
| Displacement (CC) | 5000 |
| Displacement (CI) | 305.1187204736 |
| Displacement (L) | 5 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | BOCL |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Model | Safari |
| Model Year | 1988 |
| Plant City | Lakewood Heights |
| Plant Company Name | Lakewood assembly |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Georgia |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | Export Only - Parisienne |
| Trim | Safari Wagon |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1G2BL81Y*JA |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1G2BL81Y9JA204542 |
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