How to decode a 1996 Suzuki Esteem VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1996 Suzuki Esteem VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code designated to every vehicle manufacturer for the purpose of identifying the make and country of origin of their vehicles. Found at the beginning of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), the WMI includes three characters that provide detailed information about the vehicle’s manufacturer, including the name, location, and the type of vehicle it produces. For example, the WMI for Suzuki Esteem 1996 models manufactured for the U.S. market is “JS2”, indicating the vehicle was produced by Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., specifically classified as a passenger car, and manufactured in Brea, California, United States. This code is crucial for vehicle registration, recall identification, and to ascertain the manufacturing specifications of the vehicle.
List of WMI Codes for a 1996 Suzuki Esteem
WMI: JS2
- Model Years Covered: 1996-2002
- Example VIN: JS2GB31S3T5104408
- Manufacturer Name: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Brea
- State or Province: California
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1996 Suzuki Esteem 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 Suzuki Esteem:
| Known VDS for a 1996 Suzuki Esteem |
|---|
| GB31S |
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 Suzuki Esteem 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 Suzuki Esteem VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| T | 1996 |
11th Character in the 1996 Suzuki Esteem VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1996 Suzuki Esteem Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Kosai | Shizuoka | Japan | JS2GB31S3T5104408 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1996 Suzuki Esteem
The final 6 characters in a 1996 Suzuki Esteem’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Suzuki Esteem’s VIN below:
How to find a 1996 Suzuki Esteem’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1996 Suzuki Esteem is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1996 Suzuki Esteem. The VIN is typically visible through the windshield on a small plate.
- Open the door on the driver’s side of your Suzuki Esteem and inspect the door post (where the door latches when it is closed). It’s common to find a VIN sticker there.
- Check the engine block of the Suzuki Esteem, as the VIN is often stamped onto the engine itself.
- Examine the vehicle frame near the windshield washer container under the hood of your Suzuki Esteem for a VIN plate.
- Look in the rear wheel well directly above the tire; sometimes the VIN is stamped in this area in some models of vehicles, including the Suzuki Esteem.
- Check your Suzuki Esteem’s insurance card/policy, vehicle title, or registration documents, which will list the VIN among other important vehicle information.
What info can a 1996 Suzuki Esteem VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can possibly reveal the vehicle’s model year, hinting at it being from around 1996, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Vehicle Specifications: Basic details such as it possibly being a Suzuki Esteem model, equipped with a 1.6L engine capacity, can be inferred from the VIN.
- Body Class and Size: The VIN indicates the vehicle may be a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, offering insights into its potential body style and capacity.
- Engine Details: It possibly reveals an in-line engine configuration with 4 cylinders and a displacement of 1600.0 CC, providing potential specifics about the engine’s potential structure and power.
- Fuel Type and Efficiency: The primary fuel type for the vehicle can be inferred as gasoline, and it might feature a multipoint fuel injection (MPFI) system, hinting at its potential fuel delivery mechanism.
- Safety Features: Details such as the potential inclusion of front airbags for both the driver and passenger in the 1st row can be discerned, indicating potential safety measures of the vehicle.
- Manufacturing Information: The VIN encodes the vehicle’s potential manufacturing location as Kosai, Shizuoka in Japan, spotlighting a potential origin of its production.
Don’t have your 1996 Suzuki Esteem’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1996 Suzuki Esteem
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Destination Market | U.S., Canada |
| Displacement (CC) | 1600.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 97.63799055157 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.6 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | Esteem |
| Model Year | 1996 |
| Plant City | Kosai |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Plant State | Shizuoka |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JS2GB31S*T5 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | JS2GB31S3T5104408 |
Ready, Set, Bumper...
Try Bumper today and learn more about a vehicle you plan to buy or already own.
TRY Bumper Today