How to decode a 1988 Toyota Tercel VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Toyota Tercel VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which indicates essential information about the vehicle including the manufacturer, country of production, and vehicle type. For instance, 1988 Toyota Tercel vehicles have a WMI that identifies them as being manufactured by Toyota Motor Corporation, based in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. This code specifically indicates that these vehicles are passenger cars, demonstrating the WMI’s role in providing immediate, key insights into a vehicle’s origin and category. Through the WMI, regulatory agencies, manufacturers, and consumers can swiftly access and understand significant details about the vehicle. Thus, the WMI serves as a critical tool in the global automotive industry for tracking, regulation, and identification purposes.
List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Toyota Tercel
WMI: JT2
- Model Years Covered: 1981, 1985, 1987-1999
- Example VIN: JT2EL31D8J0165370
- 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 1988 Toyota Tercel 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 Toyota Tercel:
| Known VDS for a 1988 Toyota Tercel |
|---|
| EL31D |
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 Toyota Tercel 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 Toyota Tercel VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| J | 1988 |
11th Character in the 1988 Toyota Tercel VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1988 Toyota Tercel Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Toyota City | Aichi | Japan | Toyota Motor Corporation | JT2EL31D8J0165370 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Toyota Tercel
The final 6 characters in a 1988 Toyota Tercel’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Toyota Tercel’s VIN below:
How to find a 1988 Toyota Tercel’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1988 Toyota Tercel is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1988 Toyota Tercel. The VIN can usually be seen through the windshield on the lower corner.
- Look at the driver’s side door jamb for your Toyota Tercel. There may be a sticker or plate with the VIN where the door latches when closed.
- Open the hood of your 1988 Toyota Tercel and check the front of the engine block. The VIN might be stamped onto the metal surface.
- Inspect the rear wheel well on the driver’s side; sometimes the VIN is placed above the tire.
- Lift the spare tire in the trunk of your Toyota Tercel and look for the VIN underneath, as it can be located in this area.
- Search for the compliance certification label; your Toyota Tercel may have the VIN displayed there. The label is usually found in the door jamb or near the seat belt on the driver’s side.
What info can a 1988 Toyota Tercel VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, suggesting that the car was manufactured in 1988, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Vehicle Specifications: The VIN decode reveals that the vehicle is a Toyota Tercel with notable specifications, including a 1.5L engine capacity, highlighting its possible performance and efficiency.
- Engine Details: It is equipped with a gas-powered, in-line 4-cylinder engine, model 3E, capable of producing between 78 and 87 horsepower, showcasing the power range available for this model.
- Body Class and Size: The dataset identifies the car as a Coupe with 2 doors, offering information on the vehicle’s design and potential passenger capacity.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type is Gasoline, which is crucial for understanding the vehicle’s environmental impact and fuel consumption rates.
- Manufacturing Information: The car was manufactured in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan by Toyota Motor Corporation, providing details about its origin and build quality.
- Safety Features: Equipped with a manual seat belt type, this data point suggests the safety mechanisms installed in the vehicle at the time of manufacture.
Don’t have your 1988 Toyota Tercel’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Toyota Tercel
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Coupe |
| Displacement (CC) | 1456 |
| Displacement (CI) | 88.850571401 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.5 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 78 |
| Engine Brake (hp) To | 87 |
| Engine Configuration | In-Line |
| Engine Manufacturer | Toyota |
| Engine Model | 3E |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | Tercel |
| Model Year | 1988 |
| Other Engine Info | CARBURETED ENGINE TRANSVERSE MOUNTED ENGINE |
| Plant City | Toyota City |
| Plant Company Name | Toyota Motor Corporation |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Plant State | Aichi |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | Standard |
| Valve Train Design | Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JT2EL31D*J0 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | JT2EL31D8J0165370 |
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