How to decode a 1988 Volkswagen Golf VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Volkswagen Golf VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle. It is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), specifying the manufacturer, vehicle type, and the country of manufacture. For the 1988 Volkswagen Golf, the WMI “1VW” indicates it was produced by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., classified as a passenger car, and manufactured in the United States. This code, when seen at the beginning of a VIN, immediately tells you it’s a VW car from the late 1980s, made in the U.S. The WMI is essential for vehicle tracking, registration, and recall purposes.
List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Volkswagen Golf
WMI: 1VW
- Model Years Covered: 1985-1989
- Example VIN: 1VWFA9174JV011835
- Manufacturer Name: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Herndon
- State or Province: Virginia
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1988 Volkswagen Golf 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 Volkswagen Golf:
| Known VDS for a 1988 Volkswagen Golf | |
|---|---|
| FA917 | DC017 |
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 Volkswagen Golf 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 Volkswagen Golf VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| J | 1988 |
11th Character in the 1988 Volkswagen Golf VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1988 Volkswagen Golf Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Westmoreland | Nan | 1VWFA9174JV011835 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Volkswagen Golf
The final 6 characters in a 1988 Volkswagen Golf’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Volkswagen Golf’s VIN below:
How to find a 1988 Volkswagen Golf’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1988 Volkswagen Golf is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Volkswagen Golf. Typically, the VIN can be seen through the windshield on the lower corner.
- Look at the door post on the driver’s side of your 1988 Volkswagen Golf, where the door latches when closed. The VIN might be on a sticker or a metal plate in this area.
- Open the front hood of your Volkswagen Golf and inspect the front of the engine block. The VIN may be stamped onto the engine itself.
- Check underneath the spare tire in the trunk of your VW Golf. Sometimes the VIN is located on the floor beneath the spare tire.
- Inspect your Volkswagen’s vehicle registration documents or insurance paperwork, where the VIN will be listed.
What info can a 1988 Volkswagen Golf VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, suggesting that it was produced in 1988, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Manufacturer and Model Information: Specific identifiers within the VIN can highlight that the vehicle is a Volkswagen Golf, which may provide insights into the make and model without needing additional documentation.
- Engine Specifications: Details such as the engine manufacturer being VWoA, along with a displacement ranging from 1,786 CC or 108.99 CI (1.786 L), and horsepower ranging from 80 to 100 hp, outline the powertrain characteristics.
- Fuel Type: The VIN specification indicates that the car utilizes gasoline, offering insights into fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
- Body Type and Doors: The VIN discloses that the vehicle is designed as a Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback with 4 doors, indicating its body style and potential space availability.
- Safety Features: Information regarding the presence of a passive belt system suggests basic safety features aligned with the vehicle’s production year standards.
- Production Location: The manufacturing city is noted as Westmoreland, giving an idea of where the vehicle was assembled, which can be of interest for market value or regional manufacturing preferences.
Don’t have your 1988 Volkswagen Golf’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Volkswagen Golf
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback |
| Displacement (CC) | 1786 |
| Displacement (CI) | 108.988406953 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.786000 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 80 |
| Engine Brake (hp) To | 100 |
| Engine Manufacturer | VWoA |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| 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 | Golf |
| Model Year | 1988 |
| Other Restraint System Info | Passive belt |
| Plant City | Westmoreland |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1VWFA917*JV |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1VWFA9174JV011835 |
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