Free 1988 Volvo 240 Series VIN Decoder

Unlock the history of the durable, classic 1988 Volvo 240-series with our free VIN decoder. See what makes this vehicle a reliable legend on the road. Enter your VIN in the box below to start your discovery journey.

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How to decode a 1988 Volvo 240 Series VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Volvo 240 Series VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are integral to a vehicle’s unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), serving as the initial sequence that denotes the manufacturer and the region where the vehicle was produced. Specifically, for the 1988 Volvo 240 Series, the WMI code is “YV1,” indicating that the vehicle was manufactured by Volvo Car Corporation in Sweden. This portion of the VIN is crucial for distinguishing where and by whom a vehicle was made, offering insights into the standards and specifications relevant to that manufacturer and region. The code is assigned by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and is standardized globally, ensuring that each vehicle can be accurately identified and traced back to its origins. For Volvo 240 Series vehicles from 1981 to 1993, including models from 1988, “YV1” is the WMI that underscores their Swedish heritage and Volvo’s manufacturing identity.

List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Volvo 240 Series

WMI: YV1

  • Model Years Covered: 1981-1993
  • Example VIN: YV1AX885XJ1789522
  • Manufacturer Name: Volvo Car Corporation
  • Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
  • City:
  • State or Province:
  • Country: Sweden

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1988 Volvo 240 Series 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 Volvo 240 Series:

Known VDS for a 1988 Volvo 240 Series
AX885AX884

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 Volvo 240 Series 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 Volvo 240 Series VIN — Year Code

Year Code Year
J 1988

11th Character in the 1988 Volvo 240 Series VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1988 Volvo 240 Series Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code Plant City Plant State Plant Country Plant Company Name Example VIN
1 Gothenburg Vastergotland Sweden YV1AX885XJ1789522

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Volvo 240 Series

The final 6 characters in a 1988 Volvo 240 Series’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Volvo 240 Series’s VIN below:

How to find a 1988 Volvo 240 Series’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 1988 Volvo 240 Series is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

  1. View the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Volvo 240-Series, where it meets the windshield. The VIN can typically be seen by looking through the windshield from outside the vehicle.
  2. On the door jamb of the driver’s door, check for a sticker or plate on your Volvo 240-Series when you open the door. This area often contains the VIN.
  3. Often, the VIN of the Volvo 240-Series can be found under the hood. Look around the engine bay on the firewall or near the fender wells.
  4. Inspect the trunk area of your Volvo 240-Series. The VIN might be on a sticker located on the trunk lid, in the trunk space, or around the spare tire well.
VIN Decoder

What info can a 1988 Volvo 240 Series VIN reveal?

  • Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year to be 1988, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
  • Manufacturing Details: The VIN can uncover where the vehicle was manufactured, such as in Gothenburg, Vastergotland, Sweden, providing insights into its origin.
  • Vehicle Specifications: Essential information such as the make being a 240 Series, with a body class of Sedan/Saloon, is typically encoded within the VIN, providing details about the vehicle’s specific model and design.
  • Engine Specifications: Details about the engine, including the model B230FS1 with 4 cylinders, can be discovered through the VIN, offering insights into the vehicle’s engine type and performance capabilities.
  • Safety Features: The type of seat belt and other restraint systems, such as a 3-Point Seat Belt, are examples of safety features that can be inferred, indicating the safety provisions of the vehicle.
  • Vehicle Type and Weight Class: The VIN can indicate the vehicle type as a Passenger Car and its Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, falling within Class 1 (6,000 lb or less), providing information about the vehicle’s weight capacity.
  • Doors: Information on the number of doors, which in this case is 4, can also be gleaned, offering a fuller picture of the vehicle’s structure and design.
VIN Decoder

Don’t have your 1988 Volvo 240 Series’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Volvo 240 Series

Vehicle Spec Value
Body Class Wagon
Doors 5
Engine Model B230FS1
Engine Number of Cylinders 4
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 240 Series
Model Year 1988
Other Restraint System Info 3-Point Seat Belt
Plant City Gothenburg
Plant Company Name
Plant Country Sweden
Plant State Vastergotland
Seat Belt Type Manual
Vehicle Descriptor YV1AX885*J1
Vehicle Type Passenger Car
Sample_VIN YV1AX885XJ1789522

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