1997 Buick Century VIN Decoder & Lookup

Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Buick Century VIN
List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Buick Century
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1997 Buick Century VIN
Character 9 is the "check digit" in a 1997 Buick Century VIN.
10th Character in the 1997 Buick Century VIN — Year Code
11th Character in the 1997 Buick Century VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1997 Buick Century Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Buick Century
How to find a 1997 Buick Century's VIN?
What info can a 1997 Buick Century VIN reveal?
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Buick Century

How to decode a 1997 Buick Century VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Buick Century VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique sequences used to identify the manufacturer of every vehicle globally. Each WMI code contains three elements: the first character identifies the country of manufacture, the second character identifies the manufacturer, and the third character, along with the first two, tells us about the vehicle type and manufacturing division. For instance, the 1997 Buick Century uses the WMI “2G4”, indicating it was manufactured in the United States (“2”) by General Motors LLC (“G”) and is classified as a passenger car (“4”). This coding is essential for tracking, regulation, and identification purposes, providing detailed information about the vehicle’s origin and category. Such a code is integral for automotive manufacturers, and authorities ensure every vehicle can be uniquely identified.

List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Buick Century

WMI: 2G4

Model Years Covered: 1997-2005
Example VIN: 2G4WY52M1V1405274
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 1997 Buick Century 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 1997 Buick Century:

Known VDS for a 1997 Buick Century
WY52M	WS52M

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 1997 Buick Century 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 1997 Buick Century VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
V	1997

11th Character in the 1997 Buick Century VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1997 Buick Century Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
1	Oshawa #2	Ontario	Canada		2G4WY52M1V1405274

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Buick Century

The final 6 characters in a 1997 Buick Century’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Buick Century’s VIN below:

How to find a 1997 Buick Century’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 1997 Buick Century is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Check the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Buick Century. The VIN is likely visible through the windshield on a small plate near where the dashboard meets the glass.
Look at the door frame of the driver’s side door on your 1997 Buick Century. There’s usually a VIN plate or sticker on the door pillar when you open the door.
Examine the engine block of your Buick Century; the VIN can sometimes be found stamped onto the engine itself.
Inspect the trunk area, sometimes there’s a VIN plate or sticker located in the spare tire wheel well or on the trunk lid of the 1997 Buick Century.
Check the vehicle’s title, registration, or insurance paperwork, as the VIN for your Buick Century will be listed on all official documents related to the car.

What info can a 1997 Buick Century VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating the year 1997, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Engine Specifications: Detailed characteristics such as a V-Shaped engine configuration, a displacement of 3.1 liters, and an engine from manufacturer FLT, might hint at the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
Safety Features: The presence of front airbags for both the driver and passenger in the 1st row, may stress the focus on safety for this vehicle.
Fuel System: The vehicle employs a Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) system, which can indicate a specific type of fuel delivery mechanism designed for efficiency and performance.
Manufacturing Details: With manufacturing details like the plant city being Oshawa #2 in Ontario, Canada, the VIN provides a glimpse into the vehicle’s production location and pedigree.
Body and Design: The body class of Sedan/Saloon coupled with a 4-door configuration, might outline the vehicle’s fundamental design and utility aspects.
Model and Series: Information on the model being a Century and the series as Limited, could highlight the specific market positioning and trim level of the vehicle, offering clues about its features and luxury level.

Don’t have your 1997 Buick Century’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Buick Century

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Displacement (CC)	3100.0
Displacement (CI)	189.17360669367
Displacement (L)	3.1
Doors	4
Engine Configuration	V-Shaped
Engine Manufacturer	FLT
Engine Number of Cylinders	6
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type	Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Model	Century
Model Year	1997
Other Engine Info	Name Plate: Chev, Pont, Olds, Buick
Plant City	Oshawa #2
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Canada
Plant State	Ontario
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	Limited
Vehicle Descriptor	2G4WY52M*V1
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Windows	4
Sample_VIN	2G4WY52M1V1405274