- Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Buick Century VIN
- List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Buick Century
- Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1998 Buick Century VIN
- Character 9 is the "check digit" in a 1998 Buick Century VIN.
- 10th Character in the 1998 Buick Century VIN — Year Code
- 11th Character in the 1998 Buick Century VIN — Plant Code(s)
- Known 1998 Buick Century Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
- VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Buick Century
- How to find a 1998 Buick Century's VIN?
- What info can a 1998 Buick Century VIN reveal?
- Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Buick Century
How to decode a 1998 Buick Century VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Buick Century VIN
World Manufacturer Identifiers (WMIs) are unique codes assigned to every vehicle manufacturer. For instance, the WMI “2G4” specifies a vehicle made by General Motors LLC, particularly focusing on passenger cars. This code is instrumental in identifying the make and broader details about the vehicle, such as the assembly location. In the case of a 1998 Buick Century, “2G4” indicates it was assembled by General Motors in Warren, Michigan, United States, reflecting a focal part of its identity and origin. WMIs serve as the first characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), playing a critical role in vehicle tracking and identification worldwide.
List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Buick Century
WMI: 2G4
- Model Years Covered: 1997-2005
- Example VIN: 2G4WY52M0W1414310
- 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 1998 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 1998 Buick Century:
| Known VDS for a 1998 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 1998 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 1998 Buick Century VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| W | 1998 |
11th Character in the 1998 Buick Century VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1998 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 | 2G4WY52M0W1414310 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Buick Century
The final 6 characters in a 1998 Buick Century’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1998 Buick Century’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1998 Buick Century is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1998 Buick Century, which is typically visible through the bottom corner of the windshield.
- Open the driver’s side door and examine the door jamb for a sticker or plate on your Buick Century; the VIN is often placed there.
- Check the engine bay of your 1998 Buick Century; there is often a VIN plate located on the firewall or on a strut tower.
- Peek under the rear wheel well of the Buick Century, as sometimes the VIN can be stamped on the frame or the body of the car in this area.
- Browse through the car’s maintenance records or insurance documents for your 1998 Buick Century as these typically record the VIN number.
- Inspect the vehicle’s title, registration, or loan paperwork, which should all have the VIN listed for your Buick Century.
What info can a 1998 Buick Century VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN discloses that the vehicle model year is possibly 1998, providing insights into the vehicle’s age and applicable standards of that time.
- Vehicle Specifications: Basic specifications for the Buick Century model are possibly encoded within the VIN, including details such as the engine type possibly being a V-Shaped, 3.1-liter engine with a displacement of 3100.0 CC, which might outline its performance capabilities.
- Body Class and Size: The VIN can possibly reveal the vehicle’s body class as a Sedan/Saloon, indicating its design and structural layout, possibly accompanied by the vehicle featuring 4 doors and windows, which might hint at its size and passenger capacity.
- Engine Details: The manufacturer of the engine is possibly identified as FLT, with the engine configuration possibly being V-Shaped and including 6 cylinders. This information might help in understanding the vehicle’s performance characteristics and potential maintenance needs.
- Safety Features: Among the safety features, the presence of front airbags in the 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) is specified, possibly pointing towards the vehicle’s safety equipment designed to protect occupants in the event of a collision.
- Fuel System: The VIN possibly specifies that the vehicle uses Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) for fuel delivery, which can possibly affect the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and performance, making it a critical piece of information for understanding fuel system dynamics.
- Manufacturing Location: The VIN reveals that the vehicle was possibly assembled in Oshawa #2, Ontario, Canada, providing information about its geographical manufacturing origin which might influence its design and build quality standards.
Don’t have your 1998 Buick Century’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 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 | 1998 |
| 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 | Custom |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 2G4WS52M*W1 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Windows | 4 |
| Sample_VIN | 2G4WS52M0W1444795 |
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