Free 1990 Buick Riviera VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1990 Buick Riviera VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1990 Buick Riviera VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code designated to every vehicle manufacturer, forming the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which helps in identifying the vehicle’s manufacturer, region of manufacture, and the type of vehicle. For a 1990 Buick Riviera, the WMI is “1G4”, indicative of a vehicle made by General Motors LLC in the United States, specifically in Warren, Michigan. This identifier not only underscores the vehicle as a passenger car but also locates its manufacturing origin within the North American region. Recognizing the WMI is essential for understanding key vehicle specifics without needing to consult the entire VIN. This part of the VIN, therefore, serves as a quick identifier for law enforcement, vehicle registration, and consumer research purposes.

List of WMI Codes for a 1990 Buick Riviera

WMI: 1G4

• Model Years Covered: 1981-1985, 1987, 1989-1993, 1995-1999
• Example VIN: 1G4EZ13C0LU415206
• 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 1990 Buick Riviera 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 1990 Buick Riviera:

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 1990 Buick Riviera 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 1990 Buick Riviera VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1990 Buick Riviera VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1990 Buick Riviera Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1990 Buick Riviera

The final 6 characters in a 1990 Buick Riviera’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Buick Riviera’s VIN below:

What info can a 1990 Buick Riviera VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, indicating a 1990 Riviera in this instance, offering insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Vehicle Type and Body Class: It can disclose both the vehicle type as a Passenger Car and its specific body class, such as Coupe, providing insight into the vehicle’s general shape and function.
• Engine Specifications: Details such as a V-Shaped engine configuration, displacement measurements (3800.0 CC, 231.89 CI, 3.8 L), and the engine being manufactured by BOCF with six cylinders are typically found in a VIN decode report.
• Fuel System and Type: The VIN can reveal the fuel delivery system, in this case, Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI), and the primary fuel type as Gasoline, offering critical information for understanding vehicle performance and efficiency.
• Safety Features: Critical safety features, including the presence of front air bags located at the driver seat only and the type of seat belt, which is Manual in this vehicle, can be determined from the VIN.
• Manufacturing Details: The VIN provides information on the manufacturing location, specifying the plant city as Hamtramck, plant country as the United States, and the plant state as Michigan, which might be valuable for historical or registration purposes.
• Displacement in Various Units: The VIN decode report often provides engine displacement in multiple units - CC (Cubic Centimeters), CI (Cubic Inches), and L (Liters), enabling a comprehensive understanding of the engine’s size and potential power output.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1990 Buick Riviera