Free 1988 Ford F-250 VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1988 Ford F-250 VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Ford F-250 VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which uniquely identify the manufacturer of the vehicle globally. For the 1988 Ford F-250, the WMI can be either “1FT” or “2FT” indicating its country and place of manufacture. “1FT” signifies that the truck was produced by Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, while “2FT” indicates manufacture by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. These identifiers not only denote the automobile’s manufacturer but also provide insights into the vehicle’s type and production location, essential for tracking, registration, and identification purposes. The WMI is a vital component of the automotive industry’s standardized VIN system, ensuring every vehicle has a unique identifier.

List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Ford F-250

WMI: 1FT

• Model Years Covered: 1981-2024
• Example VIN: 1FTEF25Y1JNB02166
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
• Vehicle Type: Truck
• City: Dearborn
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

WMI: 2FT

• Model Years Covered: 1981, 1983-1999
• Example VIN: 2FTHF26H5JCB17948
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd.
• Vehicle Type: Truck
• City: Oakville
• State or Province: Ontario
• Country: Canada

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1988 Ford F-250 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 Ford F-250:

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 Ford F-250 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 Ford F-250 VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1988 Ford F-250 VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1988 Ford F-250 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Ford F-250

The final 6 characters in a 1988 Ford F-250’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Ford F-250’s VIN below:

What info can a 1988 Ford F-250 VIN reveal?

• Model Year and Make: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, suggesting it may be from the year 1988 as a Ford F-250, potentially providing insights into the age and market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Cab Type: A VIN can specify the body class, indicating it as a Pickup and the cab type as Regular. This may offer insights into the vehicle’s structure and capacity.
• Engine Specifications: Detailed engine information such as the type (In-Line), number of cylinders (6), displacement (4.9L or 300CI), and the manufacturer (Ford) can provide highlights of the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
• Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for this vehicle is Gasoline, which may indicate the kind of fuel system the engine uses.
• Drive Type and Brake System: It specifies the vehicle as having a 4x2 drive type with a Hydraulic brake system, potentially offering hints at the vehicle’s handling and safety features.
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: The VIN categorizes the vehicle within Class 2E, suggesting a gross vehicle weight rating of 6,001 - 7,000 lb, which can be useful for understanding load capacity.
• Manufacturing Information: Information about the plant, including the city (Oakville), state (Ontario), country (Canada), and the company name (Ontario Truck), can offer insights into the vehicle’s origin.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Ford F-250