Free 1988 Ford Tempo VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1988 Ford Tempo VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Ford Tempo VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle and its specific attributes, such as country of origin, vehicle type, and manufacturing plant. The WMI is the first three digits of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which provides detailed information about the car. For instance, the 1988 Ford Tempo has a WMI of “1FA,” indicating it was manufactured by Ford Motor Company in the United States, specifically in Dearborn, Michigan. This particular identifier is crucial for recognizing and verifying the vehicle’s make, model, and production details. The use of WMIs plays a key role in vehicle registration, recall identification, and ensuring compliance with standards and regulations.

List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Ford Tempo

WMI: 1FA

• Model Years Covered: 1986-1989, 1992-1994
• Example VIN: 1FADP3391JL331961
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Dearborn
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

WMI: 2FA

• Model Years Covered: 1987-1993
• Example VIN: 2FAPP36X7JB234593
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd.
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Oakville
• State or Province: Ontario
• Country: Canada

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

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 Tempo 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 Tempo VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1988 Ford Tempo VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1988 Ford Tempo Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Ford Tempo

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

What info can a 1988 Ford Tempo VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s specific model year, potentially indicating the vehicle’s age and market value, with the vehicle in question being a 1988 Ford.
• Body Class and Doors: The VIN provides details about the body class, suggesting that this particular Ford is a Sedan/Saloon with 2 doors, offering insights into the vehicle’s design and size.
• Engine Type: The VIN may disclose specific engine details such as a 1.9L In-Line configuration by Ford with 90 horsepower, demonstrating the level of mechanical information available.
• Fuel Type: With the primary fuel type being Gasoline, the VIN provides valuable information about the vehicle’s energy sources.
• Safety Features: Information regarding safety features, such as “ACTIVE BELTS FRONT/NO RESTRAINT(REAR),” offers a glimpse into the safety measures integrated into the vehicle’s design.
• Manufacturing Information: The VIN can also provide manufacturing details such as the plant location, with this specific Ford being manufactured in Wayne, Michigan, United States, shedding light on the production origin.
• Vehicle Type and Weight Class: Classification as a Passenger Car with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating from Class 1 indicates both the intended use and weight class of the vehicle, offering insights into its capabilities and limitations.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Ford Tempo

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