Free 1988 Honda Prelude VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1988 Honda Prelude VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Honda Prelude VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle, comprising the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It reveals key information about the vehicle, including its manufacturing location and vehicle type. Taking the 1988 Honda Prelude as an example, its WMI indicates that it was produced by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. This particular vehicle was manufactured in Tokyo, Musashi, Japan, marking it as a passenger car. The intricacies of the WMI serve as a globally recognized standard for classifying vehicles by their production attributes.

List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Honda Prelude

WMI: JHM

• Model Years Covered: 1981-1982, 1985-2001
• Example VIN: JHMBA4127JC043133
• Manufacturer Name: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Tokyo
• State or Province: Musashi
• Country: Japan

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

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 Honda Prelude 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 Honda Prelude VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1988 Honda Prelude VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1988 Honda Prelude Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Honda Prelude

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

What info can a 1988 Honda Prelude VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Manufacturing Location: The VIN might reveal where the vehicle was manufactured, indicating cities and countries where the vehicle was produced.
• Vehicle Specifications: Basic vehicle information, along with engine details, could be discerned from the VIN, offering insights into the vehicle’s design and performance.
• Body Class and Doors: The VIN can divulge the body type and the number of doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Engine Characteristics: Engine specifications, including displacement and the engine’s power range, may be specified within the VIN, giving information about the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
• Fuel Type: The primary fuel type is typically encoded within the VIN, providing insights into the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
• Safety and Transmission Features: Information about safety measures and the transmission style could be inferred, offering a comprehensive overview of the vehicle’s operational and safety standards.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Honda Prelude