Free 1988 Mercury Cougar VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1988 Mercury Cougar VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Mercury Cougar VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes serve as unique markers assigned to every vehicle manufacturer by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). These codes, comprising the first three characters of a vehicle’s 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), pinpoint the vehicle’s manufacturer, country of origin, and vehicle type. For instance, the WMI ‘1ME’ is designated to Ford Motor Company, specifically for Mercury Cougar vehicles produced during certain years, including 1988. This code ensures that each Mercury Cougar can be accurately identified as a passenger car manufactured by Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. The WMI is instrumental in vehicle tracking, registration, and recall processes.

List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Mercury Cougar

WMI: 1ME

• Model Years Covered: 1981, 1983-1997
• Example VIN: 1MEBM62F1JH688805
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Dearborn
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

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

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 Mercury Cougar 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 Mercury Cougar VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1988 Mercury Cougar VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1988 Mercury Cougar Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Mercury Cougar

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

What info can a 1988 Mercury Cougar VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1988, potentially providing insights into the age and market value of the vehicle.
• Engine Type and Output: It may specify that the engine is a V-Shaped, 5.0 Liter (302 CI) with an output range between 150 to 160 horsepower, potentially manufactured by Ford.
• Body Class and Doors: A VIN can indicate the body class, for example, Sedan/Saloon, and the number of doors, which is 2 in this instance, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Fuel Type: The VIN information can show that the vehicle’s primary fuel type is Gasoline, offering insights into the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
• Manufacturing Details: The VIN may provide manufacturing specifics such as the plant city (Lorain), country (United States), and state (Ohio), potentially offering insights into the vehicle’s production origin and quality.
• Safety Features: It can potentially provide details on safety features like the seat belt type, which is manual in this example, offering insights into the vehicle’s safety standards and features.
• Model and Series Information: The VIN decoding can potentially reveal the model as Cougar and the series as LS, offering insights into the vehicle’s market positioning and features.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Mercury Cougar