Free 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder VIN

World Manufacturer Identifiers (WMIs) are unique codes used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle and provide specific information about it. For instance, a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder has a WMI of “4A3”, which denotes Mitsubishi Motors North America as the manufacturer. This identifier is part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which further distinguishes the vehicle by model year, manufacturing plant, and other specifics. These first three characters of the VIN are crucial in recognizing the vehicle’s origin, type, and the company responsible for its production. In the case of the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, the WMI indicates it was produced by Mitsubishi in the United States for the passenger car market.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

WMI: 4A3

• Model Years Covered: 1997-1999, 2001-2005, 2007-2009, 2011-2012
• Example VIN: 4A3AX35G1WE079100
• Manufacturer Name: Mitsubishi Motors North America
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Cypress
• State or Province: California
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 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 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder:

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 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 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 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

The final 6 characters in a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1998, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: It can specify the body class, such as Convertible/Cabriolet, and the number of doors, pinpointing a 2-door configuration, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Engine Specifications: The VIN may provide engine details such as displacement (2000.0 CC, 122.04748818946 CI, 2.0 L), Valve Train Design (Dual Overhead Cam - DOHC), and fuel injection type (Multipoint Fuel Injection - MPFI), typically encoded within the VIN.
• Safety Features: Standard safety features, for instance, the presence of 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) airbags, can be deduced, providing potential insights into the vehicle’s safety standards.
• Fuel Delivery System: The VIN may specify the type of fuel delivery system used, in this example, being Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI), potentially highlighting the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and performance.
• Manufacturing Information: Location details including the plant city (Bloomington-Normal), state (Illinois), and country (United States) where the vehicle was produced, can often be identified, offering potential insights into the vehicle’s origin and manufacturing details.
• Seat Belt Type: Information on seat belt type is sometimes included, with this example indicating manual seat belts, potentially offering insights into the safety features of the vehicle.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder