Free 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that identifies the manufacturer, vehicle type, and country of origin for motor vehicles. Specifically, for the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette, the WMI “1GH” denotes that General Motors LLC, located in Warren, Michigan, United States, is the manufacturer. This identifier is crucial because it not only signifies the vehicle as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) produced by a prominent U.S. automaker but also provides important geographical and production context. The WMI is the initial segment of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), serving as a global standard for classifying vehicles. Understanding the WMI is essential for vehicle registration, recall checks, and historical research on automotive manufacturing.

List of WMI Codes for a 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette

WMI: 1GH

• Model Years Covered: 1990, 1994-2004
• Example VIN: 1GHDX03E0WD111275
• Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
• Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
• City: Warren
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette 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 Oldsmobile Silhouette:

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 Oldsmobile Silhouette 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 Oldsmobile Silhouette VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette

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

What info can a 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette 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.
• Plant Location: It can provide specifics on the manufacturing location, including the city, state, and country, for example, Doraville, Georgia, United States.
• Vehicle Specifications: Information about the vehicle’s specifications, including its make and model, engine size 3.4 L, type V-Shaped, and the engine manufacturer FLT, can be decoded from a VIN.
• Body Class and Size: The VIN can indicate the body class and size, suggesting that the vehicle is a Minivan with 4 doors. This provides detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Drive Type and Brake System: Details such as the vehicle’s drive type 4x2 and its brake system type Hydraulic can be extracted, potentially helping in understanding the vehicle’s handling characteristics and drive configuration.
• Engine Details: Insights into the engine, like the number of cylinders 6 and the fuel injection type Multipoint Fuel Injection - MPFI, are encoded within the VIN.
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: The VIN might specify the vehicle’s gross weight rating, placing it in a specific class, such as Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg). This information can offer insights into the vehicle’s capacity and capabilities.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette