Repair and Diagnosis: Application and ID

IDENTIFICATION CODES

Vehicle Identification Number

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Tag Locator:

The vehicle identification number (VIN) is a 17-digit combination of letters and numbers. The VIN is stamped on a metal tab riveted on the instrument panel, top upper left of the dash. The VIN is also found on the vehicle certification (VC) label. If the VIN plate requires replacement, authorized dealers must contact their respective regional office.

World Manufacturer Identifier:

The first 3 VIN positions are the world manufacturer identifier.
- 1FM - Ford Motor Company, USA, multi-purpose vehicle (MPV)
- 4M2 - Ford Motor Company (Mercury), USA, MPV

Brake Type and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR):

The fourth VIN position is the vehicle brake type and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) code, all vehicles use hydraulic brakes. This code may also identify the vehicle safety restraint system.
- E - 6,001-7,000 pounds GVWR with driver and front passenger air bags and side impact air canopy - Explorer/Mountaineer/Explorer Sport Trac
- R - 6,001-7,000 pounds GVWR with driver and front passenger air bags - Explorer Sport Trac

Line, Series and Body Type:

VIN positions 5 through 7 indicate the vehicle line, series and body type.
- U23 - Explorer Sport Trac, all wheel drive (AWD), Limited
- U31 - Explorer Sport Trac, rear wheel drive (RWD), XLT
- U33 - Explorer Sport Trac, RWD, Limited
- U37 - Mountaineer, RWD, Luxury
- U38 - Mountaineer, RWD, Premier
- U47 - Mountaineer, AWD, Luxury
- U48 - Mountaineer, AWD, Premier
- U51 - Explorer Sport Trac, four wheel drive (4WD), XLT
- U53 - Explorer Sport Trac, 4WD, Limited
- U63 - Explorer, RWD, XLT
- U64 - Explorer, RWD, Eddie Bauer
- U65 - Explorer, RWD, Limited
- U73 - Explorer, 4WD, XLT
- U74 - Explorer, 4WD, Eddie Bauer
- U75 - Explorer, 4WD, Limited
- U84 - Explorer, AWD, Eddie Bauer
- U85 - Explorer, AWD, Limited

Engine Type:

The eighth VIN position is the engine type (displacement and number of cylinders).
- E - 4.0L, SOHC, V6, EFI (Cologne)
- 8 - 4.6L, 3-valve, V8, EFI

Check Digit:

The ninth VIN position is a government-assigned, computer-generated check digit.

Model Year:

The tenth VIN position is the model year code.
- 8 - 2008

Assembly Plant:

The eleventh VIN position is the assembly plant code.
- U - Louisville, Kentucky

Build Sequence:

VIN positions 12 through 17 are an alphanumeric code for the vehicle build sequence. This is also the vehicle serial and warranty number. This serial number can also be found on the engine block, transmission and frame.
- A00001-E99999 - Ford
- J00001-L99999 - Mercury

Vehicle Certification (VC) Codes

Vehicle Certification (VC) Label Locator:

The VC label contains information on the manufacturer name, the month and year of manufacture, the certification statement and the VIN. This label also includes GVWR information.

If a vehicle requires replacement of the VC label and is 4 years old or less, an authorized dealer must submit the VIN to their respective regional office. The regional office will submit a web form to the assembly plant for the replacement label. Once the label has been printed, a representative from the regional office will deliver the label to the dealer and witness installation on the vehicle. If a vehicle is more than 4 years old and requires a replacement label, the dealer must submit a request to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Exterior Paint:

Exterior paint codes may be listed as a 2-part code. The first set of characters identify the primary body color. The second set of characters (if applicable) identify the vehicle accent or 2-tone body color. All colors are base coat/clear coat.

Primary Exterior Color Codes
- DX - Dark Blue Pearl - Explorer/Explorer Sport Trac
- G2 - Redfire - Explorer/Mountaineer/Explorer Sport Trac
- HH - Dark Cherry - Explorer/Mountaineer/Explorer Sport Trac
- HS - Earth Pearl - Mountaineer/Explorer Sport Trac
- JP - Silver Birch Metallic - Explorer/Mountaineer/Explorer Sport Trac
- NL - Orange Frost - Explorer/Explorer Sport Trac
- PV - White Chocolate (tri-coat) - Explorer/Mountaineer
- UA - Ebony - Explorer/Mountaineer/Explorer Sport Trac
- WS - White Suede - Explorer/Mountaineer/Explorer Sport Trac
- ZY - Silver Vapor - Explorer/Mountaineer/Explorer Sport Trac

Wheelbase:

- 114 - 2,895.6 mm (114 in) - Explorer/Mountaineer
- 131 - 3,327.4 mm (131 in) - Explorer Sport Trac

Interior Trim:

Interior trim codes are listed as a 2-part code. The first character identifies the interior trim type. The second character identifies the interior trim color.

Interior Trim Type
- 3 - Perforated leather seats - Mountaineer
- 4 - Leather with heated driver seat - Mountaineer
- 8 - Embossed leather with suede insert seats - Mountaineer
- I - Leather with power, heated driver and passenger seats- Explorer
- R - Value cloth seats - Explorer
- S - Premium cloth with power driver seat - Explorer/Mountaineer
- T - Leather with power, heated driver seat and memory- Explorer/Explorer Sport Trac
- U - Tracks cloth bucket seats - Explorer Sport Trac
- V - Leather with power driver seat - Explorer
- W - Tracks cloth bucket seats with power driver seat - Explorer Sport Trac
- W - Leather trim with suede inserts and power driver seat - Explorer
- X - Leather trim with suede inserts and power/heated/memory driver seat - Explorer
- Z - Leather with power/heated/memory driver seat - Explorer

Interior Trim Color
- C - Camel - Explorer/Mountaineer/Explorer Sport Trac
- W - Charcoal Black - Explorer/Mountaineer/Explorer Sport Trac

Tape/Paint Stripe:

Tape and paint stripe codes do not apply.

Radio Type:

- 3 - AM/FM stereo, 6-disc in-dash CD changer with MP3 capability
- A - AM/FM stereo (dual media), CD player with MP3 capability
- Q - AM/FM stereo, 6-disc in-dash CD changer and navigation system

Axle Type:

- 45 - 3.55 non-limited slip
- 46 - 3.73 non-limited slip

Transmission Type:

- V - 5-speed automatic, 5R55S
- X - 6-speed automatic, 6R60

Spring Code:

Spring codes are listed as a 2-part code. The first characters listed identifies the front springs. The second character listed identifies the rear springs.

Front Springs
- A - 8L24-18B036-A - Explorer/Mountaineer
- B - 8L24-18B036-B - Explorer/Mountaineer
- C - 8L24-18B036-C - Explorer/Mountaineer
- D - 8L24-18B036-D - Explorer/Mountaineer
- E - 8L24-18B036-E - Explorer/Mountaineer
- F - 8L24-18B036-F - Explorer/Mountaineer
- A - 8A24-18B036-A - Explorer Sport Trac
- B - 8A24-18B036-B - Explorer Sport Trac
- C - 8A24-18B036-C - Explorer Sport Trac
- D - 8A24-18B036-D - Explorer Sport Trac
- E - 7A24-18B036-EA - Explorer Sport Trac
- F - 7A24-18B036-FA - Explorer Sport Trac

Rear Springs
- A - 8L24-18W002-A - Explorer/Mountaineer
- B - 8L24-18W002-B - Explorer/Mountaineer
- C - 8L24-18W002-C - Explorer/Mountaineer
- D - 8L24-18W002-D - Explorer/Mountaineer
- B - 8A24-18W002-BD - Explorer Sport Trac
- D - 8A24-18W002-AF - Explorer Sport Trac
- F - 8A24-18W002-CB - Explorer Sport Trac

Powertrain Calibration Information

Powertrain Calibration Information:

NOTE: Powertrain calibration information is limited to a maximum of 5 characters per line on the VC label. Because of this, calibration identification consisting of more than 5 characters will wrap to the second line on the VC label.

Powertrain calibration information is printed in the lower right corner of the VC label. Only base calibration information is printed. Revision levels will not appear, however, they can be found in OASIS. For the current model year, Ford Motor Company is using 3 different protocols which describe powertrain base calibration. These protocols are designed to provide worldwide standardization for vehicle calibration. If the electronic calibration strategy was introduced in 1998 and carried into the current model year, Protocol 1 will be used. Refer to Protocol 1 below. If the electronic calibration strategy was introduced in 1999 and carried into the current model year, Protocol 2 will be used. Refer to Protocol 2 below. For electronic calibration strategy introduced in 2000 and beyond, Protocol 3 will be used. Refer to Protocol 3 below.

Protocol 1:

Protocol 2:

Protocol 3:

Protocol 3
The following offers a more detailed explanation of the coding strategy used in Protocol 3.

Model Year
- 1 - 2001
- 2 - 2002
- 3 - 2003
- 4 - 2004
- 5 - 2005
- 6 - 2006
- 7 - 2007
- 8 - 2008

Vehicle Line
- U5 - Explorer/Mountaineer
- UK - Explorer Sport Trac

Transmission
- 1 - Automatic transmission

Unique Calibration
The Emissions/CAFE/CO2 Compliance Department is responsible for assigning these calibration numbers. Unique calibration identifications are assigned to cover similar vehicles to differentiate tires, drive configurations, final drive ratios and other calibration-significant factors.

These 2 characters are chosen by the analyst to provide identifiable information unique to each calibration. For example, using the number 2 to denote a 2-valve engine versus using the number 4 to denote a 4-valve engine, offers an easily identifiable difference.

Fleet Code
- 1 - HDGE/Dyno
- 2 - Fast AMA, U.S.
- 3 - ADP, U.S.
- 4 - Not assigned
- 5 - Not assigned
- 6 - Evaporative emissions
- 7 - MACCA
- 8 - On-board diagnostics (OBD)
- 9 - Not assigned

Certification Region
- 5 - U.S. 50 states
- A - U.S. federal, including altitude, may include Canada and/or Mexico
- B - U.S. California, includes U.S. green states
- C - Canada
- D - China
- E- European Community (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom)
- F - Extended European Community (E plus Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Yugoslavia)
- G - Gulf Cooperative Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE)
- H - Hong Kong
- J - Japan
- K - Korea
- L - Malaysia
- M - Mexico
- N - New Zealand
- P - Australia
- Q - South America (Brazil)
- S - Singapore
- T - Taiwan
- V - Vietnam
- X - Rest of World (ROW)
- Y - Military
- Z - Israel

Revision Level (not printed on label)
- 91-99 - Hardware calibration levels
- 01-04 - Preliminary levels
- 00 - Job 1 production (initial calibration)
- 05-09 - Pre-job 1 revisions to calibrations
- 10 -89 - Post-job 1 revisions to calibrations
- 0B - Durability test level
- BD - On-board diagnostics (OBD) intermediate level (pre-05)