Repair and Diagnosis: Application and ID
IDENTIFICATION CODESVehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Location:
The vehicle identification number (VIN) is a 17-digit combination of letters and numbers. The VIN is stamped on a metal tab riveted to the instrument panel, top upper left of the dash. The VIN number 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 (WMI):
The first 3 vehicle identification number (VIN) positions are the world manufacturer identifier (WMI) code.
- 2FA - Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd., passenger car
- 2FD - Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd., passenger car (incomplete vehicle)
- 2ME - Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd., Mercury, passenger car
- 2MH - Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd., Mercury, passenger car (incomplete vehicle)
Restraint Type Code:
The fourth VIN position is the vehicle restraint system type code.
- F - Active safety belts - all positions, driver and front passenger air bags
- H - Active safety belts - all positions, driver and front passenger air bags and driver and front passenger side impact air bags
Vehicle Line and Series Code:
Positions 5 through 7 indicate vehicle line, series and body type.
- P70 - Crown Victoria (Long wheelbase)
- P71 - Crown Victoria (Police Interceptor)
- P72 - Crown Victoria (Base fleet vehicle)
- P73 - Crown Victoria (Base 4-door)
- P74 - Crown Victoria (LX 4-door)
- M70 - Grand Marquis (Long wheelbase)
- M74 - Grand Marquis (GS 4-door)
- M75 - Grand Marquis (LS 4-door)
Engine Code:
The eighth VIN position is the engine displacement and number of cylinders code.
- W - 4.6L EFI (SOHC), 8-cylinder, gasoline
- V - 4.6L EFI (SOHC), 8-cylinder, flex fuel
Check Digit Code:
The ninth VIN position is the check digit code (0-9).
Model Year Code:
The tenth VIN position is the model year code.
- 8 - 2008
Assembly Plant Code:
The eleventh VIN position is the assembly plant code.
- X - St. Thomas, Talbotville, Ontario (Canada)
Production Sequence Code:
The last 6 VIN positions are the production sequence number. These 6 digits also are used as the vehicle serial and warranty number. The serial number can also be found on the engine block, transmission and frame.
- Ford - 100001-599999
- Mercury - 600001-999999
Vehicle Certification (VC) Label
Vehicle Certification (VC) Label Location:
The upper portion of the vehicle certification (VC) label contains the manufacturer name, the month and year of manufacture, the certification statement and the VIN. It also includes gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) as well as tire size and pressure ratings. The VC label is located on the left-hand front door edge.
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.
Paint Code:
The first set of numbers/letters listed indicate the vehicle primary body color code. The second set of letters/numbers listed (if applicable), indicate a 2-tone or accent body color code. All colors are base coat/clear coat.
Primary Body Color
- AQ - Arizona Beige, Mercury/Ford
- BU - Medium Brown Metallic, Ford
- BY - School Bus Yellow, Ford
- HG - Smokestone, Mercury/Ford
- JL - Dark Toreador Red, Mercury/Ford
- JP - Silver Birch Metallic, Mercury/Ford
- KR - Norcea Blue Pearl, Mercury/Ford
- LK - Dark Blue, Ford
- LM - Royal Blue, Ford
- LN - Light Blue Metallic, Ford
- LS - Light Ice Blue Metallic, Mercury/Ford
- MM - Ultra Blue, Ford
- P2 - Driftwood Beige, Mercury/Ford
- T3 - Satellite Silver Pearl, Mercury/Ford
- TM - Light Gray, Ford
- TN - Silver Gray Metallic, Ford
- UA - Ebony, Mercury/Ford
- WT - Performance White, Mercury/Ford
- YG - Medium Titanium, Ford
Accent Body Color
- AQ - Arizona Beige, Ford
- BU - Medium Brown Metallic, Ford
- BY - School Bus Yellow, Ford
- HG - Smokestone, Mercury/Ford
- JL - Dark Toreador Red, Ford
- JP - Silver Birch Metallic, Ford
- KR - Norcea Blue, Ford
- LK - Dark Blue, Ford
- LM - Royal Blue, Ford
- LN - Light Blue Metallic, Ford
- LS - Light Ice Blue Metallic, Ford
- MM - Ultra Blue, Ford
- P2 - Driftwood Beige, Ford
- TM - Light Gray, Ford
- TN - Silver Gray Metallic, Ford
- UA - Ebony, Ford
- WT - Performance White, Ford
- YG - Medium Titanium, Ford
Interior Trim Code:
The interior trim codes are listed below. The first letter/number is for the interior fabric. The second letter is for the interior color.
- A - Dalton cloth (split bench), Ford
- B - Atmore cloth (split bench), Mercury
- C - G-Grain vinyl 40/20/40 bench, Ford
- D - Luxury Atmore cloth (split bench), Mercury
- F - Luxury Atmore cloth (split bench), Ford
- H - Stockton cloth (front bucket with cloth rear seats), Ford
- I - Stockton cloth (front bucket seats with vinyl rear seat), Ford
- K - Milled Pebble leather (5-passenger seating), Ford
- P - Laura cloth (split bench), Ford
- Q - Dalton cloth 40/20/04 (split bench), Ford
- R - G-Grain vinyl (split bench), Ford
- Y - Milled Pebble leather (split bench), Ford
- Z - G-Grain Super Soft Milled Pebble leather (split bench), Ford
- 2 - Milled Pebble leather (front bucket seats), Mercury
- 3 - Milled Pebble leather twin comfort seats, Mercury
- 4 - Milled Pebble Super-Soft leather (split bench), Mercury
The interior trim colors are:
- J - Light Camel, Mercury/Ford
- L - Medium Light Stone, Mercury/Ford
- N - Charcoal Black, Mercury/Ford
- V - Cashmere/Medium Light Stone, Mercury
Tape and Paint Stripe Code:
Tape and paint stripe codes do not apply to all vehicles. If applicable, the code(s) is as follows:
- B - Black
- C - Light Chestnut
- J - Medium Red
- P - Light Charcoal
- Q - Dark Blue
Radio Code:
The radio type codes are:
- B - Luxury electronic AM/FM stereo with cassette and clock (pre-equipment package 1)
- F - Electronic AM/FM stereo
- K - Premium electronic AM/FM stereo with cassette, compact disc (CD) and clock
- X - Electronic AM/FM stereo with 6-disc CD changer
- Y - Radio delete
- Z - Electronic AM/FM stereo with CD player and clock
Axle Ratio Code:
The axle ratios are:
- 58 - 2.73 conventional (non-limited slip) - without Traction Control
- C6 - 3.55 limited slip
- C8 - 2.73 conventional (non-limited slip) - with Traction Control
- X5 - 3.27 limited slip
- Z5 - 3.27 conventional (non-limited slip)
Transmission Code:
The transmission codes are:
- Q - 4-speed automatic overdrive, (4R75E)
Spring Code:
The first number/letter listed identifies the front spring codes. The second number/letter listed identifies the rear spring codes.
Front Springs
- Base part number - 5310
Rear Springs
- Base part number - 5560
Rear air suspension codes are:
Rear Air Suspension
- Base part number - 5A891
Powertrain Calibration Information
Powertrain Calibration Information:
NOTE: Powertrain calibration information is limited to a maximum of 5 characters per line on the Vehicle Certification Label. 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 Vehicle Certification Label. Only the base calibration information is printed. Revision levels will not appear, however, they can be found in On Line Automotive Service Information System (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 has been used since 1998 and carried into the current model year, Protocol 1 will be used. Refer to Protocol 1 below. If the electronic calibration strategy has been used since 1999 and is carried into the current model year, Protocol 2 will be used. Refer to Protocol 2 below. For electronic calibration strategies introduced since the 2001 model year, Protocol 3 will be used. Refer to Protocol 3 below.
Protocol 1:
Protocol 2:
Protocol 3:
Powertrain calibration Protocol 3 strategy is explained in more detail in the following:
Model Year
Position 1 indicates the model year in which the calibration was first introduced.
- 1 - 2001
- 2 - 2002
- 3 - 2003
- 4 - 2004
- 5 - 2005
- 6 - 2006
- 7 - 2007
- 8 - 2008
Vehicle Code
Position 2 identifies the vehicle line in code.
- FB - Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis
Transmission Code
Position 3 identifies the transmission type in code.
- 1 - Automatic transmission
Unique Calibration
Position 4 is explained in the following:
The Emissions/CAFE/CO2 Compliance Department is responsible for assigning these calibration codes. Unique calibration identifications are assigned to cover similar vehicles to differentiate between tires, drive configurations, final drive ratios and other calibration-significant factors.
These 2 characters are selected 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, provides an easily identifiable difference.
Fleet Code
Position 5 - Fleet calibration coding is as follows:
- 0 - Certification (U.S. 4K, final sale in export markets)
- 1 - HGDE/Dyno
- 2 - Fast AMA, U.S.
- 3 - ADP U.S.
- 4 - Not assigned
- 5 - Not assigned
- 6 - Evaporative emissions
- 7 - MACAA
- 8 - On-board diagnostics
- 9 - Not assigned
Certification Regions
Position 6 - Certification region. Lists the lead region where multiple regions are included in one calibration.
- 5 - U.S. 50 states
- A - U.S. Federal (including altitude, may include Canada or Mexico)
- B - U.S. California standard (includes U.S. green states)
- C - Canada
- D - China
- E - European Community (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom)
- F - Extended European Community (Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Yugoslavia)
- G - Gulf Cooperative Council
- H - Hong Kong
- J - Japan
- K - Korea
- L - Malaysia
- M - Mexico
- N - New Zealand
- P - Australia
- Q - South America (Brazil)
- S - Singapore
- T - Taiwan
- U - South America (unleaded fuel)
- V - Vietnam
- X - ROW (rest of world)
- Y - Military
- Z - Israel
Revision Level
The revision level will advance as revisions occur. Not printed on label.