Repair and Diagnosis: Application and ID
IDENTIFICATION CODESVehicle 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.
- 3FA - Ford, Mexico, passenger car
- 3ME - Mercury, Mexico, passenger car
- 3LN - Lincoln, Mexico, passenger car
Restraint System Type:
The fourth VIN position identifies the vehicle restraint system used.
- F - Active safety belts, all positions with 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
Line, Series And Body Type:
VIN positions 5 through 7 indicate the vehicle line, series and body type.
- M01 - Mercury, all wheel drive (AWD)
- M02 - Mercury, Premier, AWD
- M07 - Mercury, Luxury, front wheel drive (FWD)
- M08 - Mercury, Premier, FWD
- M26 - Lincoln, Premier, FWD
- M28 - Lincoln, AWD
- P01 - Ford, SE, AWD
- P02 - Ford, SEL, AWD
- P06 - Ford, S, FWD
- P07 - Ford, SE, FWD
- P08 - Ford, SEL, FWD
Engine Type:
The eighth VIN position is the engine type (displacement and number of cylinders).
- 1 - 3.0L, DOHC, EFI, V-6 - Ford, Mercury
- T - 3.5L, DOHC, EFI, 4-valve, V-6 - Lincoln
- Z - 2.3L, 4-valve, DOHC, EFI, 4-cylinder - Ford, Mercury
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.
- R - Hermosillo Assembly (Hermosillo, Mexico)
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. These 6 characters are also found on the engine block and transmission.
- 100001-599999 - Ford
- 600001-999999 - Mercury, Lincoln
Vehicle Certification (VC) Codes
Vehicle Certification (VC) Label Locator:
The upper portion of the VC label contains the manufacturer's name, the month and year of manufacture, the certification statement and the VIN. It also includes gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The VC label is located on the left-hand door jamb.
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.
Exterior Color Codes
- D2 - Moss Green
- DI - Dark Ink Blue
- G2 - Redfire
- JP - Silver Birch Metallic
- ND - Dune Pearl
- NH - Light Sage Green
- UA - Ebony
- WS - White Suede
- ZY - Vapor Silver Pearl
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
- D - B cloth - Ford, Mercury
- E - C cloth - Ford, Mercury
- F - Ellipse/Fino cloth - Ford, Mercury
- H - Chicago/Fino cloth - Ford, Mercury
- K - Leather/Red Stitch - Mercury
- L - Leather - Lincoln
- M - Perforated leather - Lincoln
- N - Arrow/Fino cloth - Ford, Mercury
- Y - Ford leather - Ford
Interior Trim Color
- C - Camel Tan - Ford, Mercury
- L - Medium Light Stone - Ford, Mercury
- S - Sand - Lincoln
- T - Light Stone - Lincoln
- W - Charcoal Black - Ford, Mercury, Lincoln
Tape/Paint Stripe:
Tape and paint stripe codes do not apply.
Radio Type:
- B - AM/FM stereo, in-dash 6-disc CD changer, MP3 and clock - Ford, Mercury, Lincoln
- F - AM/FM stereo, CD player and clock (4-speaker) - Ford
- P - AM/FM stereo, CD player, MP3 and clock (6-speaker) - Ford, Mercury
Axle Radio Codes:
The axle ratios are:
- 33 - 3.33 - Lincoln
- 34 - 3.64 - Ford, Mercury
- 38 - 3.86 - Ford, Mercury
- 43 - 4.39 - Ford, Mercury
Transmission Type:
- 5 - Mazda G5M, 5-speed manual - Ford, Mercury
- B - Aisin, 6-speed automatic - Ford, Mercury, Lincoln
- C - Mazda FN-R5, 5-speed automatic - Ford, Mercury
Spring Code:
Spring codes are listed as a 2-part code. The first 2 characters identify the front springs. Characters 3 and 4 identify the rear springs. Front spring base part number is 5310, rear spring base part number is 5560.
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.
Powertrain Calibration Information:
Model Year
- 7 - 2007
- 8 - 2008
Vehicle Line
- DE - Ford, Mercury, Lincoln
Transmission
- 1 - Automatic transmission
- 2 - Manual 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
- 0 - Certification (U.S. 4K, final sale in export markets)
- 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
- U - South America (unleaded fuel)
- 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)