Explorer VIN number - can you decipher

On 2004-05-19 19:55:24 -0500, Rod Keys said:

Here we go Rod.

The eleventh digit of the VIN (Z) tells us it was manufactured in St. Louis, MO

The tenth digit (H) stands for 1987

Finally the eighth digit (E) means "4.0L EFI-SOHC, six cylinder"

Here's the low-down of the meaning of the entire VIN

The first 3 digits identify the vehicle manufacturer: ? 1FM Ford Motor Company, USA, multi-purpose vehicle ? 1FT Ford Motor Company, USA, truck, completed vehicle ? 1FD Ford Motor Company, USA, incomplete vehicle ? 1FC Ford Motor Company, USA, basic (stripped) chassis ? 1FB Ford Motor Company, USA, bus ? 1FF Ford Motor Company, USA, motor vehicle equipment without engine/powertrain (Glider) ? 1MH Mercury, USA, incomplete vehicle ? 2FM Ford Motor Company, Canada, multi-purpose vehicle ? 2FT Ford Motor Company, Canada, truck, completed vehicle ? 2FD Ford Motor Company, Canada, incomplete vehicle ? 2FC Ford Motor Company, Canada, basic (stripped) chassis ? 2FB Ford Motor Company, Canada, bus ? 2FF Ford Motor Company, Canada, motor vehicle equipment without engine/powertrain (Glider) ? 2MH Mercury, Canada, incomplete vehicle ? 3FB Ford Motor Company, Mexico, bus ? 3FC Ford Motor Company, Mexico, basic (stripped) chassis ? 3FE Ford Motor Company, Mexico, incomplete vehicle ? 3FM Ford Motor Company, Mexico, multi-purpose vehicle ? 3FT Ford Motor Company, Mexico, truck, completed vehicle ? 4M2 Mercury, USA, multi-purpose vehicle ? 4M3 Mercury, USA, incomplete vehicle ? 4M4 Mercury, USA, truck, completed vehicle

The fourth digit is for the Brake Type and GVWR: ? A 0-3000 Pounds ? B 3,001-4,000 Pounds ? C 4,001-5,000 Pounds ? D 5,001-6,000 Pounds ? E 6,001-7,000 Pounds (may also be "R") ? F 7,001-8,000 Pounds ? G 8,001-8,500 Pounds ? H 8,501-9,000 Pounds ? J 9,001-10,000 Pounds ? K 10,001-14,000 Pounds ? L 14,001-16,000 Pounds ? M 16,001-19,500 Pounds

The fifth, sixth, and seventh digits code for the vehicle line, series, and body type: ? E11 Econoline Club Wagon ? E31 Econoline Club Wagon (Heavy Duty) ? S31 Econoline Club Wagon (Super Club Wagon) ? E14 Econoline E-150 (Cargo Van) ? E24 Econoline E-250 (Cargo Van) ? E27 Econoline E-250 (Commercial Cutaway) ? E29 Econoline E-250 (Commercial Basic) ? E30 Econoline E-350 (RV Cutaway) ? E34 Econoline E-350 (Cargo Van) ? E37 Econoline E-350 (Commercial Cutaway) ? E39 Econoline E-350 (Commercial Basic) ? S24 Econoline E-250 (Super Van) ? S34 Econoline E-350 (Super Van) ? E40 E-Super Duty (RV Cutaway) ? E47 E-Super Duty (Commercial Cutaway) ? F07 F-150 Flareside, 4x2 ? X07 F-150 (SuperCab) Flareside, 4x2 ? F08 F-150 Flareside, 4x4 ? X08 F-150 (SuperCab) Flareside, 4x4 ? F17 F-150 Styleside, 4x2 ? X17 F-150 (SuperCab) Styleside, 4x2 ? F18 F-150 Styleside, 4x4 ? X18 F-150 (SuperCab) Styleside, 4x4 ? F27 F-250 Styleside, 4x2 ? X27 F-250 (SuperCab) Styleside, 4x2 ? F28 F-250 Styleside, 4x4 ? X28 F-250 (SuperCab) Styleside, 4x4 ? U22 Explorer (2-door), 4x2 ? U32 Explorer (4-door), 4x2 ? U24 Explorer (2-door), 4x4 ? U34 Explorer (4-door), 4x4 ? U35 Explorer (4-door), AWD ? U52 Mountaineer (4-door) 4x2 ? U54 Mountaineer (4-door) 4x4 ? U55 Mountaineer (4-door) AWD ? R10 Ranger 4x2 ? R11 Ranger 4x4 ? R14 Ranger 4x2 (2-door SuperCab) ? R15 Ranger 4x4 (2-door SuperCab) ? R18 Ranger 4x2 (4-door SuperCab) ? R19 Ranger 4x4 (4-door SuperCab)

The eight digit stands for engine type: ? A 2.3L EFI, four cylinder (Ranger 1997 and older) ? 6 4.6L EFI-SOHC (Windsor), eight cylinder (Econoline, F-150, F-250) ? W 4.6L EFI-SOHC, eight cylinder (F-150, F-250) ? L 5.4L EFI-SOHC, eight cylinder (Econoline, F-150, F-250) ? S 6.8L EFI-SOHC, ten cylinder (Econoline) ? F 7.3L Turbo-Diesel, eight cylinder (Econoline) ? 2 4.2L EFI-OHV, six cylinder (Econoline, F-150, F-250) ? Z 5.4L SOHC, gaseous fuel prep, eight cylinder (Econoline, F-150, F-250) ? M 5.4L SOHC natural gas, eight cylinder (Econoline, F-150, F-250) ? X 4.0L EFI-OHV, six cylinder (Explorer, Ranger) ? E 4.0L EFI-SOHC, six cylinder (Explorer, Mountaineer) ? P 5.0L EFI, eight cylinder (Explorer/Mountaineer) ? B 2.5L OHV-DI diesel, four cylinder (Ranger) ? C 2.5L EFI-SOHC, four cylinder (Ranger) ? U 3.0L, six cylinder (Ranger)

The ninth digit is a check digit

The tenth digit stands for the model year: ? D = 1983 ? E = 1984 ? F = 1985 ? G = 1986 ? H = 1987 ? J = 1988 ? K = 1989 ? L = 1990 ? M = 1991 ? N = 1992 ? P = 1993 ? R = 1994 ? S = 1995 ? T = 1996 ? V = 1997 ? W = 1998 ? X = 1999 ? Y 2000 ? 1 2001 ? 2 2002

The eleventh digit stands for the assembly plant: ? L Michigan Truck (Wayne, Michigan) ? S Allen Park (Allen Park, Michigan) ? H Lorain (Lorain, Ohio) ? C Ontario Truck (Oakville, Ontario) ? E Kentucky Truck (Jefferson County, Kentucky) ? K Kansas City (Claycomo, Missouri) ? N Norfolk (Norfolk, Virginia) ? U Louisville (Louisville, Kentucky) ? Z St. Louis (Hazlewood, Missouri) ? P Twin Cities (St. Paul, Minnesota) ? T Edison (Edison, New Jersey)

The remaining digits are the Product Assembly Number: ? A00001-E99999 Ford Division ? J00001-L99999 Lincoln-Mercury Division

There was a 4.0 SOHC in 1987????

OASIS can't even make heads or tails of that VIN.....

Dan, thank you very much for your comprehensive answer.

I had since found a site which explains VIN's in general, but nowhere near in the detail you have provided.

I was in a bit of a bind because the vehicle in question is in the wilds of Papua New Guinea, and it's the first Explorer I've dealt with (tractors, heavy diesels, and ships are more my speciality).

Anyway, the H was the red herring, it is in fact, a W, designating

1998 year model, even though it was built in Sept 1997.

One further question, if it's not asking too much, do you know of a web site where I can get a blown up illustration or parts ordering guide for this engine, we are having a great deal of trouble identifying parts which may be needed.

Thanks again

Rod

Send Jim Warman a plane ticket. He will bring his technical knowledge and photgraphic memory from The Great White North and tell you excactly what you need. I'm sure he needs a break from all the snow and cold last winter!

Think about it Jim - sun, sand, half-dressed native girls...... Oh Canada? Oh NO! Give me New Guinea!

But seriously, if you would let the group know what you were working on, it would make it easier. The only parts guide to be had in the kind of detail you want likely comes from Ford.

Regards,

Dave

OASIS likes the revised VIN a bit better..... it's a '98 with the 4.0 SOHC,

5R55E trans and the axle code is D4 ( 3.73, limited slip ). It was built at the St. Louis plant on Sept. 29th, 1997. Warranty start date ("usually" but not always the day of delivery) was Oct. 14th the same year and the car was sold in Australia.

There are Field Service Actions outstanding on the car including the cam chain FSAs as well as the drivers seat recliner bolt.

The factory shop manual (should be available from

) can leave a bit to be desired at times but is likely one of the better sources af exploded views. The downside is that the service manual may call a part by one name whilst the parts catalogue might call it by something different. You might find a sympathetic dealer that uses MicroCat.... they have the ability to e-mail catalogue pages as required which would allow you to make your own mistakes instead of letting a partsman make them for you (that's an inside joke.... sometimes you need to be there to really appreciate it ).

HTH

Jim Warman snipped-for-privacy@telusplanet.net

Another VIN number analizer, online. Try it, give it a spin.

Try

.YOu can buy temporary access to the shop manuals and TSBs. Regards,

Ed White

Rod Keys wrote:

F-150, F-250)

Where do you find chassis and the engineer numbers in the Ford Explorer.