I have a 99 7.3 powestroke. it was manufactured in April(04) of 99. I just bought a chip for it but it is throwing up a service engine light. When I bought the chip I selected early 99 assuming that june(06) would be the splitting point for early/late 99. after doing some research it seems that my truck may actually be a late 99. can anybody confirm this for me?

 

I think early 99 where actually built in late 98, but I don't own one so I don't really know.

Whose chip did you buy ?

 

02/02/1999 Began the transition to the 99.5 model year ENGINE upgrade (DIT). Serial# 940614 and higher. To be sure, you'll need to identify it on the left valve cover sticker by International Harvester. International did the Stop / Run on the manufacturing so you're pretty safe using their Engine Serial Number (ESN).

HOWEVER, of the three plants, the remainder of the transition (other than engines) was phased in using previous stock until it was depleted. Ford did not finalize their complete change over until 06/99. So, anything between 02/99 and 06/99 and where it was assembled is ambiguous.

When you get parts, its always a good idea to add the Build Date on the Door Sticker as it is reflected in several parts warehouses. Including Fords. Especially Suspension and Braking Systems which were still over lapping in 05/99.

There was a brief period where the PCM Strategy and R4100 Strategies were non compatible. But, Ford sent a message to dealerships instructing them to identify and flash those vehicle prior to sale. The only thing I am not certain of is how many vehicles this affected.

 

Mine has a build date of 2-24-99, eng. #961693 and its a 99.5. What Tom said is very true when ordering parts for suspension and brakes. The vin # is also helpful when ordering from Ford. Mine even had e99 hpop hoses where the passenger side goes straight into the head rather than have the 90deg. bend of the L99. Although this doesn't matter, the e99 is easier to to snap in and stays out of the valley. Any way, be sure when you order or buy. Nothings worse than looking at something you can't put back together.

 

As far as engine it's a late 99. Send the chip back.

 

I ended up sending the chip back to get reprogrammed. Mine is the late 99. I got a ts 6 position chip. I'm just trying to get a little more power for towing trailers full of hay. thanks for the help

 

Mine is April 99 build definitely a late model. Got my ts chip from clay. Threw sel light. Contacted ts performance the chip was for manual tranny. They reprogrammed and shipped it for free. All is good now

 

Glad to here it. What tunes did you get?

 

Just the stock generic chip on sale from riffraff. The stock-hi idle-50-75-100-140 hp. It will scoot! Hard on the fuel gauge and turbo surge from boost is horrible

 

Also read somewhere anything after April of 99 is a late model. Definitely put ur vin in ur phone to have it handy ordering parts.

 

One easy way to tell is if you have a cruise control light. Late 99 turn on cruise control, light comes on in the instrument cluster. E99 no cruise control light, but truck does have cruise.

 

I had a January truck, but it was a late model.

 

I have a July '98 truck so there is no question on anything on mine but I have discovered that there was not a cut and clean change from early to late. Some things were changed as early as December '98 but others came later, like April.

 

Ours is a May '98, so it's one of the earliest ones.

I thought the late 99 had the big black door badge for the powerstroke, where early 99 had the V8 fender emblem?

 

I have a 4/98 truck. Earliest I've seen was a 3/98.
Most e99 had the fender badge, but during the transition between early & late some trucks got different badges.
It's a pretty good way to spot a e99 truck, but it's not 100%
I put the later door badges on my truck.