I posted this on my original thread but it is far down the list and a bit off topic so thought I would try a new thread.

Looking for a Ford part number specialist now for my 4WD issue. I have removed the module from my truck and the P/N is 7C3T-14B205-AA. The truck is a 2008 F250 SD 4WD and the build date for the truck on the door sticker is 02/07. I did find a used module and the P/N is 8C3T-14B205-AA. The wrecker says not interchangeable and I am 99% sure he will be right. He deals with this stuff everyday. But that 1% made me think it is worth asking the experts here if that is correct.

Any help is really appreciated. Thanks.

 

Well they both have the same part number "14B205". The first digit in the prefix is the year so built 2007 vs 2008. The prefix (first four characters) tells year, part type and manufacturer. The second set of characters is the part number and last two digits will be revision number, example AB will be a new revision than AA.
With that said, the part will 100% fit but the question is will the programming be happy with a 2008 program in a 2007, that I can't answer.

 

The number on a ford part is not always the part number.

Often It is the engineering number.

Many times You can use the engineering number to find the correct part number.

Your best source for the part number is an Authorized Ford Parts counterman. Even then, you may want to double check with a different Ford dealer entirely, and their parts department member.

 

Both "part numbers" provided in the original post of this thread are actually engineering numbers.

The first letter does not indicate "year built". Rather, it indicates year the part was released for production.

I have loads of parts on my 2000 truck that begin with "F8", which means 1998. While some replacement parts begin with "Y" (released for 2000), and some parts begin with "X" (released for 1999), a lot of replacement parts for my 2000 begin with "2" (released for 2002) and even as late as "3" (released for 2003). These later dated parts represent Ford's part supersessions, where Ford updated for a newer model year, and that part was backwardly compatible for a previous model year.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are some parts that carry over for decades. There is a torrington axle bearing on my 2000 truck that has a number beginning with "C6", which was released in 1966.

The easiest way to determine if a part, especially a module, will fit.... is to provide your VIN to a Ford parts dealer (or website), and use the engineering number you found on the part you want to replace to speed up your search (or help the parts counter) locate a compatible version of part that Ford verified will work with your VIN.

 

Thanks to all for the education on part number or engineering numbers. Never knew that. I always thought that was a P/N. I did try the local Ford dealer and he said he could not see one available anywhere. But I might try asking them if the one I located is interchangeable with mine. The best of course is finding the exact replacement. The most likely solution will wind up being removal of the shift motor, manually shift it to 2WD and make something to lock it there. I did all of the Pinpoint Test P procedures today and the last test P-7 calls for 5 volts at one location and NOT battery voltage. I have about 10.8 volts so it looks like a failure. The first 6 tests were fine.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

How about posting the exact real part number if you now know it?

 

If this was directed at me, I don't know the exact real part number. I only recognized that the numbers provided were not orderable part numbers.

The right part number will include the basic number as found in the engineering numbers given, but the prefix will end with a Z, and the suffix may differ.

I often go out of my way to find part numbers, exact part numbers, for members of FTE, in instances where I know them, or have verifiable information on hand to find them.

Such was the case today, in this post on power steering pump seals.

 

Thanks again to all that replied. Here is all the number info I have. The number I provided came off the paper tag on the plastic enclosure. As well there is another number 7CAA14214A17. No separations by hyphens in it. It has Mexico P356. The date is 01/10/2007 and then MY 2007. The plastic case circle and date has the arrow going to "8" in the circle of 12 numbers and "0" on one side and "6" on the other of the arrow so I am taking that as August 2006. On the actual printed circuit board I have (PWB11691). Below that I have 4C3F-14A608-AA GEM 4x4. That number is repeated on the other side of the circuit board. On that side there is Z-U 06 24M 2-6. On the paper bar code I have7CAA OCA(6) 03 P356. I put the 6 in brackets because I cannot make it out for certain even using a handlens.

Using those prefix numbers it looks to me like the circuit board is 2004 and has been installed in a plastic case manufactured in 2006 and then a paper sticker placed on the enclosure in 2007. All of that seems odd to me but I really don't have an inside knowledge of the manufacture process. I bought the truck used....well used. It was sold at a couple used car dealer at one time. I did not buy it from one of them.

So from all of that I hope someone can decipher it and tell me what board I can use.

Thanks for any help provided.

 

Y2KW57, my comment about the actual part number is not directed to you but directed at the OP Rangerforever.

In post #5 he states " I did try the local Ford dealer and he said he could not see one available anywhere. "

I figured that maybe OP could get the ACTUAL CORRECT part number from said Ford Dealer, , and post it here, so we can help him and others who may see this thread in the future.

Carry on

 

Thanks for taking the time to read my posts Marksman. When I called the local Ford dealer the only number I had was the one I posted. The parts dept had no problem dealing with it. So naturally I thought it was a part number. He did not give me any other number so when I finished the call I was still thinking that was a Ford P/N. As well I gave it to the wrecker who compared it to the part he had, and the only difference was the first number, he had no problem using it to say the two were not interchangeable. Even the wrecker lists the boards he has available by that number. He had a few starting with the 8 and a different suffix. Having learned about engineering numbers now I am wondering if the number on the enclosure is only for the enclosure. The different engineering number on the actual printed circuit board is only for it. From Y2KW57's post the actual PCB was released for production in 2004. The case was redesigned for some reason, maybe the way it mounts, and released for production in 2007. So if that is right I should revisit the scrapyard and ask for the number off the PCB and see if it matches. Just pop it out which is really simple and put it in my enclosure.

Thanks again to all. Always appreciated.

 

Other than finding used parts on EBay under your original number, maybe try calling these guys and see if they can rebuild it for you.
https://moduleexperts.com/services/reman-services/

 

The "T" in the 4th position of the prefix of the first two part numbers shown in Post #1 stands for the engineering division at Ford Motor Co that was responsible for the part design. "T" may mean "Heavy Truck Engineering", as an example.

As a starting point, substitute the 4th digit of the part number prefix with a "Z", which is for Ford Customer Service Division... the office at Ford responsible for service parts to support and repair Ford vehicles.

This 4th character substitution within the engineering number very often ends up being the orderable part number.

The problem is, sometimes it isn't.

That's why my earlier advice to have VIN in hand for any Ford vehicle built within this century (after year 2000) when calling a Ford parts dealer (or visiting a Ford parts resource online) remains the best advice I can offer you.

Trying to decipher all the numbers and codes embossed or stamped on the part itself will probably not get you the module you need.

Ford uses the exact same basic part number, which is the central portion of 3 part hyphenated part number, to describe many different iterations of similar function but non interchangeable parts.

As an example, let's say one was looking for a front spring for a Super Duty. And in this example, let's say we've moved beyond scrutinizing the physical parts for any identification stampings, and are now just accepting on faith whatever our Ford parts counter person says, and without us providing them the VIN, they guess that we need Ford part number 2C3Z-5310-HA to replace our front spring. Note the "5310" in this part number....that's the basic part number. We even saw it on the spring itself.

Sounds good, we say yes, they order the part, and this is what shows up in the FedEx truck:


Sadly, this isn't what we needed at all. Yes, part number stamped or painted on the spring itself matches what we ordered. It is a "5310", and in fact, the prefix matches exactly too. 2C3Z-5310-HA

But we need a front spring that looks like this:

Both have a basic part identifier of "5310". That means front leaf spring. And these are both front leaf springs. Both fit for a Super Duty. Both with a prefix of 2C3Z. But obviously, these are very different springs.

The coil spring part number is 2C3Z-5310-VA. The leaf spring part number is 2C3Z-5310-HA.

Just one letter difference, in the suffix.

So let's look at the basic number for the module you are trying to find: "14B205"

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different "14B205" parts. All of them are in general, some type of general electronics module. Yet one can be VERY different than the other, and that vast difference is sometimes only distinguished by merely one innocuous letter in the prefix or suffix of the part number, even though the basic part number is exactly the same.

My online search of the 7C3Z-14B205-A as well as -AA came up as "Discontinued."

If I were you, I would dig deeper into your diagnosis to determine whether or not that module even needs replacing. How did you come to arrive at the conclusion that you need to replace this part? How do you know the issue isn't a wiring harness serving this part?

Parts that fail a lot are often still manufactured long after the 10 year support cycle is concluded, because the parts fail a lot and money can still be made replacing them. So if this part is completely discontinued, does that mean that this part was not ordered often enough to justify maintaining warehousing space for distributing the part?

I'm not alleging that you are throwing parts at a problem... but when parts are scarce, it sometimes pays to re-examine the problem to make certain that replacing that part is actually what is needed to fix it.

 

Thanks Y2KW57. I purchased the Mitchel manual for the truck when I bought it. It needed a lot of attention. The Mitchel manual gives a series of Pinpoint Tests. I have used some but not all of them. The last test in the "P" series calls for a check of the reference voltage on C-284-3 to ground with the key on. It should be 5 volts. I have 10.8 volts which would be battery voltage. My guess is that on the PCB there is a voltage regulator that reduces it to 5 volts for all the IC's on the board and it is defective. 5 volts is pretty common for all that stuff. Anyway the solution in the Mitchel manual is replace the module.

Thanks one more time for your help.

 

A quick up date for you Y2KW57. I contacted a different Ford dealer on line. He sent back a reply saying 7C3Z-14B205-A is the P/N. EXACTLY what you said....substitute a "Z". None in stock and no estimated arrival time in North America. Pretty much the same as your discontinued. I did sent the scrap yard an email asking if they could open the enclosure on the one they have and see if the actual printed circuit board had the EXACT number mine has. So far no reply. If the PCB engineering number is identical including the prefix and suffix it should be the same. If it is I will gamble the money and try it. If not maybe I should look for manual linkage for the transfer case or just lock in 2WD and leave it there.

As far as any attempt by me to repair the board it is unlikely. No schematic is a definite issue. Some of the components are so small they do not have a number on them. Some are so small I am not sure I could solder on a replacement even if I did find the defective part.. As for sending it away I went down that trail trying to get one of the boards done when I bought the truck. Most said no they could not do it. A couple said they would check and get back to me. Only been close to 3 years now and no reply.

 

My suspicion is that the distribution of control functions differs between the two modules, based on the descriptions I read from Ford between the two engineering numbers (that I converted to part numbers) when I did my search on your behalf.

A short to power can occur in a harness as well as a module. The Chilton, Haynes, and Mitchell service manuals are not as complete, comprehensive, or model year precise as the OEM Ford Factory Service manuals available from Helm, Inc.

I don't know where C284 is, or if it is an intermediary connector or the connector at the module itself, but I would be taking a long hard look at every inch of every wire in that harness, out from under the covers of the tape and loom, after doing a rigorous wiggle test under the same conditions where you reported a short to what could be described as anemic battery voltage.