how do i decode my vin # HElp please ??

 

If your Ranger is around a 1998 or so, this might help.

************************************************** *****
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION CODES

The vehicle identification number (VIN) is a seventeen-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 number is also found on the Vehicle Certification label (see below).

The VIN can be broken down into 8 categories:

1. World Manufacturer Identifier
2. Brake Type and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
3. Vehicle Line, Series, Body Type
4. Engine Type
5. Check Digit
6. Model Year
7. Assembly Plant
8. Production Sequence Number

Description of VIN Codes:

1. The first three vehicle identification number (VIN) positions are the world manufacturer code.

1FM — Ford Motor Company, USA, multi-purpose vehicle

1FT — Ford Motor Company, USA, truck, completed vehicle

2FM — Ford Motor Company, Canada, multi-purpose vehicle

2FT — Ford Motor Company, Canada, truck, completed vehicle


2. The fourth VIN position is the vehicle brake type and GVW code (all vehicles use hydraulic brakes).

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

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


Positions 5 through 7 indicate vehicle line, series and body type.

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 eighth VIN position is the engine displacement and number of cylinders.


X — 4.0L EFI-OHV, six cylinder (Explorer, Ranger)

B — 2.5L OHV-DI diesel, four cylinder (Ranger)

C — 2.5L EFI-SOHC, four cylinder (Ranger)

U — 3.0L, OHV, six cylinder (Ranger)


The ninth VIN position is a check digit.


The tenth VIN position is the model year code.

W — 1998


The eleventh VIN position is the assembly plant code.

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 last six VIN positions are an alphanumeric code for the vehicle build sequence. This is also the vehicle serial and warranty number.

A00001-E99999 — Ford Division

J00001-L99999 — Lincoln-Mercury Division

************************************************** ****
VEHICLE CERTIFICATION (VC) LABEL

The Vehicle Certification (VC) label is usually found inside the driver side door and contains the manufacturer name, the month and year of manufacture, the certification statement, and the VIN. It also includes gross vehicle weight rating. At the bottom of the VC is additional information referenced by the following codes:

1. Exterior Paint Code
2. Region Code
3. Domestic Special Order Code
4. Wheel Base Code
5. Brake Code
6. Interior Trim Code
7. Tape/Paint Pinstripe Code
8. Radio Code
9. Axle Code
10. Transmission Code
11. Spring Code

Partial Description of VC Label Codes:

1. Paint Codes

Refer to the paint manufacturer code book for information.


6. Interior Trim Codes

Seat Style

H — simulated split vinyl bench seat (Ranger)

E — Cirrus cloth 60/40 split bench seat (Ranger)

G — Triad luxury sport bucket seats (Ranger)


Interior Trim Color

X — Medium Prairie Tan (F-150, F-250, Explorer/Mountaineer, Ranger)

2 — Medium Graphite (Econoline, F-150, F-250, Explorer/Mountaineer, Ranger)

S — Willow Green (F-150, F-250, Explorer/Mountaineer, Ranger)

E — Dark Denim Blue (Explorer/Mountaineer, Ranger)


7. Tape Stripe Codes

P — Platinum (Ranger XLT "Off Road")

S — Silver (Ranger XLT "Off Road")

B — Blue/Dark Blue (Ranger XLT)

C — Copper/Gold (Ranger XLT)

G — Green/Gold (Ranger XLT)

T — Teal (Ranger Splash)

V — Violet (Ranger Splash)

4 — Silver/Medium Graphite (Ranger SE/LE)

5 — Beige/Brown (Ranger SE/LE)

8 — Santa Fe/Woodrose (Ranger SE/LE)


8. Radio Codes

7 — AM/FM stereo/ clock (Econoline, F-150, F-250, Ranger)

9 — AM/FM stereo/cassette/clock (Econoline, F-150, F-250, Explorer/Mountaineer, Ranger)

K — AM/FM stereo/cassette/CD player & digital sound processing (Explorer/Mountaineer, Ranger)

Z — AM/FM stereo with compact disk player (Ranger)


9. Axle Codes

84 — 3.45 non-limited slip (Ranger)

86 — 3.73 non-limited slip (Ranger)

87 — 4.10 non-limited slip (Ranger)

89 — 4.56 non-limited slip (Ranger)

F6 — 3.73 limited slip (Ranger)

F7 — 4.10 limited slip (Ranger)

92 — 3.08 non-limited slip (Ranger)

R5 — 3.55 limited slip (Ranger)

91 — 3.27 non-limited slip (Ranger)

96 — 3.73 non-limited slip (Ranger)

R6 — 3.73 limited slip (Ranger)


10. Transmission Codes

M — five-speed manual overdrive (F-150, F-250, Explorer/Mountaineer, Ranger)

D — automatic five-speed (Explorer/Mountaineer, Ranger)

T — Automatic four-speed (Ranger)


11. Spring Codes

Front Spring

A — 5310 spring (Econoline, F-150, F-250, Ranger)

C — 5310 spring (Econoline, Ranger)

D — 5310 spring (Econoline, Ranger)

E — 5310 spring (Econoline, Ranger)

F — 5310 spring (Econoline, Ranger)

G — 5310 spring (Econoline, Ranger)

H — 5310 spring (Econoline, Ranger)

K — 5310 spring (Econoline, F-150, F-250, Ranger)

M — 5310 spring (Econoline, F-150, F-250, Ranger)

N — 5310 spring (Econoline, F-150, F-250, Ranger)

T — 5310 spring (Econoline, Ranger)

W — 5310 spring (Ranger)


Rear Spring

C — 5560 spring (Econoline, F-150, Ranger)

E — 5560 spring (Ranger)

R — 5560 spring (Econoline, Ranger)

S — 5560 spring (Econoline, Ranger)

T — 5560 spring (Ranger)

X — 5560 spring (Ranger)

K — 5560 spring (Econoline, F-150, Ranger)

3 — 5560 spring (F-250, Ranger)

 

Wow!!! I have to say Rock, you have more patience than I. Save this one for the stickies.

 

I actually had this info saved in a file already. It was simply a matter of cutting and pasting.

The thing to keep in mind is that, some codes get added, amended and even dropped over the years (new engines, trim, etc) so you can't really expect to find one grand VIN "list" that covers all the codes for all the years. The info I posted will be pretty good for mid to late 90's Rangers, but after that people might want to get an updated VIN "list" from a newer Ford Manual. For example, note that there is no code for the 4.0L SOHC engine in the info I provided. This is because in '98, the 4.0L SOHC did not yet come in the Ranger.

 

wow thanx that will help me out a lot

 

ok i got every thinng what i am looking for now is the paint code (WB) and the axle code (97) my 2000 ranger is that orange color and i have to do a little touch ups so i need some paint

 

Try this: https://www.ford-trucks.com/articles/2003/9.php

 

Rockledge, do you know if those axle codes will apply to 99 B series trucks?

 

Bill, I 'm not sure about that, I honestly never thought of it. But I would venture a guess that the B-Series does use the same VIN codes as the Ranger (except for the first 3 digits which indicate the manufacturer)...

 

Wow! That was a great answer. I don't suppose you know the codes for vintage (1974) F250 by chance.

VIN is of the form
F25YKUxxxxx
F25 means it is a 250 series Ford truck
Y is the engine code which means (?)
K is the assembly location which means (?)
Uxxxxx is the unit number (the fact that mine is a "U" is coincidence not related to the word "unit." I THINK perhaps that U is a year code for 1974 because I saw a 1975 that was Vxxxxx.

Also, I have
155 N F257 66M G 38J

06500 21

Well, the 155 is surely the wheelbase and the 06500 is surely the GVW rating
That leaves N which is probably color (the registration says it is green -- couldn't prove it by me!) F257 is probably the body style -- currently flatbed, but I'm sure it used to have a pickup bed.

Trans code G? supposedly has C6 in it but problem is with lots of bangin around it may have been changed.

Rear axle 38?
Front axle J (twin I-beam)?

What engine do I supposedly have? What's the rear axle and is it limited slip or regular and such stuff as that.

Anybody know the answers to all this?

Chuck

 

Great info! Let me add another question. I have a 98 Ranger X-Cab Flairside, 4.0L, 5-speed Automatic and my VIN number GVW code is a "Y" which is not on the list. Also, my VC label axle code is a "95" which also is not on the list. Anybody help me here?

 

Yours must be a later build, I went to the '99 Ford Manual and came up with these:

VIN GVW Codes:

Z — 5,100-6,000 pounds with second generation air bags
Y — 4,001-5,000 pounds with second generation air bags

VC Axle Code:

95 — 3.55, non-limited slip

 

Thanks for the info!