Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Vehicle Certification (VC) Label: Notes
The upper portion of the vehicle certification (VC) label contains the manufacturer name, the month and year of manufacture, the certification statement and the VIN. It also includes gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) as well as tire size and pressure ratings. The VC label is located on the left-hand front door edge.
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.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Exterior paint color code |
| 2 | Region code |
| 3 | Domestic special order |
| 4 | Interior trim code |
| 5 | Tape/paint stripe code |
| 6 | Radio code |
| 7 | Axle code |
| 8 | Transmission code |
| 9 | Spring code |
| 10 | Powertrain calibration information |
The first set of numbers/letters listed indicate the vehicle primary body color code. The second set of letters/numbers listed (if applicable), indicate a 2-tone or accent body color code. All colors are base coat/clear coat.
Primary Body Color
- AQ - Arizona Beige, Mercury/Ford
- BU - Medium Brown Metallic, Ford
- BY - School Bus Yellow, Ford
- HG - Smokestone, Mercury/Ford
- JL - Dark Toreador Red, Mercury/Ford
- JP - Silver Birch Metallic, Mercury/Ford
- KR - Norcea Blue Pearl, Mercury/Ford
- LK - Dark Blue, Ford
- LM - Royal Blue, Ford
- LN - Light Blue Metallic, Ford
- LS - Light Ice Blue Metallic, Mercury/Ford
- MM - Ultra Blue, Ford
- TM - Light Gray, Ford
- TN - Silver Gray Metallic, Ford
- UA - Ebony, Mercury/Ford
- WT - Performance White, Mercury/Ford
- YG - Medium Titanium, Ford
Accent Body Color
- AQ - Arizona Beige, Ford
- BU - Medium Brown Metallic, Ford
- BY - School Bus Yellow, Ford
- HG - Smokestone, Mercury/Ford
- JL - Dark Toreador Red, Ford
- JP - Silver Birch Metallic, Ford
- KR - Norcea Blue, Ford
- LK - Dark Blue, Ford
- LM - Royal Blue, Ford
- LN - Light Blue Metallic, Ford
- LS - Light Ice Blue Metallic, Ford
- MM - Ultra Blue, Ford
- P2 - Driftwood Beige, Ford
- TM - Light Gray, Ford
- TN - Silver Gray Metallic, Ford
- UA - Ebony, Ford
- WT - Performance White, Ford
- YG - Medium Titanium, Ford
The interior trim codes are listed below. The first letter/number is for the interior fabric. The second letter is for the interior color.
- C - G-Grain vinyl 40/20/40 bench, Ford
- D - Luxury Atmore cloth (split bench), Mercury
- F - Luxury Atmore cloth (split bench), Ford
- H - Stockton cloth (front bucket with cloth rear seats), Ford
- I - Stockton cloth (front bucket seats with vinyl rear seat), Ford
- N - Milled Pebble leather, Mercury
- Z - G-Grain Super Soft Milled Pebble leather (split bench), Ford
The interior trim colors are:
- J - Light Camel, Mercury/Ford
- L - Medium Light Stone, Mercury/Ford
- N - Charcoal Black, Mercury/Ford
Tape and paint stripe codes do not apply.
The radio type codes are:
- B - Luxury electronic AM/FM stereo with cassette and clock (pre-equipment package 1)
- F - Electronic AM/FM stereo
- K - Premium electronic AM/FM stereo with cassette, compact disc (CD) and clock
- X - Electronic AM/FM stereo with 6-disc CD changer
- Y - Radio delete
- Z - Electronic AM/FM stereo with CD player and clock
The axle ratios are:
- 58 - 2.73 conventional (non-limited slip) - without Traction Control
- C6 - 3.55 limited slip
- C8 - 2.73 conventional (non-limited slip) - with Traction Control
- X5 - 3.27 limited slip
- Z5 - 3.27 conventional (non-limited slip)
The transmission codes are:
- Q - 4-speed automatic overdrive, (4R75E)
The first 2 characters listed identifies the front spring codes. The second 2 characters listed identifies the rear spring codes.
Front Springs
- BB - 8W73-18B036-K
- CC - 8W73-18B036-L
- EE - 8W73-18B036-M
- GG - 8W73-18B036-P
Rear Springs
- 22 - 3W73-5560-CA
- 44 - 6W73-5560-AA
- 55 - 6W73-5560-BA
- 66 - 6W73-5560-CA
Rear air suspension codes are:
Rear Air Suspension
- N/A
NO RELATED
Use the Manual With the Right Hardware
Pair factory procedures with proven DIY tools so the instructions are easier to execute.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.