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Ford part numbers are divided into two main categories Engineering and Service. The engineers will design a part and assign it an Engineering part number, which is an alphanumeric reference code. When the part is redesigned the change needs to be noted so the Engineering part number is changed. When the part is released for Service it is assigned a Service part number. This allows Ford Parts and Service to track changes affecting interchangeability by modifying the Ford Service part number. The Service part number will not change with the Engineering part number unless the change affects interchangeability. Due to this the part numbers on the part are generally Engineering numbers and the Service part number will be on the box. There are some exceptions, such as a whole grouping of parts or a kit. Engineering and Service numbers decode the same way. The difference is the 4th character of the prefix. Part numbers consist of a;
An example would be F17A (prefix), 3002 (basic part number), -HB (suffix). The 1st character of the prefix indicates the decade of design;
The 2nd character of the indicates the year within the decade. F1 would represent 1991. The 3rd character of the prefix indicates the Product Line (See chart below) the part was originally designed for, with few exceptions. Note that "outside sales (code F), "Motorcraft Brand" (code P), or imported parts from Ford of Europe (code R) are identified with their product line code in the third position. In this example, the 7 = Ranger. The 4th character indicates the Part Source (See Source Code chart below), whether it is product engineering office or service part. In this example A= Light Truck Engineering. The part number F17A-6002-HB would equate to; F1 = 1991 7 = Ranger A = Light Truck Engineering The next group of numbers describe the part. Suffix designations generally begin with "A" and increment through the alphabet as design changes are made that affect interchangeability. If the suffix on the part I was looking to replace (my existing part) was an "A" I could use parts with a "B" suffix. If the part I was looking to replace (my existing part) had a "B" suffix, a part with the "A" suffix would probably have a compatibility issue. Parts that have later suffix codes are the ones to get.
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