GUIDE TO IDENTIFY YOUR FIESTA

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GUIDE TO IDENTIFY YOUR FIESTA

Postby ClemR on Sat Oct 07, 2006 5:53 pm

Ok, here is the ultimate answer to the age-old question, when is a FRST a real one or which Model is this Fiesta (limited to the Mk III).
I can't promise this is all 100% correct because I assembled it from all kinds of sources over the last 15 years - so any hints to optimize this guide are more than welcome.

Even tough I never owned a Fiesta (was more into the Escorts and Sierras - registered here because I am generally interested in all Fords) I though you guys would benefit from my little research into the question: "How do I really identify my Ford by just checking all the tags?"

Every Fiesta has up to four ID plates/tags/stampings.

• The stamped VIN number on the floor pan
• The silver VIN plate on the slam panel
• The painted „Body Plate“ with production information also on the slam panel
• The engine serial number stamped into the engine block

(The Body Plate used to be on the bulkhead passenger side in the MkI/II)

The Fiesta Mk III (at least the ones sold in the UK) was made in three different plants: Dagenham-UK, Almusafes-Spain and Cologne-Germany.
Depending on the plant the tags differ slightly.

DAGENHAM:
• 17 character VIN starts "SFA",
• silver VIN plate reads "Ford Motor Company Ltd"
• colour code can only be found on VIN Plate in the box "Farbe/Color/Colour/Couleur"

Body Plate looks something like this:

WHI XR2 LL12345A
B022
FX R
92 BRITAIN



WHI stands for the colour White
XR2 is the Car's BASIC version, this being a XR2i (an "L" would obviously be an "L" etc, BUT the RS1800 has XR2 here, too, because this is its BASIC version)
LL12345 MUST match the last seven characters of the VIN and - if the engine is the original one - MUST match the engine serial number on the block!
The last character in LL12345A (the A) is a check digit used to verify that the VIN is correct :)
92 is the Model Year
BRITAIN is the market for which the car was made.

ALMUSAFES (or VALENCIA if that sounds better to you… the plant is just south of it)

• 17 character VIN starts "VS6",
• silver VIN plate reads "Ford Espania SA"
• colour code is on VIN Plate in the Box "Colour/Couleur" and on the body plate

Body Plate looks something like this (again, this is an XR2i):

PFB KD12345A H B
LJ H UB M X - 8 -
4 G K 8
6 BLANC B LK


The PFB states that it is an Almusafes made Fiesta.
The KD12345A again MUST match the last seven characters of the VIN and - if the engine is the original one - MUST match the engine serial number on the block!
The last character in KD12345A (the A) is a check digit used to verify that the VIN is correct :) .

The "H" is the BASIC Version. This should be as follows:
S = Popular etc.
D = "L"
F = "LX"
H = XR2, Turbo

(There are some more, which I am not listing, because I am not 100% sure - any info welcome)

LJ and H in the second line MUST match the Engine Code and Transmission Code on the VIN plate. (Combination Version H + Engine LJ is always an XR2, combination Version H and Engine LH is always a RST etc.)
UB is the Code for the UK Market
The remaining codes are Option Codes for Sun roof, radio, etc etc. - too many to list- If someone wants his decoded, I will be glad to.

BLANC B is the Spanish name of the colour and the first letter of the colour code. This one being WHITE (Code B is always Diamond White with Fords). This should match the first letter of the colour code on the VIN plate in the Box "Colour/Couleur" which also has the Model Year attached, i.e. B2 would be a 1992 Model Year White.

COLOGNE:
• 17 character VIN starts "WF0",
• silver VIN plate reads "Ford Werke Aktiengesellschaft"
• THERE IS NO BODY PLATE (MkI/II still had one)

Finally, there is the Engine Code on the VIN Plate:
On the Silver VIN plate the Box "Motor/Engine/Moteur" will show the following codes for the different Models:

GU 1.1
G6 1.1 Cat
J6 1.3
FU 1.4
F6 1.4 Cat
LJ 1.6 XR2i
LH 1.6 Turbo
RD 1.8 16V XR2i
RQ 1.8 16V RS1800
RT 1.8D


Now, there are some more details (combination of codes) which I am deliberately skipping so as not to encourage rigging - which is really not that easy considering how many things will have to match.

So, if there are any errors in this guide, or anything is not really clear, I will check and adapt it. Anyone needing help in properly identifying a Fiesta- I am always glad to help. My work as an automotive engineer has taken me into most of the Ford Plants, so I am a bit familiar with the way they worked.

Cheers
Clem.

Oh, and BTW, I live and work in Germany. 8)
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Postby Superal on Sat Oct 07, 2006 6:10 pm

Nice first post...very informative :)
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Postby Ollybee on Sat Oct 07, 2006 6:43 pm

Well you learn something new every day. Going to check what both of mine are.

Do the German manufactured ones use a different type/grade of steel? I've been over there a few times this year and there are of loads of early mk3's with no rust what-so-ever. Or is just our climate?
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Postby ianFRST on Sat Oct 07, 2006 6:47 pm

i belive this is his 2nd post.

1st one was locked and deleted :lol:
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Postby Superal on Sat Oct 07, 2006 6:52 pm

Realised that after my response :lol:
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Postby ClemR on Sat Oct 07, 2006 6:59 pm

ianFRST wrote:i belive this is his 2nd post.

1st one was locked and deleted :lol:


??? when was that :-? I should have noticed it :P
Did mail you though about that build sheet you found in your's last year Ian. Do you still have the picture you posted back then? Would help me identiify more of the body plate info...

@ollybee,
steel suppliers for the plants are different ones, but the steel specs are usually the same. I think it's a combination of the quality of priming/painting & rustproofing and the climate.
The early MkIIIs in Germany are Spanish and German built and I can't say I have seen a difference in rust/no rust.

Cheers
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Re: GUIDE TO IDENTIFY YOUR FIESTA

Postby ~S1~ on Sat Oct 07, 2006 7:20 pm

ClemR wrote:GUIDE TO IDENTIFY YOUR FIESTA


I can generally indentify my Fiesta by looking at the number plate :D
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Postby Excursion on Sat Oct 07, 2006 7:22 pm

ollybee wrote:Well you learn something new every day. Going to check what both of mine are.

Do the German manufactured ones use a different type/grade of steel? I've been over there a few times this year and there are of loads of early mk3's with no rust what-so-ever. Or is just our climate?


The German ones were OK, the Spanish cars used to rot.
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Postby xr2i-carl on Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:05 pm

good post

so what letters should be on my turbo, slightly confused (prob due to alcohol consumption)


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Postby ClemR on Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:14 pm

xr2i-carl wrote: alcohol consumption
carl


well, let's see alcohol powered xr2i that will be a.... ups, missing in my list :lol:

joke aside, depends on where you'rs was made, but if it's an original turbo it will obviously have engine code LH on the VIN plate.

cheers
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Postby xr2i-carl on Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:48 am

well all my documentaion proves it is lol

ust thought ill have a check


its got zvh so the old block is long gone lol


carl
who has alcohol powered xr lol?
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Postby rob pace on Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:46 am

very interesting :) , i can work out that mine is a FRST- not that i didnt know :lol: .

another intersting piece of info is this link on the site.

http://www.fiestaturbo.com/forums/how-t ... -vt104584/
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Postby Priezti on Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:31 pm

here is a spanner in the works

i know of 2 deffinate rs1800's (one of which is mine :) ) both are stamped with RD, both have intakes with SO on them, and both had wing seats and on a 92 k plate :-? :) :-?
Occupation: Auto Electrician & Car Audio installer (feel free to PM any questions)

http://www.fiestaturbo.com/forums/priez ... -vt149870/
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Postby Ollybee on Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:36 pm

Priezti wrote:i know of.....rs1800......both have intakes with SO on them


That has nothing to do with this and is also wrong!

Genuine RS18k's have HO stampted on the manifold.
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Postby Priezti on Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:48 pm

ollybee wrote:
Priezti wrote:i know of.....rs1800......both have intakes with SO on them


That has nothing to do with this and is also wrong!

Genuine RS18k's have HO stampted on the manifold.


well if u say so it must be true :)

and if has nothing to do with it whats this all about

Finally, there is the Engine Code on the VIN Plate:
On the Silver VIN plate the Box "Motor/Engine/Moteur" will show the following codes for the different Models:

GU 1.1
G6 1.1 Cat
J6 1.3
FU 1.4
F6 1.4 Cat
LJ 1.6 XR2i
LH 1.6 Turbo
RD 1.8 16V XR2i
RQ 1.8 16V RS1800
RT 1.8D
Occupation: Auto Electrician & Car Audio installer (feel free to PM any questions)

http://www.fiestaturbo.com/forums/priez ... -vt149870/
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Postby Ollybee on Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:52 pm

ollybee wrote:
Priezti wrote:i know of.....rs1800......both have intakes with SO on them


Genuine RS18k's have HO stamped on the manifold.
Those that can, do; and those that can't, talk about it.
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