Prefix, basic number, suffix
A Ford number has three parts and the middle one carries the meaning. The four-character prefix encodes the model year and the platform the part was first designed for, and ends in Z on service parts. The basic number identifies the component and has been stable for decades: 1125 is a front wheel hub, 6731 an oil filter, 19703 belongs to the air-conditioning group. The trailing letter is the revision.
That structure makes cross-checking fast. Compare basic numbers first: if a supplier's 'hub' does not carry 1125, one of you has the wrong part, and the prefix argument can wait until that is settled.
You will sometimes meet two numbers for one visible part. The engineering number appears on the component and in technical documents; the service number, whose prefix ends in Z, is the one you order, and it is what the catalog lists.
Transit is a family, not a model
Transit, Transit Custom and Transit Connect span short, medium and long wheelbases, three roof heights, front, rear and all-wheel drive, panel van and chassis cab bodies, and several gross weight ratings — all inside one model year.
Those variables reach further than people expect: wheelbase changes brake lines, propshafts and exhaust sections; roof height changes panels and looms; weight rating changes springs, dampers and sometimes the rear axle. The VIN resolves all of it before a diagram opens, which is why model-name searching fails hardest on Ford commercials.
Europe and North America are different programmes
Ford has run parallel engineering for decades. A Focus built in Saarlouis does not share a parts list with a Focus built in Wayne, and the same is true across much of the range. The VIN carries the build plant, so identification by VIN sidesteps the split entirely — identification by model name walks straight into it.
Common Ford nameplates
These nameplates help you find the right vehicle family. Confirm the exact model, market and production period against the active catalog before quoting a part:
| Model | Production years |
|---|---|
| Ford Focus | 2018–present |
| Ford Fiesta | 2017–2023 |
| Ford F-150 | 2021–present |
| Ford Transit | 2014–present |
| Ford Kuga | 2019–present |
| Ford Ranger | 2022–present |
| Ford Mustang | — |
Frequently asked questions
What is Microcat?
An electronic parts catalog platform built by Infomedia and licensed to several manufacturers. Ford is the best-known example, which is why 'Microcat' and 'Ford parts lookup' are used interchangeably in most workshops.
What does the middle block of a Ford number mean?
It is the basic number, identifying the component itself: 1125 is a front wheel hub whatever the vehicle. The prefix carries the model year and platform, and the suffix the revision.
Does the catalog cover Lincoln?
Yes. Ford and Lincoln are in the same catalog, and on shared platforms they share part numbers.