Ok so I'm trying to find a new valve body separator plate with the bonded gaskets. Ford lists part #1L5Z-7Z490-AA for my truck with the 2.3 but its discontinued. It lists part #1L5Z-7Z490-BA and 1L5Z-7Z490-CA as still available but list those for the 3.0 and 4.0 engines. Its all the same effing transmission?!? The part numbers for this dumb plate go all the way to 1L5Z-7Z490-HA. Aren't the last 2 letters just the newest version of the same part? Wouldn't any of them work?

 

Yes, the first 4 numbers are the year the part was first made or last major revision, and the vehicle model and, department its assigned to
1L5Z
1 = 2001
L5 = Ranger
Z = Ford Customer Service Division Product Analysis, although I would expect P or W here, see below

Second set is the actual part number
7Z490 = valve body for 4R and 5R transmissions, but could also be for other model transmissions

Third set is, as you said, Revision numbers, AA being first model released, and it goes to AB and BB and ect.......for each revision, revisions skip up based on the changes made, if just one change then AA would go to AB, multiple changes at one time jump it up

If there are substantial changes then they will change the year, so 5L5Z would be major change a new 2005 number
Year number doesn't apply to the year of the vehicle, its the year part was changed or first produced

I don't see any reason you should use latest revision, 4R and 5R 44E and 55E are the same transmissions, difference was software change in computer to activate OD while in 1st gear to get faux "2nd gear" and smoother transition between old 1st and 2nd ratios
44E and 55E have different size OD drum and maybe clutch packs, but same valve bodies

Found this at another site
Year/Decade Codes
A = 2010
B = 2011
C = 2012
D = 2013
E = 2014
F = 2015
G = 2016
H = 2017
I = Not Used
J = 2018
K = 2019
L = 2020
M = 2021
N = 2022
O = Not Used
P = 2023
Q = Not Used
R = 2024
S = 1995
T = 1996
U = Not Used
V = 1997
W = 1998
X = 1999
Y = 2000
Z = Not Used
0 = Not Used
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
5 = 3005
6 = 2006
7 = 2007
8 = 2008
9 = 2009

Product Line Codes
S1 = Aspire
S2 = Contour
S4 = Escort/Focus
S5 = Ka
S6 = Fiesta
S7 = Mondeo
S8 = Probe
S9 = Mystique
M1 = Tracer
F1 = Taurus
F2 = Windstar
F3 = Continental
F4 = Sable
F5 = Villager
F6 = Thunderbird
F7 = EN158
F8 = FW178
L1 = Bronco
L2 = Explorer
L3 = F150/F250
L4 = Maverick 4X4
L5 = Ranger
L6 = Aerostar
R1 = Aston-Martin
R2 = Falcon
R3 = Mustang
R4 = Scorpio
R5 = Fairlane
R6 = LTD
R8 = Jaguar S-Type
R9 = Mark VIII
W1 = Town Car
W2 = Cougar
W3 = Grand Marquis
W4 = DEW98
W5 = EW171
W6 = Thunderbird RWD
W7 = EN114 Crown Vic
W8 = Jaguar XK8/XKR
W9 = Jaguar XJ-Series
C1 = Transit
C2 = Econoline
C3 = Medium Truck
C4 = L-Series/Cargo-CF Series Truck
U1 = Power Products
U2 = Motorcraft Brand
U3 = Outside Sales
U4 = #3

Design Responsibility Codes
A = Advanced Vehicle Technologies Core Operations
B = Not Assigned
C = Chassis Operations
D = Overseas Product Engineering
E = Engine Engineering, Engine Product and Manufacturing Engineering
F = Electronics Engineering Operations
G = Not Assigned
H = Climate Control Operations
I = Not Used
J = Ford Customer Service Division Parts and Accessories Engineering
K = Import Release Section
L = Ford Customer Service Division Power Products Engineering
M = Special Vehicle Operations
N = Not Assigned
O = Not Used
P = Transmission and Axle Product and Manufacturing Engineering (Automatic Transmission)
Q = Not Used
R = Transmission and Axle Product and Manufacturing Engineering (Manual Transmission)
S = Light and Heavy Truck Engineering/Truck Special Order Department
T = Not Assigned
U = Electrical and Fuel Handling Division
V = Domestic Special Order Engineering Section
W = Transmission and Axle Product and Manufacturing Engineering (Axle and Drveline)
X = Plastic and Trim Products Operations
Y = Not Assigned
Z = Ford Customer Service Division Product Analysis
0 = Not Used
1 = Vehicle Center 1
2 = Vehicle Center 2
3 = Vehicle Center 3
4 = Vehicle Center 4
5 = Vehicle Center 5
6 = Vehicle Center 6
7 = Not Assigned
8 = Electric Vehicle Engineering
9 = Not Assigned

 

This is what confused me. They are all identical valve bodies the only change I know of was going from a separator plate with 2 gaskets to the bonded plate which was a TSB repair part in 01 to fix the older ones with the 2 gaskets, but then became standard equiptment on later models. So any of the part numbers available for the bonded plate should be the same thing. I just ordered the "GA" revised model since it was on amazon for 35 bucks. Ill know if its right in a couple days.

 

Hey Ron,

quick question. I recently purchased the revised separator plate for my 4r44e. I have a 2000 ranger 3.0 flex. Part # is 1L5Z7Z490EA. i researched this thoroughly before attempting this project that started with a p0743 code. I changed my TCC solenoid, wiring harness, EPC solenoid, and wanted to address the valve body because of the gasket was falling apart. Everything is going good except the new separator plate looks a lot different than my old one and it seems like certain holes aren’t lining up. Looks like valve body screw holes are ok but I don’t have one of my holes for the star headed screws that hold the separator plate to the valve body. Is this indeed the correct separator plate? And it’s just different cause of the revision? I got the part # from Ranger Station.