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2013 FORD EXPLORER
3.5L V6 EcoBoost•AWD•AUTOMATIC•gas•turbo
12 active safety recalls on this vehicle — view recalls
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Repairs0Labor494Torque3398Fluid9DTC1588Battery1Maintenance0Recalls12
P1639high severityPowertrain

Vehicle ID Block Corrupted or Not Programmed

on 2013 Ford Explorer 3.5L V6 EcoBoost · AWD

What this code means

The Vehicle Identification (VID) block in the PCM is corrupted or has not been programmed. The VID block contains critical vehicle configuration data.

Symptoms

  • Check Engine Light
  • Vehicle may not start
  • Various systems may not function correctly
  • Emissions monitors may not run

Common causes

  • New PCM installed without VID programming
  • PCM memory corruption
  • Failed PCM programming procedure
  • Battery disconnected during programming

Diagnostic steps

  1. Attempt to reprogram VID block with Ford diagnostic tool
  2. Verify VIN matches between vehicle and PCM
  3. Check for PCM software updates

Repair notes

Reprogram VID block using Ford IDS/FDRS diagnostic tool. Dealer-level equipment typically required.

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