A few detail question on an 04 - 2003-04 Mach 1 Registry Owners Club

67bigblock · 10-26-2011, 03:22 PM

My car is a late build ,...april of 2004.
I bought it brand new with 6 miles on it.

1.My rear glass has the VIN etched in it bottom right,....anyone else seen this?
The reason I ask is I was looking at a late build March 04 car yesterday and the VIN was not etched in there.
I have never focused on this detail before.
Any thoughts?
BTW,...I bought my car about a day after the dealer got it and like I said it had 6 miles on it so I know mine was done either at the factory or by dealer.

2. Question 2,....my manual trans car has a little "toggle" for ignition key release.
The car I looked at yesterday is an auto trans car and no ignition release "toggle". Key just comes out.
Is it specific to manual trans car or whats the story?

Thnx

kevman41635 · 10-26-2011, 03:32 PM

My car has a serial number in the glass for theft. That may be what yours is also, but the toggle is on every manual transmission ignition that ford makes.

311-420 · 10-26-2011, 03:42 PM

Mine is an April '04 car as well. I have never noticed this etching, but I will look next time I think of it.

LOL WUT · 10-26-2011, 04:25 PM

The vin in the glass is called VIN Etching, it's something some dealers do for theft situations. Also my 04 5 speed has the toggle ignition.

wigsite · 10-26-2011, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOL WUT

The vin in the glass is called VIN Etching, it's something some dealers do for money making situation.

fixed

LOL WUT · 10-26-2011, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wigsite

fixed

hahah I was being nice about it

falcongtho3 · 10-26-2011, 09:49 PM

Mine has the etching as well. The toggle is a release which I have never understood the reasoning for, but as I've had mostly manual tranny cars, am used to. Auto cars allow the key to be released once they are in park. Same idea. My '73 Mustang (351 4V, 4 speed) had something similar, but you had to place the shifter in reverse to get the key out of the ignition. Must be some engineer who needed a reason to get paid...or a lawyer...

TRMach1 · 10-26-2011, 11:14 PM

I was going to say, I PAID to have my VIN # etched into all the glass on the car as an anti-theft deterrant, or dealer profit, depending on how you look at it. LOL!

medrick · 10-27-2011, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevman41635

the toggle is on every manual transmission ignition that ford makes.

only after a certain year. my 01 doesn't have it but my 04 does.

SparksMach1 · 10-27-2011, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRMach1

I was going to say, I PAID to have my VIN # etched into all the glass on the car as an anti-theft deterrant, or dealer profit, depending on how you look at it. LOL!

mine doesn't have the etching... can one of you post up a pic so i can see what it looks like?

Bill Hamilton · 10-27-2011, 09:41 AM

I've seen the etching before too. It also discourages thieves from stealing a car to part it out.

67bigblock · 10-27-2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falcongtho3

Mine has the etching as well. The toggle is a release which I have never understood the reasoning for, but as I've had mostly manual tranny cars, am used to. Auto cars allow the key to be released once they are in park.

Thank You
Lets get a consensus here.
Does anyone with an Automatic 2003-2004 MACH1 have a key release toggle on there car. Or are all the automatic cars without.
THnx again

Boodro · 10-27-2011, 10:53 AM

Jan '03 build date...AT...no release toggle here.

Explosive · 10-27-2011, 03:47 PM

I used to work at a ford dealer and as stated the glass etch is just an anti theft money maker. And the key release is something fords done on manual cars for some time, auto cars don't have that

67bigblock · 10-27-2011, 03:53 PM

Thnx
Now I know.
These are nice cars.

Rumplemenz · 10-27-2011, 10:14 PM

interesting mine is an april 04 build as well... as for the key release i believe the steering wheel can lock when at auto is placed in park. As for the manual they have that switch to activate the steering wheel lock option. THis is at least what i think... dont quote me on it.. as for this switch apparently though it can be removed with a T30 Torx bit... and when you remove it im hearing people still can lock their steering wheels so go figure.

67bigblock · 10-29-2011, 11:29 AM

Just to clarify in case anyone else wanted to know while researching a car.
A manual trans car has a release switch to pull out ignition key.
An Auto trans car does not.
The location is about an inch forward of actual ignition.
I am going to post a pic of an auto interior for the manual trans guys/gals to see for future reference. IE,...the ignition area.

10-26-2011, 03:22 PM	#1
67bigblock Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northeast Posts: 163	A few detail question on an 04 My car is a late build ,...april of 2004. I bought it brand new with 6 miles on it. 1.My rear glass has the VIN etched in it bottom right,....anyone else seen this? The reason I ask is I was looking at a late build March 04 car yesterday and the VIN was not etched in there. I have never focused on this detail before. Any thoughts? BTW,...I bought my car about a day after the dealer got it and like I said it had 6 miles on it so I know mine was done either at the factory or by dealer. 2. Question 2,....my manual trans car has a little "toggle" for ignition key release. The car I looked at yesterday is an auto trans car and no ignition release "toggle". Key just comes out. Is it specific to manual trans car or whats the story? Thnx __________________ 00 R 03 Mach1 DSG 04 Mach1 Red 04 F250 Harley Edition Orange/Black 04 F350 Harley Edition Black/Black

10-26-2011, 03:32 PM	#2
kevman41635 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: pikeville ky Posts: 12	Re: A few detail question on an 04 My car has a serial number in the glass for theft. That may be what yours is also, but the toggle is on every manual transmission ignition that ford makes.

10-26-2011, 03:42 PM	#3
311-420 Can't be bridled Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 7,006	Re: A few detail question on an 04 Mine is an April '04 car as well. I have never noticed this etching, but I will look next time I think of it. __________________ 2004 Mach 1 #6956 5spd w/IUP Eaton swap, longtubes, built 3.73 SRA 452hp/409tq dynojet🏁

10-26-2011, 04:25 PM	#4
LOL WUT Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bourbonnais IL Posts: 136	Re: A few detail question on an 04 The vin in the glass is called VIN Etching, it's something some dealers do for theft situations. Also my 04 5 speed has the toggle ignition. __________________ Tastefully modified SY Mach 1.

10-26-2011, 09:49 PM	#7
falcongtho3 Moderating at Mach 1 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, La. Posts: 16,273	Re: A few detail question on an 04 Mine has the etching as well. The toggle is a release which I have never understood the reasoning for, but as I've had mostly manual tranny cars, am used to. Auto cars allow the key to be released once they are in park. Same idea. My '73 Mustang (351 4V, 4 speed) had something similar, but you had to place the shifter in reverse to get the key out of the ignition. Must be some engineer who needed a reason to get paid...or a lawyer... __________________ Krewe de la Mach Rouge #340804 13th Mach 1 built 11/07/02 Build Date 12/13/02 Delivery

10-26-2011, 11:14 PM	#8
TRMach1 Once Bitten-Twice Shy Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: New Castle, Delaware USA Posts: 3,370	Re: A few detail question on an 04 I was going to say, I PAID to have my VIN # etched into all the glass on the car as an anti-theft deterrant, or dealer profit, depending on how you look at it. LOL! __________________ Mach1Registry.com Member #7 MCA Member #52787 Nice to meet you, my name's Jim 03 Torch Red Mach 1, 5-speed, IUP *Sold on July 21st 2012!* 2011 Shelby GT500, Ebony Black, Silver Stripes, 6-speed 550hp 510tq Purchased July 23, 2012!

10-27-2011, 09:41 AM	#11
Bill Hamilton Mustang owner since 1970 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Charleston,SC Posts: 6,247	Re: A few detail question on an 04 I've seen the etching before too. It also discourages thieves from stealing a car to part it out. __________________ Bill SUPPORTING MEMBER USAF Retired My 1970 Mach 2003 Ford Mustang Mach I---Black w/5-speed --- gone but not forgotten 2011 Shelby GT-500 --- Ingot Silver Metallic and 6-speed (Sold and Now Terrorizing the residents of New Zealand) 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1---White w/351C-4v Shaker Hood scoop and T-5 tranny 2014 Shelby GT-500 --- White/red stripes and 6-speed 2019 Mustang Convertible Premium Package w/automatic ___________________

10-27-2011, 10:53 AM	#13
Boodro Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Cajun Country Posts: 68	Jan '03 build date...AT...no release toggle here. __________________ '03 Azure Blue \| AT \| Born: 01/06/03 \| 1 of 453 \| Magnum 500's 18x9/10 \| 255/40/18 & 285/35/18 \| Eibach Sportlines \| Koni STR.T

10-27-2011, 03:47 PM	#14
Explosive Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 876	Re: A few detail question on an 04 I used to work at a ford dealer and as stated the glass etch is just an anti theft money maker. And the key release is something fords done on manual cars for some time, auto cars don't have that

10-27-2011, 03:53 PM	#15
67bigblock Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northeast Posts: 163	Re: A few detail question on an 04 Thnx Now I know. These are nice cars. __________________ 00 R 03 Mach1 DSG 04 Mach1 Red 04 F250 Harley Edition Orange/Black 04 F350 Harley Edition Black/Black

10-27-2011, 10:14 PM	#16
Rumplemenz Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 553	Re: A few detail question on an 04 interesting mine is an april 04 build as well... as for the key release i believe the steering wheel can lock when at auto is placed in park. As for the manual they have that switch to activate the steering wheel lock option. THis is at least what i think... dont quote me on it.. as for this switch apparently though it can be removed with a T30 Torx bit... and when you remove it im hearing people still can lock their steering wheels so go figure. __________________ 04' TR w/ IUP-Vortech V2 3.48" pulley-aftercooler-Anderson PP-90mm MAF-SVT pump-42lb frpp injectors-frpp 4.10-SOS Pillar-FR Fuel,boost/vac gauges-Raptor shift light-aluminum DS-Steeda tri ax-MM ccplates-MM coilovers-Bilstein hd-MM full length subframes-Borla stinger catback-17x10.5 bullitts-Nitto 555r-04 Cobra mirrors/side skirts-CDC decklid panel-Steeda battery box-billet fuel door-sequential tails-Mach 1 sills-billet antenna-MGW Mach 1 plate covers-MGW brake handle-455 rwhp 389 tq

10-29-2011, 11:29 AM	#17
67bigblock Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northeast Posts: 163	Re: A few detail question on an 04 Just to clarify in case anyone else wanted to know while researching a car. A manual trans car has a release switch to pull out ignition key. An Auto trans car does not. The location is about an inch forward of actual ignition. I am going to post a pic of an auto interior for the manual trans guys/gals to see for future reference. IE,...the ignition area. __________________ 00 R 03 Mach1 DSG 04 Mach1 Red 04 F250 Harley Edition Orange/Black 04 F350 Harley Edition Black/Black

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