1996-1998 Mustang GT & SN-95 Convertible Mustangs

Using your data-plate info and VIN, this is what we learned about your car. The W-coded engines were used for export to Japan and are very rare, with only 431 made in a P42W car. In 1996, the new 4.6L engine was given the engine code X and still uses that today. The interior code Z2 breaks down as Z for cloth and 2 for a Medium Graphite color. The exterior code is PS for Pacific Green (a new color for that model year), with 667 cars built with this color. Production on '96 Mustangs began on August 14, 1995 and ended on August 2, 1996. A total of 6,186 (4,848 were five-speeds) '96 GTS models were made. On November 2, 1995, 46 GTSs were built and your car (VIN 126085) was the seventh car made that day. The five-speed/PS/Z2 combo, like your GTS, is one of 342. DSO 47 is Cincinnati, while the GT2 Body code is for GTS. BRK: 1 stands for the type of brakes (standard, no ABS), MLDG: CC is the molding code for interior trim Z2, and R: M is the radio ordering code 58M: an AM/FM stereo cassette player.

Most Mustang T5 and all T45 five-speed manual transmissions are factory filled with some type of automatic transmission fluid (ATF). Traditional 90-weight hypoid gear oil should never be used because mating-surface and/or friction-surface damage will occur. Because standard gear oil (such as what's used in a vintage Ford Top Loader four-speed, for example) is too viscous to flow through a modern five-speed's needle bearings and lube passages, extensive transmission damage will result. The bottom line is, the transmission in your car is designed to use ATF and nothing else even though it's a manual transmission. Using anything else will ruin the transmission.

Send your '79-'04 Mustang questions to: Late-Model Corral, 9036 Brittany Way, Tampa, FL 33619. E-mail to mustang.monthly@sourceinterlink.com with "Late-Model Corral" in the subject line. Please be sure to include your name, city, and state in all letters and e-mails.