I had the same problem about three weeks ago. I have a 2007 Screw that I took delivery of in Dec 2006. It happened twice on one trip downtown. The only difference my truck started missing or rough idle at the same time. Like a vac hose had come off or something. I parked it at work and when I drove it home and to the dealer, no problem.


I printed this thread and took it in and talked to the service manager. They were very familiar with the IWE soleniod failures. He checked and said I had the updated IWE (all 2007 should) so he wanted to replace some solenoid or vac device on the axels? He said there was one on each side but only had one in stock, so he replaced the one. They did a very good check out of the vehicle (about 3 hours with truck in bay) and they seemed to know what to look for with this problem.

It has not come back as of yet. So maybe that was it. I just wanted to document it is still happening on 2007 trucks....

Will update if anything changes.

Thanks,
Gary

 

(6/13/08) Here is an update, about 3 months later the grinding noise problem came back. They replaced the other actuator (this time the LF) 7L1Z-3C247-A and sent me on my way, the next day it happened again.

This time they replaced valve part number 6L3Z-9E441-A, which they called a solenoid (IWE I assume) and the service manager told me that even though I had the updated solenoid that Ford had redesigned the rain shield on it again (since the 2006 recall). So this exact problem can happen on 2007s, even though there was an updated IWE on my truck. He told me the solenoid was obviously bad and had water damage.

7/11/2008 - As I write this the problem has not returned.

 

Looks like I am going to be picking up one of those IWE soleniods myself and installing it as I am having this issue and out of the 3/36 warranty

 

How do you get the dealer to do the work for you without them hearing the sound? I brought mine in this morning, and they service guy said they can't get it to make the sound so they can't change anything. I told him that it's an intermittent problem, and doesn't happen all the time. They could drive the truck all day and never hear it, but then when I'm driving to work tomorrow it'll happen the whole ride. He said there's nothing they can do. Why can't I find a decent dealership?

Another question, how difficult is it to replace this part? Is there anything overly complex about it?

 

Try giving the dealer a copy of this thread, including the TSB#. Worked for me.

 

Did that and they wouldn't listen. I guess I'm trying to find another dealership.

 

I also have the same sound, just found a vac leak tonight..... Will that cause the problem ?????

 

Def yes!

 

just want to thank everybody for posting about this issue - i found this thread easily when i googled! i just started having it too - 06 F150 with 34k miles on it. I'm printing out this thread and bringing in to the dealership with me tomorrow.

i compared the noise to dragging a metal grocery card down the street - that's seriously what i thought it was especially considering i was on my way home from the grocery store!

i hope they can resolve it. the noise freaks me the f* out!

 

Hi....I have this problem with grinding noise...Dealer can't find the problem. And he is
2 hours away no less! Did you come to some resolution...If so, what fixed the problem.
My truck is a F-150 2006 with ONLY 23,000 miles on it.
Thanks.
Lloyd

 

In my case, it was the IWE solenoid. Mine's an 04, but I've heard of newer F-150s with the same problem. Print this thread for the dealer - it's a well known problem.

 

I have this problem too, i replace the 6L3Z-9E441-A selonoid w ith a cover on top, but it does the same sound again one time. I was mad cause there is so many people here that the problem was fixed. So the only question i have, is it possible that i have water in line, oe the selonoid is defect..

Thanks in advance

 

where exactly is this solenoid located?

 

Josiah was yours shorting out because water was dripping on the solenoid or do you have a bad or frayed wire?

 

We had this same problem. 2006 F-150 4x4..Only 23,000 miles. Our Ford dealership closed
down so had to drive 2 1/2 hours. I gave the dealer the info I found on line here that all
of you had written about..Good thing I printed the info out, cause our dealer had NO CLUE!
Any way, it looks like the Solenoid bad and had no vacuum going thru it which caused the
transfer case to want to go into a different gear!!!! They replaced it....That was Monday,
so we are good SO FAR. Thanks to this website we might have solved the problem. Ford
has no recall on it..We feel that they should. Called Ford Motor Co. They cannot put any TSB's out until they get enough dealers to advise them of the problem. Go figure!
Lloyd