Hello all, I finally brought my Lightning to the dealer for the problems it was having. I will list the problems I handed to the dealer.

1: Scratched Valance
2: Grey Grill
3: Alignment (Cam Bolts request)
4: Paint Damage *hood, roof, flare sides*
5: Piston Slap
6: Orange peel (separate from paint damage)

Here is the list I reported regarding 5
Lightning Owners or more having.

1: Scratched Valance
2: Grey Grill
3: Alignment (Cam Bolts request)
4: Paint Damage *hood, roof, flare sides*
5: Piston Slap
6: Orange peel (separate from paint damage)
7: Intercooler
8: Loose Ground Effects
9: Supercharger (Won't produce boost)
10: Cracked Fog Light Lens

I even printed out the selected complaints that members here have posted regarding their experience with the problems.
They looked so surprise and denied of half the problems until I handed the complaints posted here.

I argued with the service tech regarding correct alignment specs for 20 minutes.
The service tech constantly refused to accept my claim that the vehicle pulled to the right. I again provided the complaint list. The service tech actually tried to get me to believe that I would not need the Cam Bolt kit to keep the vehicle aligned. He also tried to get me to believe that the vehicle is supposed to swing from the left lane all the way to the right guardrail on purpose. I began to laugh at him and called the sales women out. She said she would get them to take care of everything. She hasn't let me down yet. If you have problems do what I did. Print up the complaints here and do an outline of your problems compared to other Lightning owner’s problems.

1: Intercooler
a: https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000353.html
b: https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000472.html
2: Piston Slap
a: https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000242.html
b: https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000691.html
3: Alignment
a: https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000713.html
4: Scratched Valance
a: https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000922.html
5: Paint Problems
a: https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000575.html
b: https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000593.html
6: Grey Grill
a: https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/001038.html
7: Combination
a: https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/001145.html
8: Front End Clunk
a: https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000549.html
9: Supercharger Boost Loss
a: https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000992.html
10: Loose Ground Effects
a: https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000328.html

I hope this helps everyone who is having problems that have not been resolved.

I will keep everyone posted on the L's progress. They said they will be fixing all the problems I mentioned. I just wish I didn't have to complain as much as I did.


[This message has been edited by Metallic Blue (edited 01-14-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Metallic Blue (edited 01-17-2000).]

 

Going to the top!

 

important want other guys to see it. Top again.

 

Took my Lightning into the dealer on 1/12/00 for intercooler, suspension pop, engine light, and creaky window. Engine light and window were fixed.

Dealer denied intercooler and suspension problems. I'll let ya know how it goes this time around.

Cheers,
Nathan

 

I recently put a deposit down on a 00 Lightning, but reading this post scares the
s**t out of me. Are the problems with the Lightning as pandemic as it suggests? It so, I think I would be better off cancelling my order and getting an f150 4x4. What is the consensus on this?

 

Some of the problems we have with our trucks can be very anoying. A few of us have had our engines changed. The worst thing about any of the problems is leaving the truck with the dealer( or driveng a weezer ranger 4 banger loaner!)and not having it. I personaly did not need a new truck, I wanted ONLY this truck. If you are going in it and are saying you might get a 4x4 then you should think about it. They are both F150's and that is where the comparison ends. If you are into performance the n the Lightning is for you. But please don't take it into the mud bog !
Tom

[This message has been edited by blue blood (edited 01-17-2000).]

 

Another thing to keep in mind is that the people on this board are enthusiasts. I know that I take my Lightning in for problems I would have just ignored in previous vehicles.

Also, there are lots of people on the board who dont post. The posts that you see are only from those having problems.

Overall, my Lightning has had less problems than my last F-150 (a 4x4 V6 which bent a rod at 20K miles).

In the end I have NO regets about the L.

 

Tom:

You have been quiet about your Superchip installation. How do you like it?????

------------------
Sandy (Spider) Scott
Skydive69@msn.com
Apopka, Florida
99 White Lightning #2091 DOB 6-8-99
Airaid air box & Superchip
Honda Valkyrie - 2 Bros exhaust - K&N filter -Corbin Seat (after 30 yrs. of Harley riding)

 

Sandy,
I am very happy with the chip! The shifts are crisp and the general seat of pants feel is there! I hope the Airaid box comes in soon. (I liked your setup enough to order one ! )I had some fun wiyh some kids up in Silver Springs this weekend, they were in a loud mufflered Suburban toying with me at 2 lights, @ 3'rd light i let them nail it and get ahead then kicked it down tires started smokin and Joan just waved as we flew buy them. I also found a 67 mustang fastback with a dual quad 427 side oiler stuffed in it, that I'm going to Boyton (sp?) to look at again. That would give the lightnings something to think about if it could hook up enough!
Tom

 

Tom:

Great, the airbox will but the finishing touches on that beauty. These L's can sure use up a few days worth of tread rather quickly, can't they?

------------------
Sandy (Spider) Scott
Skydive69@msn.com
Apopka, Florida
99 White Lightning #2091 DOB 6-8-99
Airaid air box & Superchip
Honda Valkyrie - 2 Bros exhaust - K&N filter -Corbin Seat (after 30 yrs. of Harley riding)

 

The dealer called today regarding the problems the vehicle was having. It took (3-1/2 weeks)

I will recap the problems below:

1: Scratched Valance
2: Grey Grill
3: Alignment (Cam Bolts request)
4: Paint Damage *hood, roof, flare sides*
5: Piston Slap
6: Orange peel (separate from paint damage)

Here is what the service manager had to say regarding each issue on the list:

1: Scratched Valance (Dealer requests to repaint the vehicle with the other problems listed in (#1, #4, #6)

2: Grey Grill(Dealer states that he throughly researched this issue and the grill is the correct color)

3: Alignment (Cam Bolts request)(Dealer aligned the vehicle to the specs that I believe MarkW offered) I am not aware if the Cam Bolts were installed, but I will find out.

4: Paint Damage *hood, roof, flare sides*(Dealer would like me to decide on a full repaint of the entire vehicle. I specifically said I do not want wet sanding to repair the hood roof, flaresides & orange peel. Repainting the entire vehicle would take care of (#1, #4, #6)

5: Piston Slap(Engine does not currently have a problem which can be deteced. It may in the future and he admitted to this)

6: Orange peel (separate from paint damage)(Dealer would like me to decide on a full repaint of the entire vehicle.

I asked the dealer for the shop name where the paint work would be done. Enfield Collison is the name of the place. I asked if they are reputable, and do a nice job. He said he had his explorer done recently by them and it was that Royale Blue. He said they did an excellent job & that I would be happy with the results.

What do youu think should be done?

Many of you might not be aware of the extentive paint damage I had. I clayed, I zainoed, I did everything humanly possible to remove the damage to the hood except use an abrasive. The damage appeared to be deep etched spots, almost like acid rain. The spots had been there since I bought the vehicle.

I don't feel I should have had to use an abrasive on a vehicle that I just bought a couple months ago, so I immediately contacted the service shop.

 

Metallic Blue

Regarding the front-end alignment issue, make sure your truck has the correct lower control arms. Otherwise, any alignment they do may be a waste of time. I had to have my lower control arms replaced.

Apparently, my original control arms where not SVT spec. Got rid of clunk noise and seemed to help with steering tracking straignt. Replacement control arms required re-aligning the wheels. Also, the Lightning requires all four wheels be aligned (according to Dealer).

Part numbers are XL3Z-3078-BA and XL3Z-3079-BA.

 

Please Read This!

 

Hello again everyone,

We "need" to bring this post to life again, as I feel it was the most comprehensive, and organized post regarding (Lightning Issues)

This post organized "all" the problems that the Lightning was having back when it was written, but now we have many more problems to also consider, and look out for. I will try to organize some of the old & new problems that have managed to come out of the woodwork below:

1: Alignment (Cam Bolts Request)Connected with (#6)
2: Paint Damage (Hood, Roof, Flare etc.
3: Intercooler Leaks
4: Loose Ground Effects
5: Cracked Fog Light Lens
6: Upper & Lower control arm replacement
7: Seat Damage
8: Coil pack #4 shorting out due to loose heater hose leaking coolant.
9: Tranny & Driveshaft Vibration/Leak
10: Piston Slap Updates (Possibly Forged Piston Related & not dangerous on warn up!)
11: 3 Rib Belt Vs 5 Rib

Below you will find "some" of the posts that are related to the specific problems. I don't know if I missed any of others problems, but we need a post like this to print and bring to the service managers of our dealerships when we have work done.

1: Alignment (Cam Bolts request)Goes with (#6)

2: Paint Damage *hood, roof etc.

https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002135.html https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002101.html

3: Intercooler Leaks

https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002237.html https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000994.html

4: Loose Ground Effects

https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000328.html

5: Cracked Fog Light Lens

https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/001190.html https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/000914.html

6: Upper & Lower control arm replacement

https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002060.html https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/001841.html https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002125.html

7: Seat Damage

https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/001810.html https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/001844.html https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002559.html

8: Coil pack #4 shorting out due to loose heater hose leaking coolant.

https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/001620.html https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/001649.html https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002493.html https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002246.html https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002493.html

9: Tranny & Driveshaft Vibration/Leak

https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002300.html https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002235.html

10: Piston Slap Updates (Possibly Forged Piston Related & not dangerous on warn up!)
https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002076.html https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002277.html

11: 3 Rib Belt Vs 5 Rib

https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/002119.html

If anyone else has problems that I did not mention, or has further posts regarding topics already mentioned then please post them. This post will help all of us.

I will be seeing my dealer regarding a few of the problems mentioned above. Here are "my" problems as of right now:

1: Alignment (Cam Bolts Request)Connected with (#6)

2: Paint Damage (Hood, Roof, Flare etc.):
My entire truck was repainted with R&M paint. They did an excellent job, but I found some damage on the roof where those two grooves are. The paint is bubbling bad, and flaking off to expose some type of white primer underneath.

1 & 3 seem to both be related. I am looking to replace the control arms with parts numbers: XL3Z-3078-BA and XL3Z-3079-BA

3: Upper & Lower control arm replacement

4: Seat Damage:
The seats are "not" damaged yet, but I would like to know if they can prevent the problem from getting out of hand.

Please include any information that you fellas can.



[This message has been edited by Metallic Blue (edited 04-09-2000).]

 

Hey Metallic Blue

I have noticed that the ground effects on one of the sides from the front of the bed to the wheel well is missing a bolt, so yes it is loose.
I also have a problem with the muffler coming off. I keep missing appointments to have it fixed.

My cruise control cable also broke. But that maybe do to the moose. Although my mother said it worked fine before she shipped it.

I, too, have the clunk noise problem.

Intercooler is fine.

Gas tank seems to get empty pretty quickly, I have to add fluid at least once a week, I keep forgetting to talk to the techs about this.

Hope this helps, you are more than welome to use me as a reference, and if they give you trouble about the moose thing, go ahead and disregard, since I am pretty sure that the mosse did tweak the cable. Good day