Sorry in advance for the length of this post. I just handed the following letter to my friendly neighborhood service manager. His response: "We can try to balance the tires again (4th time!), we can replace the drive shaft, Ford does not yet have a fix for the LSDiff shudder, and I've never heard of this A/C noise".

He informed me that he's changed clutch packs and fluid in rear ends only to have the shudder return after 3000 miles. I think he wants me to live with it a while until ford comes out w/ a permanent fix.

I'm getting tired of the steering wheel vibe.

Has anyone had any success (over the long term - like 5000+ miles) with fixes to these problems?

Has anyone experienced the A/C problem?



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In December, my company Newell Stuart, Inc., purchased two 2004 F-150s. My business partner drives a XLT Super Cab 4x4 built in Norfolk and I have a Lariat Super Crew 4x4 built in Kansas City. We both love and enjoy our trucks. My partner’s XLT seems to be flawless and he is very pleased. My truck, on the other hand, has several issues that I would like to bring to your attention.

My truck is VIN 1FTPW14574KC00764 and this morning it has exactly 5700 miles on it.

The problems are as follows:

Vibration in Steering Wheel between 60 and 75 MPH:
The truck was in the shop on 1/9/04 with 141 miles, on 1/13/04 with 267 miles and again on 2/16/04 with 3276 miles. Each time they balanced tires and the last visit they indexed one tire. This problem still persists at highway speeds with the steering wheel vibrating. The vibration does not seem consistent, though. The magnitude seems to vary in a way that is not correlated with speed, road conditions, etc.

After three rounds of balancing, I am convinced there is something else wrong in or around the front end. I would like to get this fixed permanently so that when I replace the tires in the future and the truck is no longer under the factory warranty, I can be confident I won’t have a steering wheel vibration.

I have contacted Tom Larkin, Ford Customer Service Zone Manager about this problem. He identified Technical Service Bulletin # 04-3-33 that relates to my concern. I have not seen it and cannot say whether it covers my problem.

Vibration in Drive Train between 50 and 65 MPH:
The truck has a harmonic vibration coming from the drive train at these speeds. If you are familiar with the concept of “beating” you will know what I’m describing. It occurs in high gear with the torque converter locked under light load throttle settings. It is a rumbling more felt in the seat than heard. The vibration frequency increases with speed.

Vibration in Drive Train when starting forward:
I believe this is a known problem with the new F150 Limited Slip Differential, although I don’t have a TSB reference. The vibration occurs when accelerating under a moderate throttle setting from a complete stop with the wheels turned. The vibration is worse when going from Reverse to Drive. It also appears to be worse when the drive train is cold in the morning.

Hissing noise when Air Conditioning is running:
Whenever the air conditioning is on, there is a hissing sound that comes from the passenger side under the dash, where the evaporator core is usually mounted. The hissing is cyclic and it cycles with the compressor. This does not sound like a normal noise to me and my partner’s XLT does not make the noise.

My expectation is that these problems will be fixed. I am taking the time to describe, as best I can, each problem so that your shop will not tell me they could not duplicate any of them. If I can provide additional or clarifying information, please let me know. Please relay this information to the service technicians.

 

I just had the rear clutch packs replaced yesterday. So far, so good. I will have to wait and see if the shudder comes back after 3000 miles or so. However, I recongized the last name of Larkin, as I just had my truck in the Sturman and Larkin service center in Pittsburgh. Sounds like we are talking about the same dealer. Let me know and good luck with you truck.

Packer19

 

Dealer replaced the clutch packs on my truck in early February and the rear end shudder problem has not returned.

If you search the forum you'll see the dealers/Ford reps are trying numerous things to solve the vibration issue. Mine has had a new steering gear installed, tires balanced twice with 1 front end alignment, front hubs replaced, front tires and wheels replaced, shims on the drive shaft and a vibration supression kit. As of now they are 0 - 6.

Last week they tried to tell me it was operating normally. After speaking with their client relations manager and explaining to him that if it was normal then all the F150s would do it they agreed to look at it again. Ford field service rep is on vacation this week but they promise to get hold of him first thing next week.

 

I have an appointment for Tuesday. I'm going out of town, so they have it for three days. I'm going to make sure they know I want it fixed and to make it so. I'm not hopeful though, after reading all the threads about these vibration issues. I had ordered a truck w/o a LSD but it never came and I had to buy this one off the lot because of end of year tax issues for my business. I wish I had gotten the open diff. The whole drive train vibrates. From start, again around 50-65mph and then the steering wheel vibrates over 55. I'm frustrated and it certainly detracts from the enjoyment of what is otherwise a wonderful vehicle.

I am also noticing a hard shift into second all the time now. Anyone having that problem?

How about the A/C hissing? Anyone?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

I had my diff. clutch packs replaced at about 5000 miles. My truck now had almost 14,000 and the rear is still smooth as glass.

 

jeffss, I think there is a thread where someone had a vacuum leak under the dash caushing a hissing sound,do a search and see if that might be your problem. As far as the hard shift,I'd rather have the quick snapping shift rather than have it drag in,and I to have some vibration problem's they are going to look at. I think it all come's down to ford making a frame to darn stiff,will not absorb any harmonic's,run's through the frame into other component's. That's my take from all the post and from my own exp. Maybe if we give them a little time they will come up with a fix,I sure hope so.

 

I can hear my A/C hissing after I turn off the truck and get out. I'm pretty sure this is normal. However, I never hear it while I am in the truck. If you are hearing it while the truck is running, there may be something else making the hissing, as mentioned earlier in this thread, like a vacuum leak.

 

jeffss,

I'm not sure if you're actively browsing this forum, but if you are, but I was curious whether any of the problems you detailed for your dealer were resolved...

John

 

F.Y.I.

I had the Clutch Packs replaced in my FX4 SCrew 4X4 last week due to the rear end shudder when making hard L or R turns. The shudder is completely gone!!!

 

jeffss,
I would be pretty sure the LS diff. is not associated with your vibration problems. From all the posts that I've read on on the subject it almost has to be forward of the rear-end in the drive train or in the steering(.02).

I had my clutch packs replaced about 3000 miles ago and haven't had a problem. Mine had the problem(shudder) from day one and if I'm not mistaken Ford does have a TSB out on it.

Mine also has a little jump into 2nd but since 2nd comes during the most acceleration and usually within 20 feet from takeoff I felt it was normal compared to other trucks I've driven/owned and the other gears are so smooth I hardly notice when they shift.

My AC also hisses after I've killed it.

BEST OF LUCK GETTIN EVERTHING RESOLVED. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GET PAST THE POWER STRUGGLE TO GET DOWN TO THE REAL LOVIN'.

 

Curious about the vibration. I have a 2004 Scab 4x4 and had both the nibble and the driveline clunk/vibration. The first trip to the dealer, my truck was there 9 days while they tried various things to resolve the nibble (tires, alignment, etc). They then replaced the steering gear. I still have the nibble (getting worse) and now the steering wheel is no longer centered. The Service Director stated no one could feel or hear the clunk.

I took it back a week later with the same issues. This time it was out for 5 more days, while the dealer replaced both the driveshaft and rear differential. As far as the steering wheel shimmy, the tires were road force balanced and a new tire. The clunk is resolved, but the shimmy remains.

The dealer has stated there is absolutely nothing else they can do until Ford comes up with a fix (other than the steering gear). Service will not discuss this any further with me.

I can't lemon law this truck without one more Repair Request form from the dealer and they are not cooperating

 

My business partner drives a XLT Super Cab 4x4 built in Norfolk and I have a Lariat Super Crew 4x4 built in Kansas City.

I find this statement interesting. My '04 F150 SCAB is the 3rd F150 I have owned. Two of them were built in Norfolk including the current '04. I had no problems with my '99 model truck which was also built in Norfolk.

My 2001 F150 SCAB however was another matter. It was assembled in KC and had a rash of problems. Admittedly they were not entirely serious. But to make half-a-dozen trips or more back to the dealership for warranty work on a brand new vehicle is not acceptable in anyone's book I'm certain of that:

1. Rear tranny seal leaking (300 miles)
2. Wiper motor failed (almost immediately)
3. "notchy" steering (turned out it wasn't lubed @ factory)
4. Intermittant rough idle/missing (took 3 trips to dealer to fix)
5. Check engine light (some sensor replaced, i forget which)

There are one or two other I can't recall at this time.

The first 4 issues were problems almost immediately. #5 was after about 25k miles. Maybe there is a "KC connection".

 

#5 had to have been the EGR valve, my 01 F150 had the same problem, engine service light on, took it to the dealer, they told me there was a recall on the EGR valve, even tho i never got anything in the mail.
That truck was built in Norfolk, as is my new 04 F-150,(mfgd 7/21/03) bought it in Jan. 04 and have had no problems with it so far.

F150 Scab, 4.6 3.55LS, tow pkg, fg lamps, 6-cd

 

Hey, did you buy your truck at Sturman and Larkin too? I read your sales story about the $300 grad rebate they wanted you to pay back. I could see them trying to do that...

 

Went for a drive with the dealer's customer relations manager and the service manager today. They agreed to load force balance the tires (again) and to machine the brake rotors for a vibration when braking.

While they were doing that the customer relations guy pulled out a new 4x2 Lariat with same options and tires as mine. We took it for a test drive. The darn thing vibrated worse than mine and had really bad steering wheel shimmy. I told him if I was a prospective customer I would definitely not purchase that truck. He said he wouldn't either and was going to have service dept. look at the truck.

In the end they really think the vibration in my truck is within a normal range. He said my claim with the Dispute Settlement board may not go anywhere since the driveability of the truck isn't effected.

I'm going to drive the competing brands (except the fugly Chevy) before deciding what to do next.