My Lariat was made in Feb, and has been confirmed to have the latest upgrade.

Yes, Both myself and most other Lariat owners run in manual mode, since the electonic is usless

 

Picked up my truck today. The instrument cluster they put in last week is the culprit in my AC not working. They explained it to me that the AC signal passes through the instrument cluster and the new one was defective. They swapped it out with one on their lot and everything worked.

Now I've got another new one on order. If it's installed before April 4th, that will be five trips to service for various ailments (not including vibration, thank god) in the first month I've had it.

Quality is not job 1

P.S. I still love this truck

 

Well after four trips to the dealer, with a one month old truck, I still have no working AC. A $41,000 truck with no AC. Everyone I see that has a F150, I ask, and theirs does not cool much either. In mild weather, 75 to 80, it has to be set on 67 or so, too just barely be comfortable. It does not take out the humidity either. My Daughter Lariat is the same way.

Today the outside temp was about 78. My truck set outside locked up. The inside temp on the truck was about 90. I set the EATC to 60, drove 20 miles home, and the inside temp only got down to 78, the same as the outside temp. IT NEVER GOT COLD!

I just filled out my Ford survey, AGAIN telling them of the problem.

 

Follow up on the AC system. I have had it back about one month now from the shop. They worked on it for two days. It now works as good as any F150 with EATC controls.

They replaced several parts. The main culprit that kept the system from working consistently was the low pressure switch on the compressor. That switch would argue with the EATC in the dash which was also replaced, with a new one and reprogrammed.
It was that low pressure switch that was always affected by the “bumps” and “turns” in the road – sometimes it would cool and sometimes it would not.

When set to full manual max cold, recir, it can get really cold after about 20 miles of driving, still takes a very long time to cool down. And at least now it keeps working.

If you are using the EATC part of it, it will do ok, when set on 68 degrees most of the time, but not always. The actual temperature inside the cab is closer to 74, part of the reasons are lack of solar glass, and they fact that the weather stripping around the doors and windows is substandard. Add those two shortcomings together and the AC/Heat system does not have a chance to do its job.

Overall, this ac/heat system is still way short of what is required, and does not even come close to match the capacity of any other vehicles or the F250 or F350.

I now have 5,400 miles on the truck. Here are the major short comings of this vehicle.

1. Substandard solar glass
2. Substandard front seats – go sit in the Lariat F350 that is just now being made for a real seat!
3. Substandard power seats – full power not available
4. Substandard radio – audiophile is POS
5. Substandard weather stripping lots of wind nose and water leaks around all four doors. Hot air just blows in the cab – what a joke!
6. Substandard AC/Heat system – same thing go test the F350 it works!
7. Substandard horsepower and torque, well overrated by Ford.

Will I buy another F150 – NO. Not unless they fix the problems above which are major to me.

 

HoustonPerson,

So just what DO you like about your truck? Why don't you just cut your losses, sell it, and get yourself something else?

Seriously, there comes a point where you stop complaining about something, and take action to remedy your slight.

 

I dont know the difference between "solar glass" and a "Bar glass"(the word sensor would not let me use ****tail) but there has got to be something done to the Ford windows.
I have a black scab w/ black leather and when I get in there after its been sitting all day there is a very noticeable difference when compared to our red Acura w/black cloth. The Acura is hotter than hell and the Truck is warm inside but nowhere near as warm as the Acura.

I do hope you get all the things fixed with your ride.

 

My A/C works very well. It’s hot and humid along the coast of Florida, my truck cools off fast, and the Electronic Temperature Control is a great option.

 

I was just wondering where you were taking your truck to have repairs done. I bought mine at Joe Myers on Hwy 290 and have been very pleased so far with their service. They even sent my truck out to have my bedcover installed and did my spray on bed liner the next day after I purchased the truck. I would be very interested to know which stealerships to avoid if they are not able to do quick and correct repair work.

P.S. - my A/C runs on auto very well. As you know it was low 90's today and it cooled me just fine, usually ran at 78 - 80 degrees and really took care of the humidity.

 

mine is exactly the same ... during the day now that is getting close to 100 degrees in orlando, it takes a looong time to cool.... i have now 4800 miles .....I'll be calling my dealer soon ...

 

To answer as many of the posts above as I can. The thing I like best about the Ford is the Ride and Drive - - no other half ton 4x4 is close, Except the Titan, might be better in that area, maybe?

While the current 2004 F150 has some of the sorriest seats ever made, the F250 and F350 for 2004 Lariat are amoung the best ever made; HOWEVER the redesigned 2005 F250 and F350 may be using the same sorry seat design of the 2004 F150.

And yes I may be trading for a 2005 model (dont' know which brand) or at the latest a 2006 model.

Today I drove the truck it was 94 degrees and 90% humity and bright sunshine, with the AC set on 68, it did ok; one reason is because I never went over 40, so all the hot air could blow in the doors. Lots of air leaks, and wind noise in this truck.

For those of you following this, you know this is the third 2004 F150 supercrew we own in the family, and it is the latest one purchased that has given all the problems. The first two have had solor tint added to the front doors for the heat issue. And their AC systems while not very good, never constantly failed like this one did.

 

That’s a shame; maybe a Titan would be better!

 

Well, I disagree with many things you say.

The Audiophile is NOT a POS.

The seats (at least my Captains) are the best I've ever had in a truck, and above many automobiles I've been in.

My A/C blows cold enough that I usually keep the fan on low even in 90+ weather.

Yes, it IS real solar glass. You leave it sitting in 95 degree heat all day long do you really believe that the glass is going to make THAT much of a difference? Knock on the roof - its metal.

I have a good friend that has a Powerstroke F350 that I have driven in well over 1000 miles in summer heat and I don't think any of the comparisons you make are true. Yes, its a comfortable truck, but not as comfortable as my F150.

Good luck, maybe you should buy the Titan because I don't think you will ever be happy with what you have.

 

hi- where are the o-ring bolts for the air conditioner? On a ford F150---1997...the guy at the store told me the orings go bad and to just replace them .
thanks

 

I'll agree with you on everything said, but I'm not sure Ford uses solar glass. My Honda Pilot has PPG SolarGreen glass all the way around (including windshield) and it makes a BIG difference in the amount of heat transfered to the interior. Even I am surprised.

I will add that my A/C blows nice and cold. Not the coldest I have every felt, but it does the job well.

 

same with my dads truck. its not freezing but it does the job.

houston - what dealer did you get from and which did you take it to?