Just wanted to say hi to everyone, I'm new to the site and this is an awsome site (great info everywhere)... And also one of the newest members to the vibe club... Atleast I'm not alone!

 

For what it's worth, I talked to my dealer again today to pin him down when Ford will have this new bulletin out. He said something about Ford Quickfix Engineering on 9/16/04 said they were working on the fix (45mph or greater vibe in wheel,floorpan, pedal) issue. He said they typically have the bulletin released within 90 days of that so basically said I needed to hold tight another week or two. I asked him, any ideas what there focusing on?

This is what get's me. "Reindexing tires, road force balance, dampener." This seems to be old news, TSB 04-3-3!. WTF is going on here? He seems to think 04-3-3 does not apply to my situation yet this new bulletin, from what he tells me, is the same SH@#&! Maybe it's a new dampener I have no idea. Anyways, thought I'd share this non-sense you everyone. I request my DSB paperwork today, might as well get that started.

 

I tryed to tell you guys that 2 weeks ago after I talked to the Ford Rep. That is why I decided to go through with my DSB hearing.

 

Run run run around. I really can't believe they are still totally clueless.

 

I don't know why the news media won't pick this up. I think Ford is going to make as many people wait as long as possible so the Lemon Law statute runs out. I've already notified Ford of my rights under the Lemon Law. As long as you do that within the first 15 months (depends on your state) you are protected.

 

I think they need to pay the bill for all my antacids too. I'm letting this rattle me up way too much. One think that always get's me fired up is run arounds and excuses. I'm suprised nothings hit any news sites at all. Car & Driver showed the vehicle at least reliable, anyone hear as to way that came up with that opinion? Some details as to way sure would be nice.

 

I have been lurking on the site for quite a long time as a silent member of the "vibe" tribe. The TSB has been performed, the Factory Rep claims that my truck was right at the limit of what is acceptable vibration (yet did another ballance) and now I have had it. They (the dealer and rep) were even very careful in regards to what they said on the service record this time bordering on CYA.

Quick History -- I started with the nibble (gone) and ended up with an inordinate amount of driveline vibration, transfer of roadway vibrations and steering wheel vibration (higher frequency) at 35 to 40 and 50 to 60. Most of these can be felt especially on the door, floor and center console. Additionally, It does not feel like the suspension effectively dampens rough road conditions compared to when it was new. I drove a 2005 and competitors trucks and they did not display these characheristics except for the 2005 F150 which had a slight nibble but no lower speed vibration issues. The claim here by the rep is that this is a more capable truck (load wise) than previous years and is expected behavior. So much for the "Smoothest F150 Ever".

Now there's more...

One thing that we should be considering here is the fact that we have had our vehicles in for service several times and that the concern has been verified (in a permanent record), we are now at risk of not being able to resell these vehicles except at a considerable loss. Any smart buyer will educate themselves about these trucks, will see that the first model year had vibration problems, and will request your service records and/or will look under the rear left of the vehicle to see the dampener. Sale over... Avoided like the plague

I also posed some tough questions to the service manager and factory engineer which they either could not answer or choose not to answer. These included.

1. What exact vibration condition is the dampener designed to remedy. No dampner can dampen all frequencies so it must be for one particular problem. They either could not or choose not to answer this question.

2. What is the expected life of the effectiveness of the dampener. The elasticity of the rubber dampner will undoubtedly change over time, eventually becoming ineffective. Is this part warranted forever or am I going to have trouble once it wears out? What are the warranty implications here? This band-aid has created another unknown long term variable on the truck. They either could not or choose not to answer this question.

3. My rotors were turned twice in a month when the vibration issues were their worst. I understand through a reliable mechanic that vehicle vibrations can cause hard/hot spots on rotors and even if this is not the case, they are of substandard material and I wanted them replaced. They did not address this issue and when I confronted them I was told I could have a good deal on rotors later but that ford would not replace them.

4. I asked whether or not I would have bad vibration problems when and if I decided to go to after market rims and tires. I could not get an exact answer on this and was ensured that if the tire was indexed properly on the rim then it would not be a problem. I find it curious. I have so many nicks and scratches on my rims now from the weights moving around it's ridiculous. Does anyone know if the load force balance characteristics of a tire change over time?

Well, I drove away from the dealership today and the reality is that nothing has changed. Initial impression is that the driveline vibrations are about the same (unacceptable to me) and that the suspension still does not dampen effectively.

Next steps are to talk to the regional rep and call ford customer service to see if I can get my questions answered. Unfortunately I think that I am on the path of DSB or Lemon. If that is the case, it will be my second buy back in 8 years by Ford (Last was a 96 SHO that was rattling apart at 6 mos). The only reason I came back to Ford, for another purchase, was because of this "great" Truck. It's luxury characteristics and marketing "Smoothest", Quietest".

Having to go through all of this hastle (I am an extremely busy person career wise), coupled with the horrible experience that I had with the SHO, I doubt that I will ever buy a Ford Product again.

Wish me luck!!!

 

dav_man,

Welcome to our not so popular club! Do you get the Ford Regional Contact from your dealer or where could I obtain it for my area? Probably waisting my time but, what the hey, it's more documentation if/when I go the DSB route.

You asked some good questions Dav_man. I just might have to ask those just for fun when I get the new bandaids with these new TSB's that are supposed to "fix" the 40-50mpg vibes.

As far as your rims go, mine look the same. I've had my wheel's balanced 5 times now and it shows too!

I was wondering, what do you think Ford does with these buy backs? resell em? I assume since it was not bought back through a lemon law but through the DSB, the title is not lemoned right?

 

Does anyone have the part number for the replacement drive shaft? Reason I'm asking, I took my F150 in last week part of the hazing for the vibe club... But long story short, they replaced my tires and road force balanced the new tires... Took it back yesterday and said they rebalnced the tires... It felt alot better but while looking under my truck lastnight to my surprise there was a new drive shaft in my truck... I asked the dealer for paperwork when I pick my truck up and he said there was not any because it was them that messed up... I do not have any paperwork with a replaced drive shaft... I guess Santa could have come and gave me a early present... I have also called Ford on this matter but no help... Anyone had anything like this happen to them? Thanks for letting vent a little bit...

 

Sounds fishy that they replaced your driveshaft yet have no paperwork for it? How do they except to get Ford to pay for it? I would get them to personally write something up showing that they replaced it so you have that for your records.

Just in case you still have problems, you will need that stuff if you ever go the DSB route.

The Q is, is your vibe actually fixed now?

 

DrkShadow

Same thing I was thinking... I have a call into the service manger to see if I can get any info from him... After all of the great info on this site, I have started a file but so far only have 1 repair order showing they replaced the tires... To answer your question, it is about 85% better... Still have the vibe in the floor / gas pedal at 40-68... Not as bad but still there...

 

The new TSB's, according to my dealer's customer service manager, should be out in the next two week and is "supposed" to deal with the 40mph vibe. I don't hold too much hope, from what he told me, the fixes sound the same as TSB 04-3-3. Reindex tires, road force balance, dampner (not sure where, steering?). Good luck to us all.

 

Do I really want one now????



I waited and waited and waited to see if Ford could get the kinks out of a new product.....



I guess I'll keep waiting ... maybe by 2007???

 

I got tired of the runaround from the dealer,engineers,ect.
registered my truck with the lemon lawyers in Md today, I just don't want to have a pile of junk to drive in, and If I let it go any longer, that's just what I will end up with, because of the vibes.
After all they have done, with no remedy, sadly,I have no other recourse, but to feed it to the sharks
rick

 

I think it went so so. They gave me 10 minutes to talk. They asked me not to talk about any of the info that they already had. I just told them the purpose I bought the truck for and that it has failed to meet that purpose and how much stress it has caused on my family and the fact that I do not believe the truck is safe to drive.

They only asked me how many times it had been back to the shop and for how many days. Also, they asked me if they had replaced the driveshaft and all wheels and tires. Of course, they have done that and they knew that but they wanted to hear it from me. I guess they record those things.

No Ford representatives were present at all. Allthough in my paperwork it said that Ford wanted to make an oral presentation as well.

They said they would make a decision today but I wouldn't get a letter for 10 to 14 days.

That's all I know. If this free process doesn't work then my lawyer is already ready to go.

I'll keep the good folks at F150online.com posted.