To help save gas, I usually just run the Defrost on for Cooling. It works great. Although, if it's really hot, it'll turn the windshield too cold and create condensation on the windshield. Then I have to turn on the A/C. Works good for me. Especially with the Recirc function on.

As far as wind noise and such. I think we just get used to it being very quiet and then start to hear noises again. Take another truck for a ride and then see just how quiet your f150 is in comparison. The F150 is WAYYY quieter..

 

I also got that option

 

A/C Rocks, I should know, I live in Florida.
No squeeks, rattles, or other noises.
No shake, shimmy or vibes either.
This truck is ten times better than my 2002,
in all aspects.

have a nanner

 

Generally speaking, around the '94-'95 model years. It's not the refrigerant though. That's a common misconception. Yes, R12 may cool slightly better than R134a, but what's the difference gonna be? 5-10 degrees? If it's 90+ degrees outside, most people won't notice the difference on whether their A/C cools to 50 degrees at the vents or 40 degrees.

 

Mine does this also, I need to have Ford take a look at it.

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2) Cab quietness has really started to fade away. Wind noise seems to be slowly getting louder and more noticeable.

No problems here.

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3) Starting to develop little rattles around the doors ( doors have never been slammed). The rattles go away if I firmly press on the door trim pieces, so this isn't such a bad thing.

Mine did this also around 3500 miles but it went away by 5000 miles. I think it was just new plastic rubbing together.

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4) Just realized that the cover piece for the pwr windows/locks may be the cheapest part of the interior. Go feel of yours, do they move around and have a lot of play in it? Both of mine have a lot of play and feel cheap, almost like they are taped on.

No problems for me here.

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5) Just starting to realize how crappy the A/C is, each day the temps in Ga slowly rise, along with the humidity. This A/C system doesn't peform like it should. My 97 F150 is 10X better in the A/C department.

Yeah, mine is sub-par also.

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6) Driving home last night with the A/C on and the windows fog up very bad. Eventually had to switch to high defrost with the thermostat on heat and my windows down to clear the windows. This might have been due to extreme humidity last night, I hope it doesn't happen again.

No problems for me here.

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I hope I just had a bad day yesterday and all this will be forgoten in a few days. I haven't had time to get the truck in for service so I'm hoping the shimmy will go away when the tires are rotated. I still plan on lifting the front end and mounting bigger tires to help improve the front end looks. For all the Nissan guys reading this, I would rather my truck vibrate, shimmie, and blow hot air for A/C before I would be caught driving your "lunar lander". And my opinion of the Titan doesn't just revolve around "looks", but moreso my value of the American truck. Sure 90% or more of my beloved F150 may be made elsewhere other than the USA, but atleast the home office is in America and my money ends up back in our economy.

LOL, don't be so hard on Ford's domestic content. A HUGE portion of the vehicle is sourced for the good ole USA and Canada!

Grim

 

No bed shake option!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BHibbs
[B]To help save gas, I usually just run the Defrost on for Cooling. It works great. Although, if it's really hot, it'll turn the windshield too cold and create condensation on the windshield. Then I have to turn on the A/C. Works good for me. Especially with the Recirc function on.



I'm pretty sure that when you're running the defrost that the A/C compressor is on. That's why you're getting the condensation on the window. It's not saving you any gas. I believe the manufacturers started doing that to keep parts in the A/C system from drying out ( during winter months when people dont use A/C much )and causing leaks in the system. Maybe I'm totally wrong, but I dont think so.

 

You’re right on the money, A/C’s on with defrost and not using the A/C for months at a time causes problems

 

Thanks for the support guys! I'm sure a lot of "complaining" was just the combination of a bad day along with the little things I mentioned. As for the switch from R12 to R134A coolant, to my knowledge Ford has ran R134A since 93 or 94. I base all A/C performance off of my 97 F150, that thing has the coldest A/C system I know of. I work in a 48 degree environment daily, so I know cold. I can drive my 97 to work and when driving home turn on the max A/C and blower on high roll the windows down to exhaust the hot cab air. After about 10 miles I have to turn the blower down to 2 and direct the vents away from me because I'm freezing. I work in a poultry processing plant so I've got access to very accurate thermometers, I borrowed one from work the other day and did a vent check on the 97, and it was blowing 32 degree air. Go ahead claim BS, but if that thermometer was wrong, my company will have a major law suit on their hands for selling poultry above the minimum temp lol. Drove the 04 back to work the next day and in the early morning the best the A/C could blow out the vent was 42 degrees, this was around 7 am so I know the humidity was high, the 97 blew 32 degrees when it was 4pm 80 humidity and 88-90 degrees ambient temp.

The shimmie issue, I hope this can be resolved at my oil change. Oddly enough tonight when going to my gf's house the steering wheel had a shimmy. On the way home (same road) it had very little if any shimmy. Seemed very odd, if trafic would have allowed I would have drove on the wrong side of the road to see if the other lane was indeed the cause.

Wind noise in the cab is a very subjective area. I have said many times that my truck isn't nearly as quiet as other FX4's I test drove back in late december and early january. I think it has a lot to do with being a job2 truck or luck of the draw. However, there could have been a slight head wind last night, or it could have been the fact that I was running 85mph on the interstate

Oh well, I will fill you guys in on how things go after the oil change this week. I don't know when I plan on doing the lift and tire swap, might have to wait until money is a little better, since my Bday is coming up and I got that little surprise envelope the other day. Man the tag for this truck is high, then add another $50 bc I want a University tag and I'm over $400.

 

Just to let you know about the consern with A/C. I just took mine into the dealer if you tell them that the ambient temp is not correct as well as your cooling problem there is a new tsb for these. All they have to do is reprogram the PCM. The 04 F-150's A/C is controlled by the PCM. After mine was reprogrammed it cools great.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GB150
[B]Yea it IS on, but I thought it kicked itself on and off instead of just remaining on all the time like when you have the A/C on...

 

I think the compressor always runs when the defrosters are on. It makes dryer air, hot or cold. Turn you defrosters on and set it to heat and see.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ultramaxer21

Wind noise in the cab is a very subjective area. I have said many times that my truck isn't nearly as quiet as other FX4's I test drove back in late december and early january. I think it has a lot to do with being a job2 truck or luck of the draw. However, there could have been a slight head wind last night, or it could have been the fact that I was running 85mph on the interstate

There is a definite problem with wind noise at 45+ mph or so on SOME 04 F150 trucks. From all of the searching I've done on the various Ford based websites with forums, the problem seems to be coming from the top of the windshield 10" or so each side of top center. If you tape the top of the windshield, the wind noise will go away. Then, remove the tape 10" each side of center. You will hear the noise again. Note the wind noise I'm referring to is not the 'whistle' noise addressed in SSM 17309 nor is it the rattle noise heard in the window column. I have this issue and have been attempting to resolve it. Latest potential fix will occur on 1/17/05 where the interior headliner will be dropped and the top of the windshield will be sealed (from the interior of the truck) along the top. The only other fix I've seen that supposidly worked is where a guy had it fixed via waterdoctors.com (used by his dealer) by injecting a sealent called "Liquid metal" externally between/under the molding along the top of the windshield where the window and molding meet. Since there are no 'waterdoctors' in my area, I'm attempting the interior fix. Others have had windshields replaced with no success.