Well guys, here is my calendar...

11 DAYS IN SHOP
59 DAYS NOT IN SHOP

That's just about 20% so far... The vib. is not fixed and no major work is done yet...

Replace Tailgate Straps - 1 day (seperate trip)
Replace Tire / balance tire - 1 day (seperate trip)
Replace 4 tires / balance tires - 1 day (seperate trip)
Replace trim, fix fuel door, rebalance tires / OLF 1 day (seperate trip)
Road force balance tires, fix broken AC - 7 days so far (still have my truck)

I have now been told that the Ford Engineer will be up to figure it out, but it might take a week... Looks as if I will soon qualify for Lemon status ????????????????????

 

That sucks you are having all these problems with your truck. I dont want to come off the wrong way but I am trying to wrap my head around this whole vibration thing and all the problems you are having, please dont take my questions as an attack on you...

1) What is this vibration occurring within a 2mph range? I mean, my steering wheel has a little nibble to it at certain speeds (vibrates enough that if you looked at your hand you could see it shaking a little). I am sure thats not what you are dealing with so if you could tell me more about it. Seems like a couple people have this infamous vib and yet others have this little negliable nibble in the wheel and I am trying to understand if its all the same thing and it just bothers some people, or if the vib is actually really bad and shaking the truck.

2) Why was it in the shop for the fuel door? Did you bust if off because its plastic? Cause thats not really a lemon thing.

I really hope in the end you get what you want and all this is taken care of. Its just hard to visualize when so far (knock on wood) I cant really complain about anything besides it drinking a lot of gas and not being to quick at moving her a$$.

 

EDDY... I know it sucks paying $550 a month for a Ford Focus while your truck sits in the shop. Also, I will be happy to answer any questions...

Lets see... As far as the vibration (cut and pasted from previous post)
2. Vibration - Not as easy...
2.a. If I step on the gas, (full pedal) between 55-65 (or so) it rumbles through my truck... (DRIVESHAFT???, EXHAUST DRONE, ENGINE DRONE)???????
2.b. If I have change in the cupholder and place a pop in it (makes it easier to hear the noise and vibration instead of feeling it and seeing the seats vibrate..., I can't even think it is loud vibration, my pass. seat vibrates, my radar detector is gonna vibrate off the windshield, the jack under the seat vibrates, the lh door panel sounds loose. (MOST SPEEDS)...
2.c. While at constant speed city speeds or highway speeds lets say 60 or 75 steady, cruise on or not, there is a whine, not quiet like when I drove it off the lot...

The fuel door spring or whatever broke, not the door. The door would flop around like a fish while driving. Ford doesn't have a replacement spring so they have to replace the whole assembly...

As far as what I want... I want this truck fixed in the next week or so. This would bring the total shop days to 20 and around 60 not in the shop... 1/3 = acceptable... But I don't think this is gonna happen since they have not got in it with the ford rep./eng. or touched the rear end or driveshaft...

BTW: My truck was built 4/27/04 in VA, and the vib. dampener is factory installed in new models... (I didn't verify this, but this is what Ford told my dealer)...

 

Thanks for your reply I appreciate your responses. I know when something like this happens people tend to get defensive. That vib is definitely something pretty bad then as well as the annoyance of the fuel door. I would definitely threaten to lemon law it because there are SOOOO many kick *** ford trucks out there with no problems. Mine was made in VA too in 12/03. Like I said my vib is nothing to complain about and pretty typical in a big 4wd truck like this. Hell my parents saturn vibrates more..now thats a lemon.
Anyways I really hope you get this fixed. I would begin to press the issue of the lemon law because even if they fixed it, do you want a brand new truck that spent the first month in the shop. Its like getting is an accident, even if they can fix it, its not the same.
I like many other have been fortunate to not experience this, while other have been going through hell (chalk it up to new model problems) the only thing wrong with mine to date is it has a good amount of swirls in the clear from the dealer, and it didnt come with the procomp lift in it from the factory...now I gotta pay to get it put in, whats that all about!
Good luck! keep us all posted.

 

I believe the real question about the vibration is...how long will it take before something in the drive line starts to come apart. Vibration is not normal for a vehicle and I have to think that it could cause issues to arise in the drive train over a given period of time.

Ron

 

mjninke,

Let them keep the truck, it only adds to the total # of days in the shop and it's out of service.

What did you find out about MI law? Are you required to use the DSB or can you get straight too it. Like I said earlier, I went directly to the state's program on my mustang. It was 1.5 yrs old and only had 2100mi when I turned it back over to the dealership. I walked away with a $5300.00 judgement (payments minus usage fee, which wasn't much).

Tell you what, when I turned the GT in the service manager told me that if I wanted to look at another Ford he's been approved to offer it at manufacturers cost. At the time I swore I would never buy another Ford(mustang was the first) but after looking at trucks and being able to save 10k on the best looking truck I bit the bullet and haven't had any problems so far.

The next time you talk to the service mgr, let him know you're not happy with the focus as your driver and that you're considering the DSB. They'll get off their laurel and bendover backwards to keep you happy. Another thing, now when I bring my F150 in for service I get excellent CR. My only complaint was a door rattle and rail dust. They put me in a used 02 Z71 for the driver and kept my truck for 2 days. Good luck, Jerry

 

PA...

Any word???

I think I can get my vibrating truck today and drive it until the Ford engineer looks at it... If my air - cond. is fixed...

If anyone has problems, drive another 04 F-150... I did yesterday and was amazed at the quietness, no vibrations, ice-cold air... Don't settle for anything than perfect with this truck, because it is, and if your's is not, it needs to be made right...

You should have seen me in the other truck, smiling more than I have in the last 2 months... It had te 5 1/2 box on a scab so I didn't like it, plus it had the p tires, I really like the LT...

matt

 

mjninke,

I just started another thread called "Vibration Update". I think you guys will be interested in my story.

Ron

 

Well,

All the bad, here is some good!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...w.cfm?num=6672

It's a great looking truck, just a lil noisy.....

 

Ron, haven't heard from you in a while... What's going on with your truck?

 

I had to answer to this with my take on the subject. Now, do please understand that I am not downplaying anyones problems with their trucks. I obviously have not driven anyones truck, so I can have NO insight into the severity, or lack thereof.

Having working in, or around the automotive industry (repair, building custom vehicles, building and racing) for about 25 years.............. I think I know a little about the subject. Note that I said a little, as I would never claim to know alot.

Anything that moves has a vibration and/or resonance. Every engine, transmission, transfer case, driveshaft, and rear axle has a vibration. This is simply the nature of the beast, as anything that is mass produced has to be made within tolerances. Nothing can be perfect, or nothing would ever get made. Some that come down the line are on the lower end of the tolerances, and some are at the higher end. If you get a few parts that are at the higher end, then you are more likely to actually feel the vibration.

Remember that the new truck has a stiffer frame than anything that has come before it............. from any manufacturer. Thus, these small vibrations, that may not even be felt in other trucks, because the frame absorbs them, are now felt. If a person is lucky enough to get one of the trucks with the closer tolerances, they are happy. If they are used to all the noise and vibration that older trucks make, they are still happy with the truck. However, if they are not, then they will be unhappy with it.

This is why I think you have seen many different fixes for the problem. For some, tires are at fault. For some the rear axle is. For others it is the driveshaft. Basically, whichever item is at the high end of factory tolerances is causing the problem. I also think that this is what is making it so hard for Ford to come up with a conclusive fix.

Thus, if your problem is not a severe vibration caused by a slip yoke, out of balance driveshaft, or out of tolerance ring and pinion, you should not have any longterm problems. Once again, this observation is based on the fact than anything that rotates will have some form of vibration (most so small you would never know).

Anyway, hopefully this explanation may help some understand the dynamics here. I am sure that Ford could eliminate 99.9% of the vibration problems by simply going back to a much weaker frame (so that the frame could absorb any existing vibrations). However, I certainly don't want that............. and I am sure that others don't either (think lower towing limits, worse ride, and worse handling).

Good luck to all.

 

I wish I could downplay this:

Not Fixed Yet:
1. Tailgate Straps: Right side longer, but it’s not the strap (they are not supposed to be like this).
2. Vibration: 4 types,
1. Step on the gas, rumbles through truck 10-15, 55-65, not like other ’04 F-150’s I have driven. I didn’t hear this from the start, because during break-in, I didn’t hit the gas at all.
2. If you have change in the cup holder or a drink, it amplifies the sound (all the time vibration) so you can really hear the harmonics of it. It vibrates the seats, wheel, radar detector on the front windshield, the rear seats and the jack. You can also hear the LFH door panel jingle around.
3. While at constant speeds, usually in OD, there is a whine/howl, that goes up and down. This sound was not there from the start (front end or rear)…
4. There is 1+ inches of steering wheel nibble (mainly 55-65) (very bad), warmer weather and it’s worse, very hot days the steering wheel almost gets ripped out of my hand.
3. Front brake dust problem and 2 grooved rotors
4. Wet rear end both sides of the rear diff.
5. Seatbelt stitching coming apart DLH
6. Paint on hood looks like it didn’t get completely covered (rough), front right corner

ALREADY DONE:

1. I took my truck in for (day 1) for the tailgate straps not the same length or supporting the tailgate properly. They were replaced, but the issue still exists.
1. I took my truck in for (day 2) for a tire / vibration problem, thought it was just one tire’s tread separation. – Fixed with a new tire and rebalance. – Vibration still there.
2. I took my truck in for (day 3) for a tire / vibration problem, thought it was just another tire’s tread separation, also there was factory defects with the other 3 tires, so all four tires were replaced and rebalanced. Vibration still exists.
3. I took my truck in for (day 4) to fix the vibration, to replace some defective trim pieces, a broken gas door assembly, and rebalance tires (3rd time), still vibration.
4. I took my truck in for (days 5-13) to fix the vibration and the AC. They road force balanced the tires (4th time), and a vibration still exists. The ford engineer will be up to look at it.
5. I took my truck in for (day 14) to fix the vibration. (they will try driveshaft)


It seems to have meet the 3-4 times for lemon law doesn't it????

 

does anyone think I am putting up with too much??? is this a lemon??? I want a good truck like most of you so I can get a tuner and have some fun.........

 

Hey Mjninke,

No you are not complaining about too much. The '04s are a way nicer ride than the last generation but my laundry list of issues continues to grow.

Please, please post the outcome of issue #4 specifically. I have an '04 Screw and noticed the same nibble pattern with the warmer weather. This would lead me to conclude this is an issue related to the tires. Do you happen to have the 18" Goodyear ATs?

 

does anyone think I am putting up with too much??? is this a lemon???

It sounds like it. This stuff isn't normal. I've had mine for ten months (only 3000 miles) and haven't run into any of the problems you're describing. I've done an oil change, and that's it.

I think you've been patient enough. If it were me, I'd have to say "last call guys, fix it or replace it."