DRIVING ME NUTS!!!!!!!!

I have read every thread concerning the ash tray rattle, but I have yet to read a FIX for the damn thing. I've only had mine for 3 weeks and already this freaking rattle is keeping me from completely enjoying my new truck - with its SUPER QUIET INTERIOR. It probably wouldn't be bugging me so badly if I hadn't fallen in love with and partially made my choice based on the SUPER QUIET INTERIOR.

I now get in, start it up, and then open the ash tray to minimize the rattle - they should have put that in the manual. Then I would have already gotten used to driving with the ash tray open.

I know some of you have the same issue, but nobody is sharing thier fix. Please tell me one is out there.


My Gallery

 

Since I don't smoke, I took the ashtray out and set it on a shelf in my garage. It doesn't rattle there and I can use the cup holder. Have you tried putting something under the ashtray such as a tissue, piece of cloth, piece of rubber material, cardboard, or whatever? Maybe even pull it out and wrap it with a piece of tape and then put it back in?

 

Hey, take it into the shop if its new. It should be under warrenty.

 

Mine rattled as well. Here was my fix... I tried black tape in spots on the tray but it didn't hold up as well. So while my wife was dusting one day she picked up a statue that had a wooden base and it had four stick on felt peices, so not to scratch the finish on the table. I pulled the four off and put a very small amout of super glue on them and placed them within the try one by one until the rattle was gone. WAA LAA.... It took about 15 minutes of glueing them on then going around the block.....

As for the statue on the table it now has black tape....

Hope it helps.

 

Fellas, If you are having a problem with a rattle and you still have a warrenty... Take it in. I wouldnt use glue on anything in my truck! Thats a good way to void the warrenty. Usally they are very good at fixing minor problems like that.

 

You can buy those felt pads at any hardware store (or home depot). That way you won't need to rob them off your wife's statue. But while the truck is under warranty, we shouldn't have to glue some felt tabs. Take it to the dealer and have it fixed right!

 

I agree with Big SCrew, we all paid a good amount of cash for our trucks. Take advantage of the service... we paid for that too! PLEASE NO GLUE!!!! If the factory sees that, good luck trying to get it fixed under warrenty!

 

My concern with the taking it back to the dealership is this... the dealer I bought from is 180 miles away. I know any Ford dealer should help me, and my local dealership probably will (I'll give them the benefit of the doubt until proven wrong.) However I am a little hesitant to run over there with my new truck because there is a little history there.

I had them searching for my new truck. I got a little impatient about how long they were taking and took matters into my own hands and found it myself, searching other dealers inventories on Ford.com. By the time they called me to tell me they found one I had already been driving mine for 2 days. (Not to mention I saved @ 2K from what they were offering).

So to make a short story long... I am wondering if I am going to get "Rock Star" treatment from them. Plus I still have the paper tag from the other dealer hanging in my back window. I should probably wait until I get my permanent tag before I go in.

It would have been easier to go in and say "I need X fixed, reference TSBXXX". Rather than asking them to hunt and peck for a solution, and not know how eager they will be to help.

But hey, it is worth a shot. If it goes badly I can alway borrow the felt pad idea.

 

Well good luck with that, Those dealers can really hammer you if you get on their bad side. Sorry to hear about your little problem

 

I have the same problem with my screw. Just talked to the dealer a few minutes ago and he told me the new ashtray will be in tomorrow. I'll let you know if the replacement does the trick.

 

Cool Lish, thanks for the info and I'll be looking for your update.

I was playinig around with the problem a little yesterday and the rattle seems to be more with the ash tray door than with the little removable tray itself. Didn't know if that is what you all found as well?

 

Those who keep telling us to 'take the little stuff to the dealer' must live in a differnt world than I do. Or maybe a different state.

Our dealerships are mostly staffed with helpers, many young kids with their first job, most 'undocumented' aliens.
At the huge Orange County dealership I bought from, the salesman, the service writer, the mechanics and the helpers that actually work on your truck don't speak English. The salesman when we bought the truck could only talk to my wife, who habla's a little.
The manager spoke excellent English as did some of the staff. But try to convey rattle in ashtray? No speak English.
That is standard around Southern Calif. At ALL the local (60 mile radius) dealerships you have women service writers, who have no clue what you are talking about, and non-English speaking helpers, who do all the actual work. This is a cultural thing.
I know from experience that it is completely different in other parts of the country, but this is the reality here.
Yes each shop has several very sharp trained techs. That don't do the actual work, especially the little stuff. And that you are 'sheilded' from by ignorant service writers, who don't want you to talk to the people doing the job.
There are bussiness reasons for this. and heck I started as a dealership 'helper' doing all the work on Fords (1970 era) while a supervisor watched. Or went home early, or was drunk, or was hanging out with the owners son. I shudder thinking about the bone headed things I did. The customers thought the real mechanics were doing the work. Not a chance. Almost nothing was even inspected. Things are worse now.
Chris

 

Chris, I guess your right... being from socal I wouldnt argue with that. Its just too bad when we spend around 30g's on our trucks that there arnt people who are worth asking to fix them. Fortunately I dont live in OC so I'm not running into the same problems that you guys are. I'm from Boise, Idaho and the dealership that I bought my truck from is awesome. They have treated me well. But still, a warrenty issue is a warrenty issue. Big or small. If I had to take the dang truck to the shop 10 times before they got it right I would. I would demand that the most skilled tech work on the problem, Maybe even stand there and watch him do it. I dont think there is anything wrong with requesting someone other than the lube and tube guy to take care of your warrenty issue. Anyway Chris, I see where your coming from but thats just life down there. Fortunately we arnt all in the same boat, take advantage of it.

 

Hey Chris,

What dealership have you been going to? I live in South Orange County and my dealership seams to be very courteous and responsive, and most people there seem to communicate just fine. You just need to find the right one.

 

Hi Tlouie32,
My arthritis keeps me from living in the free parts of our fair country, I envy you.

Policy in California, you are not allowed in the service area, no exceptions.
I'm more afraid of what the helpers will mess up than the original problems.

Example, I took my wife's Caddy in for a emergency brake auto release wouldn't work. I had a health problem that wouldn't let me raise the hood, much less work on a car.
No problem, it's under warranty.

They broke the A/C, routed all the vacuum lines wrong.
They broke off the steering column. Used power tools to seat the grade 8 bolts into the aluminium mounting blocks.
Gave the car back to use, middle of summer, no A/C, steering column dropped in my lap on the 5 freeway, had to wire it up to drive it home.
Failed to fix the brake release.


Fixed it myself for 2 bucks, bad vaccum check valve. Made them fix and pay for everything else, plus rental. I didn't need the grief, for something that took two minutes to fix.

I talked to the mechanic, and the service writer. Both had no clue how to use a vaccum gauge, or how to diagnose problems. They just use the 'tree' in the shop manuel. Ouch.

Sorry for the rant,
Chris