What's up fellassssss! The past year or so I have been itching for a 4x4. The other makes (GM, Chrysler, etc) just didn't appeal to me in their appearance. I am in love with the square-ish, boxy-ish styling of the 04+ on the F150's. After months of searching, I purchased a 2004 F150 FX4.

She is a medium red, with gray lower rocker panel. She has 150k on the ticker. She's not perfect by any means, but for $6,500 I thought it was a NO BRAINER..even though I'm a

So...probably next week I will be taking delivery of her. When I test drove it, I noticed the center brake light is not working. The passenger side fog light not working, she has a shudder/vibration when driving at low speeds/overdrive...say around 35-40mph, until she upshifts to the next gear and the shudder goes away. She has a torn driver/front cv boot, but other than that, she's PERFECT..lol

I don't have pics of her yet. The previous owner didn't care much to wash or wax or do much as far as the appearance goes. I know it really sucks, but I don't have much history on her, aside from a clean carfax. Hopefully a dealship will have records of preventive maintenance on her.

My plan once I bring her home is immediately give her a soaking bath..both where you can see, and where you can't see (her undersides.) Pour some motorflush into the crankcase, change the oil/filter.....then go for 30min ride...then repeat with the motorflush, change oil/filter again, and probably be good after that.

Change out the coolant, several times, similar to my oil proceedure above.

Change out the tranny fluid, (not a flush but rather a drain/refill) several times, similar to above.

Change out the rear diff gear oil.

Change out the plugs. (Do these 04's have the 4thread problem that the 03's and prior had?)

Replace all 4 tires & possibly replace all 4 rims too!? I noticed she has 17" Ford rims. I thought all FX4's came with 18" rims? Should I go as far and get aftermarket rims larger than 18"?

Replace the wiperblades.

Possibly replace all brake pads (she did not vibrate when braking, probably rotors are fine?)

Possibly replace all the rims

Now...some things I want to take her to the dealership for are....

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. The previous owner says the check engine light has been flashing for several months. When I drove it, it was flashing...but I thought when we were idling in the parking lot, it was SOLID on. Can that be or am I remembering incorrectly?

ALIGNMENT. The truck really didn't pull to L or R, but it's something I'd like to assure is 100% accurate because I'm going to put 4 new meats on this baby.

BRAKE OIL. I would like the dealership to change out the brake oil.

I know it's a lot here on this post, but just wanted to say I'm now officially part of THE CLUB..lol.

Anything you guys to comment on, I'm all ears...from which plugs you guys think I should use (Motorcraft/Bosch/NGK/etc), to things to be careful or look for when changing the oil, etc, etc?

I know all this sounds abitious. I know I will probably have to spend a couple thousand probably to make her 100% reliable and trustworthy and to get a clean bill of health from the Ford dealership. I'm prepared to spend that $$$ to have a piece of mind.

The truck will NOT be my daily driver. It's purpose is to basically assist with transporting junk, drive in the snow & pull out neighbors if they're stuck..lol, or possibly even buying a surf fishing license then taking her on the beautiful sandy beaches of Delaware for some funnnn in the sunnnn and hopefully THIS doesn't happen-------> Basically what I'm saying is I'll probably drive her on weekends only.

What do you guys think? I know you're going to scream for pictures, and I'll put them up. I'll put up some before & after pics of the washing. She IS a dirty little girl though. I know about the center brake light problem by reading this forum!

Anyway....like I said. I have a lot going on with the questions, etc. I'd love to hear what you guys think, opinions, etc. I'm all ears!

 

Congrats on your new project! Sounds like you have a little work on your hands. I have a 04' FX4 and it has treated me very well so far. I would replace the plugs with Motorcraft plugs. I would go ahead and replace your fuel filter as well.

The early 04's (like mine) came with 17" OEM wheels which unfortunately means you have 3.55 gears too.

Good luck with the "new" truck!

 

Thanks for the reply. You are on the ball with the fuel filter. I actually DID buy one (Purolator) yesterday but forgot to put it on my posting.

DAMN...Regarding the 17" vs 18" rims! I thought ALL FX4's had 18" rims? That kinda sucks that I have the smaller rims + the undesired rear gears. Oh well...

You think I should use the oem/MC plugs? I know we can't (shouldn't) go wrong if we always replace with genuine oem, but wondering if there's any design flaw. Dude in the autoparts store was saying MC plugs had a 1 piece design and a 2 piece design, and hearing all this just made my head spin?

I am used to the Lexus forums where we discuss car washing techniques, who has the best wheel/tire/rim cleaner, and mods. Once in a blue moon does someone post about a defect/problem/etc. This ford forum seems like EVERYONE has some sort of defect/problem/trouble/etc.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking this place or the F150's but man...such a difference in content from their forum to this one. Just staying on the sparkplug issue, it's CRAZY how many ppl have sparkplug 'issues' whether they are blown out, snap/break apart when being replaced, the half dozen or so models/part numbers, to even out of box failures from Motorcraft!!!!! What is THAT about!? (I read it on HERE ppl had problems w/brand NEW Motorcraft plugs!)

Again....thanks for the reply and input!

 

I replaced my plugs about a year ago with OEM plugs and never had a problem to this date. Have about 50k miles on the new plugs too. Just make sure when you replace them you have the spark plug extration tool and you torque your plugs to the correct specs. Cant remember them but they are on here somewhere. Good luck with the new truck and be sure to post some pics up too!

 

Sounds like a lot of truck for the money, seen many up in the 250K plus range. Maintenance is the key.

3.55s aren't "undesired" so much, my '07 has factory 20s and 3.55s and get's great mileage and pulls my trailer like crazy! Sure 3.73s mulply torque a bit more, but 3.55s multiply available torque 95 percent as well.
Also, come time to buy them tires you might take a liking to those 17's "$$$" sticker.

Yeah, we want more details and pics.

 

Any truck is going to have problems especially if you "use" it but as far as the 04's go it was the "guinea pig" year so they have their flaws, i know i have an 04 FX4 as well but besides the flaws, I love my truck and its treated me well!

 

I personally prefer 17's due to tire cost as tbear stated. With the wheel and tire combo I wanted, the price difference was a night and day difference; and my wheels were only available in 17's also.

 

Exccellent points regarding the tire sizes (and prices) and the rear gears guys. All valid perspectives.

Question....short of doing physical mesurements, which combination (out of these 2 choices) do you think would provide more ground clearance/higher truck?...

A) vehicle fitted with rim/tires of 275/65/18 or....
B) vehicle fitted with rim/tires of 255/75/17 ?

 

Both of those tire/wheel combo are about the same. They are both 32" (tall) and the 275/55R18 is going to be a little wider tire at about 11" and the 255/75R17 is only about 10" wide. If your going to bump up to a 18" rim and want a nice fitting tire that is a little bigger I would go with something around a 33" tall tire, like a 275/70R18.

I'm running a 2.5" leveling kit up front which eliminates the factory rake (IMO a much better look) and a 305/70R17 tire which is a 34"x12" tire with no rubbing. You can easily fit a 33" tire and fill the wheel wells a better with no clearance issues. You can look at my album to get an idea what that looks like.

 

Ra[ptors have 17s don't they ..... bigger tires though?