Well I have had my new design S&B kit for about 35 days now. When I first installed it I unhooked the battery and installed it just as the instructions stated. After running it for about two hours I got a CEL. I gave S&B a call and they said I needed to unhook my battery again and it should take care of the problem. I left the battery unhooked for three hours and then drove the truck for awhile again. I went two more weeks and then got another CEL. They were all the same. They were the lean code. So I unhooked and it cleared the code for another two weeks or so. Well yesterday I got the code again and I decided enough was enough and went back to the stock intake. I am screwed now though because I can't return the kit to S&B since it is over 30 days so you can now find the intake on Ebay and in the classifieds section. I just wanted to pass along my experience with the intake. I am not sure that S&B has the 2004 intake completly figured out yet. Three lean codes in 30 days just doesn't seem right to me. Thier customer service isn't the best either. When I called for the second time I was just told that I needed to unhook battery again. Don't think I should have to unhook battery every two weeks just to use an intake.

 

hi.

sorry to hear about your troubles.

The complicating factor here may well be because you have an 04.

According to Knucklepunk's (S&B tech guy) earlier posts, he insisted that it would not do that.

Also, TP stated it should be safe.

So rather than suggest that these two entities were wrong, I'd go with an issue with your specific truck, in this case.

Some other folks with newer F150's and this intake have not reported problems - of course that may be inclonclusive...

 

04s were notorious for having this problem. The limits in the PCM were set too tight on the lean code and Ford relaxed them in later versions of the PCM programming. This can be corrected with custom tuning. I had an 04 and it did the same thing with the 3.0" AF1 intake. I was told I needed to buy a custom tune and did not feel like spending the extra $$$. I ended up selling the AF1 for a lo$$ after encountering huge drone while towing our travel trailer.

 

Oh I know all about the problems with the '04 and the lean problems. I am by no means saying that the S&B product is bad. I thought the product itself was great. It sounded and performed great. I am just saying that I feel with the 2004 model it is just hit and miss. Some may have no problems at all and some may. I am just going to stick with the stock intake myself as my truck has proved it doesn't like anymore air then the stock intake. I wish I would have known the before I spent the money but what do I do. Just hope I can sell it now and get somewhere near what I paid for it.

 

Hi.

Understood.

You wouldn't be willing to consider a custom tune, by any chance? If not, then running the stocker is probably best.

Attention Deapee !!! - Here's your chance !

Good luck, Josh.

Cheers
Bubba

 

After having problems with the Edge tuner that I bought and now the this intake I am just going to stick with stock for right now. I imagine it is just my truck and the fact that is a 2004 and the fact they are so touchy. I guess I am just kinda spoiled right now on the whole intake/tuner thing. If I do though I will say that I am going to go with a custom tune from Troyer.

 

i've had my s&b on for about a month on my 04 and everything is runnin smooth as silk.

 

That is good. It might just be my truck. I have had the intake off for about three days now and the truck runs great with no CEL's now. All my problems started when I added the intake so I know that is what it was. It was installed correctly also. Guess I just got a truck that doesn't like any additional air.

Again I will say that the intake was a great item, don't want people to think I am bashing S&B, they make great stuff. Just beware with the '04's, they are so touchy.

 

I have an 04 (early,built Oct 03 new body style). I have a AF1 3" with no codes ever and using an Edge. I went with the 3" AF1 because of what is happening with our year trucks.

 

That was the other one that I was going to get and now I wish I would have. Oh well. I wish I would have bought from Troyer also.

Lessons learned.