basic troubleshooting steps.

1) Confirm and duplicate the problem. Find out under what circumstances this problem occurs and when it goes away. It is one of the single biggest problems a mechanic faces as a customer will say something like I have a vibration. The mechanic is left to figure out the rest on his own.

2) What else is affected by this problem. While it may seem like not a factor to you, the more details of what happens when problems arise the better. For instance: you have a vibration on the highway at 50 mph, the steering wheel starts shaking back and forth, plus the dash seems to vibrate like a massage chair. Both are equally important points that need to be detailed.

3) Narrow it down to the original failure. The first thing you see wrong is not necessarily the problem. You found that your rear tires are worn. This caused and out of balance situation and that resulted in the vibration. You need to look at the bigger picture. Why are the tires worn? Are they prematurely worn? If yes figure out why. Could be as simple as not rotating them. Or you could have worn suspension components. Maybe someone replaced the suspension but did not align things properly. The simple answer here is just to replace the tires and have the new ones balanced. Rarely is that the whole story though. You may not figure that out until some time later when the problem arises again.

4) Once you have found the original failure you need to look at other potential problems this has caused. Did it wear out my front tires? Did it cause any steering components to need replacing. As well once you have found any other potential problems you need to start the troubleshooting over for that failure.

5) You need to replace all defective components. Do not replace only half of the failed components unless absolutely necessary. If this is the case do not sacrifice safety in anyway EVER. You also need to replace the rest of the failed parts as soon as possible. Remember when one thing fails it never ends there. Once something needs replacing the next part of the system is doing extra to make up for the failed component.

6) Confirm that the problem is now gone. If you were not able to replace all failed components then this step may have to wait. Another reason to replace ALL failed parts.

7) This is the single most important part: Perform regular maintenance and system checks. The best way to fix these problems with your vehicle is not to have them. While not all repairs can be avoided most will be much less expensive and time consuming if regular maintenance is preformed.


Now good luck!

 

Who are you?

Oh yeah, the guy who's been getting in pissing matches with other members?

- NCSU

 

How do we know your advice is good advice? I pretty much know who on here I'd trust on a variety of different topics because I've been here longer than say a month or so...

Thanks for the over simplified advice Captain Obvious!

Oh and welcome to F150 and the General Discussion Section.

 

now im not gonna lie, i stopped reading when i got to the first line and saw this. you joined this month and your not new how? this is like chriscam or w/e his name is all over again

x2. you know who to trust the longer your here and know what people know specifics about this trucks. i know suspension fairly well, electrical im dumber than a brick.

 

I don't care what other people want to say. The post I made is common knowledge among real mechanics that are any good. I am new to this forum yes but not new to forums. I came on here looking for information and thought I could return the favor by helping others. What I find generally is that much of the information on here is passed around like a bad cold. With little to no regard as to who gets it. I don't play favors to anyone regardless as to how long they have been here. I am a straight no BS person. If you don't like it too bad.

 

 

I guess I'll join the pi$$ing contest by saying its irresponsible to say that much of the information on here is passed around like a bad cold. I've found nothing but good information on here since 2005 when I joined. When I come across a problem with my truck or a question about something, I come here first and hit the "search" button and usually I find a solution to it. What s2krn said is 100% correct, you pretty much know who can trust or go to on here depending on what the question or problem is.

Research the problem on here to see how many people have had the same problem and what the fix action was. There are many helpfull mechanics on here and I think several of them are Ford mechanics who pass on very good information about problems and how to fix them which allows people like me ,who aren't mechanics, to fix a problem and save a few dollars rather than take it to the dealership. Theres also TSB's and Recall info that you can take to the dealer which saves time as well.

Maybe spend a little more time on the forum before you go making statements that imply theres bad information here or that theres bad information being passed around. If you want to give advice, tell people to do their research and use common sense before doing anything to their vehicle or anything else for that matter.

 

If you read my post it is all about research and common sense.

I mentioned for new people because as someone new to the forum you don't know who you can trust.

If everyone knew about or used the search function there would not be 20 posts for the same problem.

Right near the end of my post I stated that there is lots of good info on here. However, with your statement "Maybe spend a little more time on the forum before you go making statements that imply theres bad information here or that theres bad information being passed around." then I would be lead to believe all the information on here is good. That is in fact not the case.

It seems there is a club mentality here. I have to say that most of you should be proud on the help and information that you have provided. That does not mean however that you have all the answers to all the problems.

I gave basic information on my first post to help people. If even one of you can dispute the points I made about following the trouble shooting steps then go right ahead. I can take critisism.

If you want to complain about the fact that I said that you should ask people what they did to diagnose the parts they say to change. Then it shows that you promote unsubstantiated repairs based on hearsay.

If you want to whine about that statement then have at it.

Not everyone has been on this site for very long. Many people may just be learning how to use forums like this. I am trying to be impartial and offer sound advice for anyone. If you took something I said so personal that you feel you have to lash out at me, then you have to figure out why you took it so personal.

I posted this exact same post on two other forums I am on as it pertains to any vehicle. I found it curious that this is the only site that I have recieved any negative comments in regards to it.

If you want to learn about your vehicle then I suggest you read my first post on this thread and do what you want.

 

 

..


ManualF150, is that you??

You don't keep a "Driving Log" do you???

 

Busted!!

 

Hey... Post the links to the threads in those other forums so we can see how we should be responding to your post.

I'm really interested to see their responses.

 

http://www.**************/showthread.php?t=16925
http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/ge...eshooting.html

There ya go.

I don't know who manual F150 is. My truck is an auto. I guess that must of escaped you.

 

That's because there are intelligent people on this forum, many of whom have been a part of this community for years. I use the word community because, if you stick around long enough, that's truly what it is.

This post is kind of a smack in the face because the tone you assume is like you're talking down to a bunch of grade school kids. Nobody asked you how to diagnose a problem, so posts like this come across as arrogant. That's one of the reasons for the type of feedback you received. Nobody likes a know-it-all.

Just sit back, read the forum and post when you can help someone, or just chat in GD.

- NCSU

 

You know it looks like they don't want the name of the other forum. That's ok. You guys can bicker about this and that. It is quite sad really. If you are upset because a newbie called someone who has been on here a while out then you should grow up. Not one of you have been able to do anything other then try and attack me personaly. I got pretty thick skin and could care less. It does however show the mentality and intelligence level some of you.

I asked you to attack my comments on troubleshooting and you come up cold. Keep with the jokes and whatever. The lower you go the better.