cslinger,

Thanks for the Tundra insight. I read about the brake problems on TundraSolutions. Seems there is no solution for that.

Dennis,

It has been frustrating. I hope I am not doing anything wrong. I know my 94 Ranger was the best vehcile I've ever owned. It never went back to the dealer for anything. My 99 was great except for the squishy seat and the wiper switch and every once in a while it wouldn't shift just right. It seems that Ford's engine management designs have declined due to the new EPA rules or something. My 01 runs flawless some days and on others it runs like crap all day. Maybe I have a bad engine? I can live with busted lumbar supports, or wiper switches, etc. It's the aggravating and dangerous engine problems I hate. This truck ran fine until about 3000 miles. I was inpressed with the power boost in the 4.6. by 9000 miles it was stalling a few times a week and it stumbles every time I operate a window or a turn signal, any kind of electrical load. I think that is what makes it stall is a surge of some kind.

I called my salesman yesterday and told him my situation. He checked the status on my truck for me and called me back. Apparantly, they were able to confirm the stalling problem and are trying to figure it out. I told him to get me a deal on a rental truck and he said I can come down and demo any used truck for free to get me by until mine is fixed. I feel much better now that he is involved. Again if they can fix it or give me a loaner when it needs fixed, I'll live with it. My service writer is an a$$hole but my salesman is great.

Thanks for the insight guys

I don't think you're doing anything wrong. I've never heard of you doing any mods on your trucks or doing any repair work yourself, so I'm assuming your dealer does all the work.

It's almost as though your dealer is selling you flood salvaged vehicles.

The following is a quote from Four Wheeler Magazine (my second Bible) about the Tundra:

"It's lack of a limited slip differential hurts the truck off-road, or even while simply driving in the rain or snow. There are two engine choices avalable -- the standard 3.4L V-6 and the optional 4.7L V-8. Our testing has shown that even with the V-8, the Tundra does not make for an exceptional tow rig or work truck, so it is best to leave those tasks to American iron."

I think this speaks for itself...

-Flea

I come from a Ford family too. Sure I,ve had Chevy's, Toyota's, Datsun's and even a pretty good AMC car, if you don't mind ugly, but I always go back to Ford.Presently I own 3. A 97 Ranger, 2001 Focus(ugly but fast), and my favorite 87 F-150. Although my credit is good enough I personally don't like buying new. To see all that money going out the window for interest and depreciation kinda makes me wince. It leaves very little left to spend on upgrades, and I love to tinker, which is often more expensive and harder to do on a new car and it's warrenty. My truck is depreciating much slower now even though it runs like new, especially now since I've spent the money I'm saving on the same upgrades for less money. It's harder to find year specific cosmetic upgrades but they sure are cheaper. I think they figure if you can afford a new truck you can afford to pay $500 for clear taillight lenses.
I also kinda lost interest when they changed to the torsion rod suspension, making them basically like all the rest. Although it works fine the TTB is SO much stronger. Mine wasn't a creampuff at 110,000 miles when I bought it but, most if any of the manufacturer defects have been rooted out, besides, it's a Ford. It has a few dings but who doesn't like to hammer once in a while.
I don't have to deal with repairs under warrenty then, being delayed or denied by dealers who, no matter how nice, are really only concerned about his bottom line not yours. Iv'e worked for a few and you would be surprised what they say after you leave the lot. As far as looks go Iv'e never considered that my main criteria in a vehicle. What fun is it if you look, sound and smell like all the others. Put on some meats and a lift and any truck will look bada$$

The dealer rented me a 02 GMC Sonoma SLS Extended cab. The third back door is stuck shut, it won't budge. What a POS. I think the dealer rented me one of those to prove a point. I am just laughing at this Sonoma. Glad I did not buy one of these.

Just remember when the thing breaks down it is 4 times what it would cost to repair a ford. For example where as a starter for a ford would cost $125.00 a starter for a toyota would cost $350.00. just remember this when you are test driving one. Also the Ford F-Series has been the number one (i say again number #1) selling vehicle not in one year, not two or even three years but for 23 (yes 23) years straight So evidentually they can't be TOO bad. My personal opinion is that it is your DEALER. Spend another 30 mins driving to another dealer and the result will be different.

Day 8 in the service department. They can not find out why it is stalling. They are talking to someone in Dearborn trying to solve the problem. The mechanic even said it was gutless and ran like crap.

Ironically, the local Toyota dealer called my carpet cleaning business today for an estimate. I went and did the estimate and test drove another Tundra, a 4X4 with the TRD off road package. I liked it but it doesn't "jump out at you" the way an F-150 does.

I have not heard a peep from the dealer in three days. This POSonoma they rented for me has been wrecked before and poorly repaired. It has a huge wind whistle at 55mph and when I put gas in it today the interior stunk of gas for 15 minutes. I may as well have pumped gas directly in to the drivers seat it stunk so bad.

At least I have been riding the Valkyrie more in the past week.

Don't let it get you down man... every once in a while there is just a bad truck that rolls off the line. Keep the faith in your baby and everything will turn out good.

Hey Spanky,

$125*3= ~$350, isn't that 3 times or are you using some new fangled math????

hey, hey, hey i got a publick scol educatn

I'm confused. Are you renting the truck or is the dealer renting it for you? My dealer pays for a rental from Enterprise when the truck is in for service and I need a set of wheels.

Dennis,

The dealership is paying for the POSonoma. I demanded an F-150 or a similar full size pickup. They had none.

Well, I don't know about demanding a specific loaner vehicle, unless you need it for work, I am happy to have transportation while mine is in for service. Many places offer little or nothing. My dealer is cool and every once in a while I get to drive a used Lightning.....

jryager,

I use mine for work. I keep expensive tools and stuff in the back. It is a pain going anywhere with no security. The F-150 has an ARE hard tonneau. I have to keep the Sonoma in the garage. The whole thing is just a pain.

I called the dealership Saturday. It is still being worked on. I have a feeling there is something bad wrong with it. When my wife had a rental car they fixed her Taurus in a few hours and called wanting the rental car back ASAP. I haven't heard a peep from the dealership.

I hope they get it fixed, I miss it and I need it back. This is the 11th day without it.

SeaCrow,

Sorry about the truck, I had similar problems with a 1999 F150 XLT SuperCab 4x4 5.4L. All in all, it was in many times, some nitpicky, some not. After a head gasket, then in 4 times to replace 6 coils, a drivetrain shudder, replaced rearend, leaking rearend, and a front main seal leak... my dealer went to bat for me. Gave me a great trade-in, and a credit from Ford. I traded up to the Screw Lariat 4x4.

So far, so good with this one..