As number of you already knows, my truck is suffering from number of issues that I have took it for to the service number of times now, and that services claimed they can not reproduce, while me, my wife, and my coworkers, friends, and acquaintances didn't have problem noticing.

Well, this weekend I went for a meet with number of Southern California HD and L owners (thank you dermaestro for organizing) and while we were checking each others trucks out a number of guys had an opportunity to see for themselves issues I am talking about.

Ticking and other sounds from engine and engine shaking when in idle that two different services so far "couldn't reproduce"? Venomous ****, dermaestro, 7168548, Buckley, and Dante didn't have problem noticing it moment I turned on the engine.

Crackling sounds from dashboard after turning on A/C that 3 services too far didn't resolve (out of which 2 "couldn't reproduce")? Took less than 10 minutes for Venomous **** and Buckley to hear them.

Paint and interior issues that Ford services are refusing to deal with? Just ask dermaestro and Coumer what they think of paint and interior issues on my truck.

So, I guess fact that Ford services (and Ford itself considering they have "full confidence in our services") don't see any issues that need to be dealt with doesn't mean there are no issues. It is extremely disturbing that Ford's professional trained technicians have problem hearing, seeing, and reproducing something that number of people that gathered on the parking lot doesn't have problem spotting within the minutes.

Thank you guys for reality check! You have proved that facts are facts no matter what Ford's service says.

ZoranC

 

Sorry to hear about your *****ty customer service but you hit the nail on the head with that one. I'm sure many people here would agree with you on that. Cheers.

 

time to find a new shop.

 

Been to four shops so far. It is time to stop the insanity instead.

 

Zoran, ill send you information regarding Sunrise Ford, which we have an active member who is a tech there that might be able to get some of your issues taken care of.

You can also goto Theordore Robins Ford down here in Costa Mesa. Talk to Kevin down there, real nice guy that handles issues and the dealership is 150% pro customer service and then some.

You have a nice truck, just to bad youre having some issues with it.

Ticking sound is piston slap. Modular motors have it when installing Forged pistons. Hell, even my 2 cobras i had stock had piston slap. Only way to get rid of it is to have a new motor built with extreme tight tolerances and build quality. A Sean Hyland Shortblock doesnt have piston slap in my buddies Cobra. So i know it can be done.

 

Thank you for the offer, but if you are talking about Sunrise Ford in North Hollywood I'll pass on it. I had some negative experiences there (not related to my Harley).

Thanks for the suggestion!

I know. I was in love with it before problems started. At that time I naively believed Ford will resolve issues and that will be the end of the story. I know I want my baby back, so I will get there one way or the other, with or without Ford's help.

Dante listened to it and he is not sure it's a piston slap. He believes it's either spark plug or coil. In any case, what I wanted to point out is that services say they don't see anything / hear anything while it is obvious it is there.

Thank you for your help!

ZoranC

 

I too have had problems with Sunrise Fords truck Service department. Sunrise Ford is (818) 980-9800 Service Manager is Ron Jones.

Their Idiots!!! I usually work on my own Vehicles because I trust no one. But I figure I would use the Warrantee I paid for.

I have a 97 4.6L F150 4x4 ExtraCab. I had the rear end & transmission rebuilt at Sunrise Ford in North Hollywood CA. When I got my truck back after 60-80 miles of Highway driving & hard braking , the 4x4 engaged on its own ginding to a stop! . What makes me even more mad is that this never happend until after I got my truck back from Sunrise Ford. So I took it back to Sunrise & they replaced a electric clutch relay switch in the dash (heard clicks when the 4x4 light comes on) & replaced the electricomagnetic clutch in the trasfer case. As I read when Shifting from 2WD to 4WD High an electromagnetic cluth inside the Borge Warner 4x4 Transfer case drings the front driveline up to engage. The 4WD light luminates and the electromagnetic clutch energizes. This system is called the "MSOF" system or the MECHANICAL SHIFT ON THE FLY system. Sad to report however that the truck started to self engage in 4x4 again. I called the TRUCK service Mgr Ron at Sunrise for from the Highway to tell him it's time to bring the Factory tech in on this one. I'm tierd of having to take my truck ing so in thinking if it's an electrical engage system, I can simply cut the + wire that energizes the clutch system and mount a switch on the shift lever that swithes on when the lever is pulled back. Maybe I can use a tiny toggle switch to flick on b4 I engage the 4x4 lever.

The ABS system was faulty, Check engine light on, the rear diff was going out, the trans was going out, the wipers were faulty, the floor vents were not working, the stereo station buttons were faulty & the truck was sputtering.

I had them check & advise my F150 4x4 under Wynn's Warrantee. My Floor vents didn't work. They told me they checked it & the actuator was defective. The idiot Service Mgr said it would cost me around $250 part & labor. This part not being under Warrantee I decided to investigate myself. The actuator DID work !!! It was simply disconnected?!?! I was Pissed!

One of there mechanics miss diagnosed my rear diff failure & cost me $600 in parts & service that would have been covered by my Warrantee. The Sunrise Mechanic said he the parts failed due to 2 cups of water in the rear diff. When I got the call I ran over to Sunrise to see for myself. The Oil was discarded however the oil still dripping from the diff and the puddle of oil on the floor was crystal gold!!! I called Wynn's Warrantee to say the Mechanic was wrong at Sunrise. They said Have the mechanic see if there’s any rust on the hard parts. I found none & neither did the Sunrise mechanic! But knowing Warrantee companies... they find any excuses to back out of paying for repairs. I told Sunrise & Wynn's, " If there was Water in the rear Diff you would have found emulsified oil that would be creamy in consistency". To add there was no rust! Water effecting hard part to the point of failure would probably exhibit some rust. Still thanx to the Sunrise mechanic it cost me $600.

I had them fix my trans under Warrantee which is doing fine. They had my truck for 3 weeks & it took 6 more times back in the shop to have them finish up other inspections to fix the Check engine light witch later I found out was my O2 sensor. They couldn't figure it out. I gave up with them. I decided to fix the truck on my own.

My advise is stay away from Sunrise. My friend in Vegas has an E2002 E350 that was miss diagnosed by the ford dealer in Henderson NV.. Whats with Dealers???

 

Yup, also I have noticed the rough idle in every F-150 I have ridden in. I'm not saying that you are not seeing something different, I'm just saying that it may not be only "Lightning" related.

 

I have a 00L when I blew a plug they put new motorcraft plugs back in. The truck idled rough 2000 miles later I decided to put densos in and my stock plugs gap ranged from .041 to .050. Haven't had a idle problem since.

 

"You mean you have to GAP the plugs?"

"I thought they came that way from the factory!"

"I always just put them in, cause they only allow
.6 hours for this job"

 

Ticking sound is piston slap. Modular motors have it when installing Forged pistons. Hell, even my 2 cobras i had stock had piston slap. Only way to get rid of it is to have a new motor built with extreme tight tolerances and build quality. A Sean Hyland Shortblock doesnt have piston slap in my buddies Cobra. So i know it can be done.

I think I have some of this. How bad is it to have piston slap? I have a 99 L that has a annoying ticking coming from the driver side of the motor. I always thought it was probably a exhaust leak but once listening to it you can clearly tell its coming from upper end of the motor. Near the heads.

I understand that it could be fuel injectors, exhaust leak, etc....
But this is the first I have heard about the piston slap and wanted to see if someone could elaborate a little more.

P.S. I say annoying, well it is to me cause i hear it and its my truck. Just wanted to clear up that its not real loud, only to me. Especially at drive thru or with the windows up and radio down its pretty noticable.

 

Check your plug torque... NOW!