Well, just took my baby in for the trans. replacement (finally). They're also going to look into a rough idle and poor mpg. I know I shouldn't expect 17mpg, but something better than 10-12mpg. Should get it back by friday afternoon.

There's a possible chance that I may go to the track (Milan) on friday night. I believe gates open at 4pm. Their website is milandragway.com (sorry, don't know how to put in the blue yet!).

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PFA
'99 WHITE LIGHTNING



[This message has been edited by PFA (edited 03-25-2001).]

 

Well, got the trans replaced and the other problems looked at, The rough idle and poor mpg are believed to have been related to the trans., and the lag of power in the higher rpms. Well after going to the track tonight the power problems still exists, the idle wasn't all the time anyway so I still don't know and mpg will take time to tell.

The trans started to slip at take off from a light. I would have to get around 1500 rpms before the truck would move. Took it in to FAIRLANE FORD at 3000 miles. They looked it over and test drove it to verify problem. The result was they were not going to fix it under warranty, due to ABUSE, based upon the trans oil was burnt and there was (get this) 2/32" less tread on the back tires than the front! Eventually got the zone rep involved and she said that they would fix it this time but the next time they wouldn't under these circumstances. And it would go on my file as a red flag!
They said that Ford does not warranty racing these or any other of their vehicles. I asked what were these trucks made for, just to look pretty and sound good or what? The response was the same. I'm going to get with Ford and SVT and find out what they expect their customers to do with these Ultra Hi-Perfomance vehicle.

Sorry for being long winded, but I wanted everyone else to know what they could expect from a dealer that they are not sure how they feel about the use for these vehicles. By the way, I WOULD NOT suggest FAIRLANE FORD for any service work on these!!!

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PFA
'99 WHITE LIGHTNING




[This message has been edited by PFA (edited 03-25-2001).]

 

So you are blaming the dealership because of your misuse?? It clearly states in the manual that the vehicle is not designed to be raced. I worked for a Ford dealership, they cant be blamed for that stuff.

[This message has been edited by RACERX2 (edited 08-07-1999).]

 

Well, in my opinion it's a high performance vehicle and is designed and intended to be driven in a high performance fashion. "High performance" does not have to mean "abuse", however. The difference is that as long as it is operated within its design parameters, even if this means that it is flogged much more than a non-hi-po vehicle, then that is not abuse.

Admittedly, however, there can be a fine line between the two - especially under the excitement and pressure of race conditions. My guess is that Ford is well aware of this and takes the easy way out by invoking a blanket prohibition on competition use. (And probably has as much to do with potential "skin & contents" liability as it does with vehicle damage.)

Using the above experience as a learning experience, I think if I ever need factory service on my tranny, I'll change the fluid and rotate the tires before visiting my dealer.

Mike

 

Hey PFA, Sal here. That really sucks about how that dealer handled the situation. I always get a kick out of how other dealers "turn away" warranty work for stupid reasons. When you bring a vehicle in for service work, it's up to the service manager whether or not they will fix the vehilce under warranty. That "due to abuse" line of crap is 100% dealer BS. Sure, Ford can deny the claim due to racing abuse, but the dealer is the one who tells them. Why would they do that? Why would a dealer deny themselves the paid warranty claim? We don't turn away work like that at our dealership, that's like throwing away money. Is that dealer an SVT dealer? Most of the times SVT dealers will be more understanding since they know what people do with these vehicles. Also, and this is very important, see if you can find out if the trans that was put in your truck actually is a Lightning version 4R100. On the older Lightnings, there was no Lightning specific replacement E4OD that Ford could order, so Lightning owners got stuck with regular F-150 trannys which resulted in mushy shifts and poor performance. I still get calls about that to this day. I don't know about the 99s, because I haven't looked into it yet, but if you can find a part number on the warranty reciept, I'll look into it for you.

SAL-NLOC-CMAD

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The National Lightning Owners Club- Chip and Mass Air Division--- Your SOURCE for SVT Lightning EFI Tuning and Perormance!! <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/NLOCsvt/svt.html


" TARGET=_blank>http://members.aol.com/NLOCsvt/svt.html


</A>

 

RACERX2
I'm nnot blaming the dealer for "misuse", but their lack of understanding what these vehicles, including Cobras, are made for. SVT didn't build these vehicles just to be pretty, they were designed for a purpose. I don't think that what I have ever done with this truck has even come close to what I have and what I've seen done to Mustangs in the past, and yet the dealers fixed them with no questions asked! This dealer is an SVT dealer, but seem to have a lack of knowlege of the vehicle.

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PFA
'99 WHITE LIGHTNING
RHINO, Soft cover
Valentine 1



[This message has been edited by PFA (edited 03-25-2001).]

 

SAL
I'd appreciate it if you could look the number up, since it does seem to be a much smoother trans. The number I found is XL3P*7000*KA . If this correct, it seems to me that maby there always was a problem with the trans and it just became worse and worse, without "misuse".

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PFA
'99 WHITE LIGHTNING


[This message has been edited by PFA (edited 03-25-2001).]

 

If they don't expect you to fast, why does my XLT have a speed limiter? Why would they build the rocket lightning and not expect people to use it. PFA should be commended on going to a dragway to use his PERFORMANCE vehicle in the manner in which it was designed, not simply in the streets. I am sure that Ford itself does not want people getting the impression that SVT means no warranty if a dealer "feels" like you might not drive the right way.




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David
'99 F150 XLT SC, STYLESIDE
4X4 ORP 5.4L, AUTOMATIC,
139wb, Rhino, K&N,
BugGuard, RainGuards

 

cloaker,
Thank You

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PFA
'99 WHITE LIGHTNING




[This message has been edited by PFA (edited 03-25-2001).]

 

Well, I wasnt trying to step on anybody's toes, but I do have quite a few memories of guys trashing a nice vehicle, then wanting the dealership to fix it for free. I installed an Auburn LS unit in my 4x4, hope I dont have any problems, but if I do, you can bet there will be some quick differental work going on before it gets to the dealership!!!!!