Guys - hang on! I was told by my local dealer (not where I purchased the truck either) that Ford is just shipping the repair kits & that because of the sheer VOLUME of trucks affected he expects it to be some kind of recall thing where the cracks will be fixed for free. I am supposed to check back with him on a regular basis - he said it may be about 3 mos. BUT it's not that long to wait for a repair if it's free. I have cracks in both doors - about 1/4" so I am willing to wait awhile to see what happens. My truck is out of warranty too & quite frankly, I can't afford that much $ to fix them. I will keep you posted as soon as I hear something.

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www.andthensometoo.com/owners/cowlady
Love my truck & PROUD of it! If you can't beat 'em, you're NOT driving a FORD!
Shovies PROVE that FORD'S are #1!!
'97 Black F150 XLT ORP 4X4 Reg Cab/LB
4.6L/auto/3.55 LS/power EVERYTHING,
nerf bars, 17" wheels, fog lights, trailer hitch w/electrical connector, front tow hooks, bed rail caps,
6 CD changer, lumbar support & 3 cow license plates - so far!

 

So how much would the repair be if my truck is out of warranty and I DON'T have the cracks yet. Was it ever decided if we could put the reinforcing blocks in ourselves?

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-'97 F150 Super Cab XLT long bed, 3rd door, 4.6L 5 spd, 3.08 rear end
-Added:
Aiwa CDC MP3 stereo
Sprayed in bed liner
Bug Deflector
Ford Running boards
DRL's
K&N Filter
No Door Chime
Radio Delay
Fog Lights on w/ hi or low beams or parking lts.
Reese concealed hitch
Folding rear hitch step w/ attached brake light.
Pace Edwards Roll Top cover

 

Cowlady, you and I and a lot of others sure do hope Ford recalls this. I jsut recently found that my pss. dood has a 1/4 inch crack and the drv is just starting. I haven't stopped using my windows though. If the damn things crack over 2 inches maybe Ford will put on new doors when they do the recall. Lets wait and see.

 

Mitch150,

My retro-fix'd doors have a small amount of flex when window seats at top. Area just above door handle still flexes. But they only way to see it is to watch the reflection of sunlight as window closes - certainly less tna a 1/4 inch, maybe only 1/16? Not perfect, but much better.

Frank

 

I found out about the crack deal on Sat March 21st (via this web site). I went out and took a look at my truck (1999 F150 extended cab). I called the dealer first thing Mon. March 23rd. I was transfered back and forth between service and the body shop. I was given an appointment for Tue. March 24th in the P.M.
Upon inspection of my truck I was told sorry your out of warranty (36210 miles)It did not matter that it was within warranty period at the time of dicovery or that I put 210 miles on it between the time I called and arived for my appointment. So now the service dept. says they will forward the paper work to the Formoco rep and I should hear back within 10 days. It has now been 16 days with no calls. I will wait till 20 days are up then raise "H".

 

Thanks Frank for the update on your fix. I was hoping that it would stop the flexing all together, but as you said, it's better then it was. Anyway, Ford sure does use a powerful motor to roll up the windows!! I tried pushing with my hand on the spot that flexes, and rolled the window down and up. It still flexed, but not as much. Tried it again, with more "pushing" force and it still flexed. What's the deal here? Did they put the motor on the door panel itself?

Shouldn't be too much of a surprise. I've got dents on the rear panels from rocks hitting the inside of the wheel well. Nothing like using paper thin metal for body panels. My passenger door just touched the mirror of my other car in the garage and it put a small dent in the door. It didn't even hit it. I just opened it and rested it against it so it wouldn't hit it. Go figure..... I love Fords and my truck, just wish the body was more durable. I also seem to get scratches in the paint when I just look at it!! But that's another post......

Thanks again.

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1997 F150 4x4 Off Road, SuperCab, Short Box, 5.4, Royal Blue/Silver, K&N, Gibson SS, LT265/75/16 Wild Country APT's

 

Yeah, my Dad had a '88 Bronco. Six months after he got it (brand new), he was using a pressure washer and keeping it at least two feet away, and the paint on the hood was coming off like water. Took it in and got Ford to repaint it, but still..... He now has a Dodge!! So far, no paint problems, but you can't beat that 24 valve Cummings Diesel! He gets 16 mpg while towing his 9000# trailer!!

I had a '71 LTD as a teenager. What a great car. I wish I still had it. Two door, black interior, 400 ci engine, GR60x15 tires. The paint was like a rock and the panels would take just about anything. I was in an accident with it and rear ended a Maverick doing 35mph. Totaled the Maverick. Everyone was Ok, just shaken up. Drove mine home and just had to replace the radiator and the drivers side head lights. the fender was bent up some, but didn't have enough money to fix it before selling it to another kid who wanted to put the engine in an old Ford Courier!! Remember those!!

I understand why the metal is so thin these days (weight savings), but still wish they had more beef to them.

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1997 F150 4x4 Off Road, SuperCab, Short Box, 5.4, Royal Blue/Silver, K&N, Gibson SS, LT265/75/16 Wild Country APT's

 

MitchF150,

Yes the paint is not steel coated like the old days (actually it was lead). At least they figured out how to make it (lead free paint) now without it fading - remember the early '79/80s paint jobs, just terrible.

I too see small dents appear far too easily.

But - buy a Dodge, and you learn what thin paint really is!

Frank

 

had my drivers door crack fixed and kits put in both doors...so far so good.

 

Try taking in the TSB that Biker-Bob posted some time ago: http://www.ultranet.com/~peloqun/doorcrack.html

This posting has been very helpful to a great many people. Thanks Biker-Bob!

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1999 F-150 Lariat, 5.4, 3.55 Ratio, Deep Wedgewood/Gold, Tan Leather interior, LineX bedliner, NO DOOR CRACKS.

 

Does this problem mainly happen to trucks with power windows? My 2000 w/26000 miles has manual windows and no sign of any cracks.

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2000 F-150
Reg. cab
Short bed
White
4.2L
4x2

Mods:
16x8 american racing wheels
Bug guard
Pioneer cd deck
4 pioneer 6x8

 

pa_wolf62.....NO

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'00 WHITE/GOLD F150 LARIAT FlareSide SC 5.4 Auto 3.55 LS
Black Westin Nerfs, White Prime Design BugShield,
White Vtech Taillight Covers, K&N Air Filter,
Sometimes Superchipped,
Leather Captain's Chairs (like a screen door in a submarine!),
and all the Lariat goodies
SOME SHOW and a LOTTA TOW
My am E, Fl *** Member of ??? Ford Group

 

The cracks apeared on my '99 F150 w/ manual windows @ 21,000 miles!! BUT the dealer was more than happy to replace the door, I traded (unrelated reason) before sending it in. Thanks, Doc

 

I reported my crack to the dealer week and a half ago he said he would order the fix kit and give me a call....no word yet .......................................... Y2K F150 XLT Supercab 4x2 shortbed Deep Wedgewood Blue Power everything w/remote entry 5.4L auto w/tow pkg am/fm cassette white letter BF Goodrich Long Trail t/a's alum. slotted wheels added so far K&N filter Leer cap (perfect color match) set of Vanguard adj. ladder racks bed liner w/rubber mat set of 4 window rain guards and about 500lbs of carpentry tools to tote daily, with no problem, still gets about 14.5 mpg around town. Got 20 mpg on trip to Myrtle Beach. Love my truck.

 

pa_wolf62, we commonly decided that if a truck between 1997 and 2000 didn't have any cracks, they just didn't have them yet. The windows are a big factor in the speed of them appearing, but other things like just opening and closing will eventually wear it down, too. They will crack, definitely, usually starting on the passenger side for extended cabs, and the driver's side on regular cabs. If your truck is still under warranty then you can have the preventative kit B put on it. This is all in the TSB that you hear spoken of, there's a link to it on this page somewhere, hidden. Find the message with the link and win a prize. Print out the TSB and take it to the dealer, and have them order the preventative kit, asap. Mine is waaaaay out of warranty and I got offered the 80/20 deal by ford on the phone, but I am waiting to see if there ever will be a recall. With Ford trying to make themselves look good over this whole Firestone thing, we may get lucky and get one, because they're already losing 2 and a half billion dollars and they're trying to make their image better, so they might recall them. I hope so, because I can't afford to pay any of it, and I have a shiner on each door. They're monsters, they are, I'd be mad if it was white, but thank God the truck's green, it doesn't show up as bad. Anyway, I was supposed to hear something a couple of months ago from Ford, I called them directly, and I haven't heard back. I like to try to have faith in them.


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1997 F150 Lariat Three Door Extended Cab Flareside 4x4, Two tone Pacific Green w/ Harvest Gold, Tan Leather Interior, Ford Premium Sound w/ CD Changer, Lund Solar Visor, Leather Tonneau Bedcover, K&N Air Filter, VentVisors
Wish List: Lund Racer Back Cab Spolier, Lund Shadow Winshield Wiper Cover, Lund Steps, RhinoLiner Spray-In Bedliner, Vortech Super Charger, Brush Guard, Hidden Winch, Lighted Ford Logo, I'll list more when I think of it...