Hey sweetlou,

You have to measure it. The best place I think is on one side or the other in line with the radiator cap and across the front of the truck adjacent to the fan shroud. The core should be alumunum and you should be able to see the cooling fins. You should be able to just eye ball it but only if you know what 1.02" looks compared to 1.42".

Good luck
DaveMan

 

Ford of Canada Customer Service called me today and indicated that I, and all other F-150 Owners would be recieving a letter by early October regarding the radiator issue. I don't know if this is only Ford of Canada or all of Ford and I have no idea whether it will offer any compensation to us. I have been talking to many different people within Ford Customer Service and Marketing. So far Customer Service has been every thing but, however one woman in Marketing said it would not be a problem replacing the radiator and that she had emailed Customer Service regarding it. However, Customer Service deferred me to the letter of October. I'll keep everyone informed once I recieve the letter.

 

Hey rpfb,
I just got blown out with my 1.02" radiator at Swanson in Los Gatos. Where did you get your radiator replaced in the San Jose area and who did you talk to?

Thanks..

 

Anyone,

Got any new info as to what Ford is doing with the too small radiator business lately. I heard there is a class action law suit underway. I told my dealer about the wrong radiator in my '01 4x4 KR screw and they didn't seem to be concerned either way.
I haven't had problems but I'm still just curious of the latest on this burning unresolved issue.


DaveMan

 

kyletwins,

I actually bought my truck at Serramonte Ford up by SF right off I280. I know the fleet manager there (this is the 2nd vehicle I have bought from him although my family has bought 6 total from him). I can get the X-plan from work (and through EAA) so I probably would have bought down here if I did it now. Serramonte replaced the radiator without much hassle but they did do the BS about contacting the zone rep et al. The 2 hrs of driving was a hassle though and other than something like this I wouldn't have taken it up there for service.

Pesos got his replaced at Frontier Ford and that is usually where I get my service done. You might also want to try Mission Valley Ford Trucks on Brokaw and I880 since all they deal with is trucks. It will probably be more effective to say that you overheat while towing and through research found that you have the wrong radiator installed instead of saying that you saw on the internet that Ford is trying to screw everyone on radiators!

Good luck!
Rob

 

Some of you may already know this, but in Today's USA Today -(10/30/2001), there is a one paragraph article that states:

Ford Motor said it would offer cash, discounts, and free radiator upgrades to settle consumer complaints about radiators on some models of its F-150 trucks. The offer affects up to 457,117 model year 2000 and 2001 F-150s with optional heavy-duty towing and engine cooling. The trucks were equipped with a standard radiator, while Ford publications promised an upgraded super-cooling radiator.

That's all I know, maybe someone else knows more.

 

Check out blueovalnews.com
There is an artical about Ford fessing up to the radiator issue. States they will change the radiator or pay $100.....

 

Check out my post on 10/18/01 for details on owner
notification 01B83. It's dated in Oct., but so far
I haven't received it from Ford. You'll have 3 options:
1. keep check for $100.00

2. get certificate for $500.00 on trade for
new Ford veh.

3. get voucher for bigger radiator

Bigger radiator option may take a few months as the bigger rad. is now used only on the 7700# option on the reg. and supercab models(that was
originally the light duty F250 on the earlier models) and is a limited production item.

 

Now the question is "should I upgrade or keep the $100"? Decisions, decisions, decisions. I hate to have the shop mess with things when they aren't broke.

 

It should not take that long to get a 1.42" radiator. Ford does not only use this radiator on 7700#, it's used in expeditions also and ford make a lot of expeditions with towing package so I think there are plenty in stock or being made and I believe they just say it is in limited availability so that maybe us customers take the cheap way "$100".

 

I agree, Ford would like nothing better than to buy you out with a measley hundred bucks. I wonder what the true cost to Ford will be to supply the radiator and pay the dealer to install it.
...HMMM....

 

My dealer replaced my radiator and charged Ford $ 596.54

2001 Screw Lariat 5.4 L loaded with options

 

check out this link for more news about the radiator issue:

http://www.bonforums.com/recalls/fseries_radiator.htm

 

Is the diffrent radiator size truley a big diffrence in cooling ability? I also don't like to "fix" things that are not broken. I purchased my SCREW on the first of September so I don't know if I can get the $100 bucks or new radiator. But if I could, does anyone really think it's a problem?

Ford dosen't think so, but there of cource intrested in there bottom line.

 

The proper way to view the radiator issue is this way. At a given coolant temperature, a given coolant flow rate, a given air flow through the radiator, and a given ambient air temperature, the 1.02" radiator will be able to dissipate a certain amount of heat. Under the same conditions, the 1.42" and 2.02" radiators will be able to dissipate a larger quantity of heat.

As long as your engine puts out less heat than the maximum that the radiator is capable of, then, in theory, you will have no problem.

But, there are some what ifs that are worth considering. What if you are driving in conditions such that with the large radiator, your coolant temp is maintained closer to 190 degrees, but around 210 with the smaller radiator? You are within spec, but which temp would you rather have?

What if you are climbing Pikes Peak pulling a travel trailer? Or more realistically, climbing the front range pass out of Denver, 90 degree day, 35 mph in second at 4000 RPM? Will you have sufficient cooling capacity for this extreme?

What if you are in Houston summer traffic. The air temp is 102. Temp on the superslab must be at least 115. Traffic hasn't moved in 15 minutes. You have your AC on. Air flow through the radiator is totally dependent upon fan flow. Your engine is totally heat soaked. Will you have enough heat dissipation capacity with the 1.02" radiator?

I see the larger radiators as insurance against those extreme times that are usually rare, but can occur. I suspect Ford's decision that there is sufficient cooling in the 1.02" is

a) total BS to cover a serious mistake.
b) based upon their perceived statistical average of how often the extra capacity is actually needed.