Vibration while driving between 45-53?
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Vibration while driving between 45-53?
I own a 2001 F150 4X2 Super Crew and have a vibration in my driveline between 45 and 53 mph. You can feel it in your feet and in the steering wheel. I've had my dealer look at it and they can't rectify it. They called in a Ford Service Engineer who worked with them for a day on it and came to the conclusion that it was charecteristic of the vehicle. I've driven other similar trucks and have felt a vibration but nowhere near as noticeable as mine. At this point they are telling me there is nothing more they can do and I will have to live with it.
Has anyone else experienced this vibration? if so what did you do about it. (or what did your dealer do about it). Anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Vanman
Has anyone else experienced this vibration? if so what did you do about it. (or what did your dealer do about it). Anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Vanman
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Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Simi Valley, CA
I also have a 2001 SCrew 4x2. It vibrates big time- its terrible on the freeway. I dont drive it all the time ( Co. gives me a 4x4 Expy to drive), so I still have less than 3000 miles. I plan to take it to the dealer in the next week or so. Can you provide me with more info on what the Ford people have said? I have posted to the group and have found others in the same situation and they all had great suggestions such as shock upgrades etc, but I feel for close to $30k, Ford must fix this to my satisfaction. Ford saying its a characteristic of the vehicle means they designed it wrong!
Just my opinion, but what does everyone else think?
Judd
Just my opinion, but what does everyone else think?
Judd
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 865
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From: South Dakota
any chance this tsb describes your problems? here it is:
Technical Service Bulletins Summary
Make: FORD TRUCK
Model: F150
Year: 2001
Service Bulletin Number: 0191
Bulletin Sequence Number: 201
Summary Description:
SOME VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 3/1/2001 MAY EXHIBIT A HIGH SPEED DRIVELINE VIBRATION THAT MAY CAUSE POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION AND / OR DRIVESHAFT DAMAGE. THIS MAY RESULT IN THE 4R70W TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING BUSHING TO BE SPUN OUT OF THE EXTENSION HOUSING OR MAY CAUSE THE EXTENSION HOUSING SEAL TO LEAK. *TT
Technical Service Bulletins Summary
Make: FORD TRUCK
Model: F150
Year: 2001
Service Bulletin Number: 0191
Bulletin Sequence Number: 201
Summary Description:
SOME VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 3/1/2001 MAY EXHIBIT A HIGH SPEED DRIVELINE VIBRATION THAT MAY CAUSE POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION AND / OR DRIVESHAFT DAMAGE. THIS MAY RESULT IN THE 4R70W TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING BUSHING TO BE SPUN OUT OF THE EXTENSION HOUSING OR MAY CAUSE THE EXTENSION HOUSING SEAL TO LEAK. *TT
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Summerville, SC Near Historic Charleston
Hey guys,
I feel your pain. I have several suggestions that may help.
1. First and foremost, ensure all wheels are perfectly balanced using the latest electronic wheel balancing equipment.
2. Look under the truck and check the drive shaft outside surface at the ends to see if there is some indication that a weight used to be attached but is now missing. If it looks like there is a weight missing, then you will need a new drive shaft. Usually, the weights are welded on with 2 or 3 small spot welds. In additon, check for a rim that is bent or badly scratched from hitting a curb.
3. Ensure the wheel bearings are snug and the wheels are not loose. Also check that the wheel lugs are properly tightened.
4. Last, check you engine RPMs when the vibration is greatest, record this value. Stop your truck and put tranny in park, rev engine until recorded RPM is attained and see if vibration returns. If vibration is related to engine RPM when truck is not moving then the engine or torque converter is out of balance. This is a much harder problem to fix but can for sure can cause the kinds of vibrations you are experiencing.
Good Luck and let me know what you find.
DaveMan
I feel your pain. I have several suggestions that may help.
1. First and foremost, ensure all wheels are perfectly balanced using the latest electronic wheel balancing equipment.
2. Look under the truck and check the drive shaft outside surface at the ends to see if there is some indication that a weight used to be attached but is now missing. If it looks like there is a weight missing, then you will need a new drive shaft. Usually, the weights are welded on with 2 or 3 small spot welds. In additon, check for a rim that is bent or badly scratched from hitting a curb.
3. Ensure the wheel bearings are snug and the wheels are not loose. Also check that the wheel lugs are properly tightened.
4. Last, check you engine RPMs when the vibration is greatest, record this value. Stop your truck and put tranny in park, rev engine until recorded RPM is attained and see if vibration returns. If vibration is related to engine RPM when truck is not moving then the engine or torque converter is out of balance. This is a much harder problem to fix but can for sure can cause the kinds of vibrations you are experiencing.
Good Luck and let me know what you find.
DaveMan
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Joined: Oct 2001
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F-150 4X2 VIBRATION
Hi
I also have a problem with a vibration from 45 to about 55 mph. I have had the truck into the dealer 3 times and one of the times it was in for almost 2 weeks. The Ford Service Engineer also came up with the same excuse that is is a "Characteristic of the Vehicle" and that there is nothing they can do about this problem. I know that they changed the Drive Shaft a few times plus tried a few other fixes and that did nothing for the problem. I took this to the Ford Dispute Settlement Board but they had gotten some paper work and some graphs from Ford that said that this vibration was normal. I am glad to see that I am not the only one with this problem. I agree that for the price of these trucks that Ford should come up with some kind of a fix for this. I am open to any suggestions anyone out there may have for this problem because I am not getting any help from Ford at this time although my dealer is trying to come up with something.
I also have a problem with a vibration from 45 to about 55 mph. I have had the truck into the dealer 3 times and one of the times it was in for almost 2 weeks. The Ford Service Engineer also came up with the same excuse that is is a "Characteristic of the Vehicle" and that there is nothing they can do about this problem. I know that they changed the Drive Shaft a few times plus tried a few other fixes and that did nothing for the problem. I took this to the Ford Dispute Settlement Board but they had gotten some paper work and some graphs from Ford that said that this vibration was normal. I am glad to see that I am not the only one with this problem. I agree that for the price of these trucks that Ford should come up with some kind of a fix for this. I am open to any suggestions anyone out there may have for this problem because I am not getting any help from Ford at this time although my dealer is trying to come up with something.
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Vibration
Daveman,
I appreciate your suggestions. Unfortunately, my dealer has tried all of that and more. They put two or three different driveshafts on the truck. They even took the wheels and tires off of another truck that didn't vibrate and put them on mine. It didn't help. The vibration is in the driveline somewhere but it can't be pinpointed. They tried all applicable TSB's and also worked with a Field Service Engineer and the Technician's hot line.
My vehicle is a 4X2 which makes it a little unique. In our area, 4X4s are much more plentiful. 4X4s don't seem to have this problem.
SoCAISCrew, since you also have a 4X2 I am especially interested in what your dealer says. To sum up what Ford has told me: All vehicles like mine have the same vibration to one extent or another. It is characterisic of the vehicle and doesn't hinder the performance of it in any way. They do not consider it a problem and are not currently working on any type of correction.
Please let me know if you are told anything different
Vanman
I appreciate your suggestions. Unfortunately, my dealer has tried all of that and more. They put two or three different driveshafts on the truck. They even took the wheels and tires off of another truck that didn't vibrate and put them on mine. It didn't help. The vibration is in the driveline somewhere but it can't be pinpointed. They tried all applicable TSB's and also worked with a Field Service Engineer and the Technician's hot line.
My vehicle is a 4X2 which makes it a little unique. In our area, 4X4s are much more plentiful. 4X4s don't seem to have this problem.
SoCAISCrew, since you also have a 4X2 I am especially interested in what your dealer says. To sum up what Ford has told me: All vehicles like mine have the same vibration to one extent or another. It is characterisic of the vehicle and doesn't hinder the performance of it in any way. They do not consider it a problem and are not currently working on any type of correction.
Please let me know if you are told anything different
Vanman
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,609
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From: Summerville, SC Near Historic Charleston
Vanman,
You are quite welcomed. I wish I knew what could fix your problem but those suggestions are all I could think of. Something just hit me though, if you knew someone with a vibration monitor you could get them to check to see what the frequency of the vibration was and from that you can determine weather it's in the drive shaft or somewhere else.
What I mean is this, the drive shaft should be turning the same number of RPMs for the same ground speed no matter what gear your transmission is in. However, if the vibration goes away when the truck is running in high gear with the tow button off then the transmission or torque converter may be the problem. The speed of the vibration should tell you the speed of the component that is creating the disturbance. This technique is used extensively in each and every case when studying vibrations in rotating machinery. A good tech can tell you which ball bearing in an assembly is causing a problem based on the number if ***** in the bearing. Get my drift with the monitor idea?
I had an '89 "Cheby" truck once and it had a vibration around 45 MPH after overdrive and it turned out the be the lock-up torque converter. The converter was chattering when in lock-up and this vibration radiated all the way down the drive line and made the drive shaft make a clinking sound. Took the dealer several tries to fix this one and also several thousand dollars of repairs, at the manufacturer's expense though.
Hope this additional helps.
Good luck and let us know if you get it fixed
DaveMan
You are quite welcomed. I wish I knew what could fix your problem but those suggestions are all I could think of. Something just hit me though, if you knew someone with a vibration monitor you could get them to check to see what the frequency of the vibration was and from that you can determine weather it's in the drive shaft or somewhere else.
What I mean is this, the drive shaft should be turning the same number of RPMs for the same ground speed no matter what gear your transmission is in. However, if the vibration goes away when the truck is running in high gear with the tow button off then the transmission or torque converter may be the problem. The speed of the vibration should tell you the speed of the component that is creating the disturbance. This technique is used extensively in each and every case when studying vibrations in rotating machinery. A good tech can tell you which ball bearing in an assembly is causing a problem based on the number if ***** in the bearing. Get my drift with the monitor idea?
I had an '89 "Cheby" truck once and it had a vibration around 45 MPH after overdrive and it turned out the be the lock-up torque converter. The converter was chattering when in lock-up and this vibration radiated all the way down the drive line and made the drive shaft make a clinking sound. Took the dealer several tries to fix this one and also several thousand dollars of repairs, at the manufacturer's expense though.
Hope this additional helps.
Good luck and let us know if you get it fixed
DaveMan
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Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Halifax, NS
On a similar note!
I had a problem, sounds close to what was going on with my Girlfriends Jeep Grand Cherokee. I bought it in May for her and in August it started doing the same thing. I brought it back to the Dealer and they replaced a couple of Bearings in the rear end somewhere. The dealer said it was not a recall but have been having a lot of problems... It was in the same speed window as was what you are saying with the Ford.
Hope this might help in some way...
1998 F-150 XLT
Hope this might help in some way...
1998 F-150 XLT
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 332
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From: Oak Ridge, TN, USA
I swear, every time I start looking at these trucks, I get scared again. Doesn't Ford know how to build a quality truck. Do we have to pay 30-35k for a piece of junk. It's either vibration, Piston slap, bad paint or some other problem I continue to read about.
Okay, venting off and I will still probably buy one of these crappy things, but something I would try to test the torque converter is when the vibration starts, pull the shifter back into DRIVE. See if the vibration goes away. If not, It isn't the torque converter more than likely. I also am curious as to the angle of the transmission and driveshaft.
RickC
Okay, venting off and I will still probably buy one of these crappy things, but something I would try to test the torque converter is when the vibration starts, pull the shifter back into DRIVE. See if the vibration goes away. If not, It isn't the torque converter more than likely. I also am curious as to the angle of the transmission and driveshaft.
RickC
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 865
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From: South Dakota
Originally posted by RickC
I swear, every time I start looking at these trucks, I get scared again. Doesn't Ford know how to build a quality truck. Do we have to pay 30-35k for a piece of junk. It's either vibration, Piston slap, bad paint or some other problem I continue to read about.
Okay, venting off and I will still probably buy one of these crappy things, but something I would try to test the torque converter is when the vibration starts, pull the shifter back into DRIVE. See if the vibration goes away. If not, It isn't the torque converter more than likely. I also am curious as to the angle of the transmission and driveshaft.
RickC
I swear, every time I start looking at these trucks, I get scared again. Doesn't Ford know how to build a quality truck. Do we have to pay 30-35k for a piece of junk. It's either vibration, Piston slap, bad paint or some other problem I continue to read about.
Okay, venting off and I will still probably buy one of these crappy things, but something I would try to test the torque converter is when the vibration starts, pull the shifter back into DRIVE. See if the vibration goes away. If not, It isn't the torque converter more than likely. I also am curious as to the angle of the transmission and driveshaft.
RickC
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,609
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From: Summerville, SC Near Historic Charleston
Hey Troy,
You are right, I think folks just need to go with the vehicles that have the least problems, 'cause we can't forget that humans are involved here and nothing's perfect eventhough we expect it to be. However, there is a fine line with this subject and I think I'm sittin' on it now with my new '01 truck.
Hey RickC,
I agree with you too though, I can't understand why manufacturer's can't make a vehicle that's almost perfect. I think Ford just needs to slow down a bit and re-focus on what's important here. We all bitch and complain that we have to wait 8 weeks to get a new car or truck. After reciept, we complain more that this thing or that thing is not right. Just analyze this for a minute and seems like the priorities are screwed up. They just need to fix everything the first time 'cause the cost to the manufacturer is probably more after the sale and then their reputation gets a big hit too. In the end, the consumer has to pay for all the screw up 'cause Ford has to keep makin' the same amount of money to stay afloat.
DaveMan
You are right, I think folks just need to go with the vehicles that have the least problems, 'cause we can't forget that humans are involved here and nothing's perfect eventhough we expect it to be. However, there is a fine line with this subject and I think I'm sittin' on it now with my new '01 truck.
Hey RickC,
I agree with you too though, I can't understand why manufacturer's can't make a vehicle that's almost perfect. I think Ford just needs to slow down a bit and re-focus on what's important here. We all bitch and complain that we have to wait 8 weeks to get a new car or truck. After reciept, we complain more that this thing or that thing is not right. Just analyze this for a minute and seems like the priorities are screwed up. They just need to fix everything the first time 'cause the cost to the manufacturer is probably more after the sale and then their reputation gets a big hit too. In the end, the consumer has to pay for all the screw up 'cause Ford has to keep makin' the same amount of money to stay afloat.
DaveMan
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 109
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From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Same problem here, probably not as severe
Guess I'll join the 4X2 crowd and add myself to the list of shakers. I noticed a very slight vibration the day I bought my 2001 SCREW (three weeks ago). Only noticed it on the freeway, at about 50mph or so. I thoght it was just wind causing a vibration in the bed or something else minor. The sound isn't really that loud, my wife can't even hear it. Please post if you guys get anywhere with Ford Corporate.
Aloha from Hawaii!!!!!
Aloha from Hawaii!!!!!