HI ALL, FIRST TIME HERE. I WAS THE PROUD OWNER OF A 2004 F-150 FLARESIDE W/5.4 ENGINE LOADED TO THE GILLS. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN I HIT A 1000 MILES, NOTICED A TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERSIDE OF ENGINE, TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER, THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR 2 DAYS NOW, AND SAY STILL DONT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.....HELPPPP,,,HOW DO I DEAL WITH THEM ON THIS?

 

UNHAPPY CAMPER,

Purhaps it is only a loose heat shield on the exhaust, or only gets loose after the exhaust gets warmed up. Any way stay on the dealer about it.

Does the noise change with engine speed?

I see your new to the boards here! Using all caps is considered yelling, and some people take offense to being yelled at. But then we know your upset at having a problem with your new costly investment, so no harm taken.

Keep us posted on what happens and what all you find out!


T-man

 

could be a lifter going bad. but remember ford has a new no tolerance policy with after market mods now if they find any on u automatically void warrenty on your vehicle Ford started doing that last year because everyone was modding their cars then when somethin went wrong cause of that mod ford had to pay for it and thats why ford and other companys aint doing to well the cost of warrenty work to pay mechanics and for them to supply the parts is overwhelming. so just be ware after market intake void intake warrenty chips or after market tuners ur pretty much screwed.

 

You've got a stellar track record for incorrect knowledge...

Ford may try to void a warranty, but they cannot by law unless they prove that the particular modification caused the failure. Now, you'll have more trouble defending a blown engine with a supercharger than one with a cat-back, but they cannot void a warranty unless it states specifically that a modification will void it. In that case, they have to tell you up front, or its fraud.

With that said, don't worry. It's probably nothing major.

Welcome aboard, Unhappy Camper!
-Flea

 

they know about mods cause they do it themselves and they can find out through the multiple computers for different components in an engine. so yes ford can void your warrenty if they find certain mods on your engine after market that caused the failure because your runnin the engine higher then its factory set to. does it make mroe since to you now?

 

Thanks for the replys, there have been no after market mods done to the truck yet. The noise does seem to get worse as you rev the engine , the truck is only 10 days old on the day I took it back to the dealer.

My biggest problem is how long it is taking to find the problem, I have told my service manager that I am in outside sales and have to use that truck to get in my military job sites, they put your vehicle info into computer systems, and if you try to get in with something different youe are screwed. So, while they have my truck I cannot get into 50% of my job sites, which is already hurting my income.

I guess what i was really trying to get some info on was what to do if thos noise is from an internal engine problem, do I ask for a new factory engine, a new truck , or let them repair this one?

Sorry about the cap lock on before, was not trying to shout.

 

hell if its gonna take that long for those morons up there at that dealership to find out what the noise it from tell em u want a new truck for the reasons of your job status.

 

At 10 days old - I would go see the sales manager about getting into a new truck.

 

I agree. And ask if it can be a Toyota.

 

Why would you want one of them under-powered things?!!

 

I'm not a mechanic, but I recently read about "piston slap" in Ford engines and your description sounds like it fits. Not sure if it applies to 2004 models, but you might want to ask the dealer. Many of them are not familiar with the problem, but from what I read, it takes place in the engine's early miles. Oh, I remember. The article is on this website's home page - column to the right.

 

That's funny. Ask Toyota if they've figured out how to make rotors that won't warp yet. Maybe they haven't had enough time to copy the Americans or Germans yet, i'll give them that.

 

No they are still trying to copy Ford by making:

Oil pan gaskets that leak at 80,000mi (5+ hrs labor)
Intermitant wiper ***** that break at 30,000
Seat adjustment hardware that breaks at 90,000mi
Wholesale lots of MAFS that go bad almost anytime
Twin I beams that creak when you buy them (how do they do it?)
AIR tubes (on the back of the engine!!!) that rust out at 45,000
Brake master cyl. that leak at 75,000

And brand new trucks that have.....piston slap.

Toyota copy cats do have their work cut out!

 

You drive a 10 year old Ford and are complaining? Do some research on your Toyotas and you'll see more problems than you're willing to admit. I already know. Friend works at the plant in Princeton, In.

 

Yes I am complaining. My wifes 1991 Corolla with 156,000mi has a sum total repair history of: new starter ($185 for OEM) and 45 min labor. That's it!! Oh yea... factory rotors by the way. Lathed at about 85,000 and still true! EVERY SINGLE featue on the car works!!!

I cant stand driving foriegn cars!! Everytime I see that rice burner in the driveway I want to kick a hole in the wall it galls me so bad. But I'm on teacher's salary and I cant afford American cars. Sorry