Please help! a guy pointed out my door crack in a parking lot and gave me this web site. And I have problems with more things after reading the message boards. I hsve a 97 5.4L (truck assembled in 10/96 bought new in 7/97), ext cab, class III hitch and coolers, etc. and the 3/36 warranty is up in 25 miles. The dealer has not relocated my exhaust(It's still before the rear wheel-I just had it in 2 weks ago for a pinion arm) I have cracks in my drivers door and roof channels but most worrisome is the fact that I think I have the piston slap problem - I actually dropped it off at the dealer overnight so they could hear it when it was cold at @10,000 miles and they said it was nothing. So far under wannanty I've had an O2 sensor, heater blower box, alignment, widshield washer switch, pinion arm replaced. How can I get the dealer to replace my door, my engine- if that's the fix, and get my roof channels fixed. Or do I just get rid of it and get a 2000(although Idon't have the money. I didn't take the extended warranty- I'm sorry now. Sorry so long - but as you can see I only have 25 miles left on warr. Any help greatlty appreciated. Thanks again.

 

Correction to above post!!! 5.4L was built 11/12/96 in Windsor, Ontario not 10/96

 

UPDATE!!! Dealer said can't duplicate problem with "chatter" on start up - I was afraid of that, it tends to occur when it's real cold after sitting overnight. Also, said exhaust in front of rear wheel is no problem - for them maybe and lastly "I might not want to touch crack on door just yet. But in the future FORD would work with me on any problems I might have. They even said they called Ford and they couldn't find any TSB's on my engine problem - go figure and now it's out of warranty. Anyone have any suggestions? I have the TSB #12010 Cold Start Knock/ Piston Slap and I'm waiting for some cold weather to drop it off again - althogh there might not be any more around here till next winter. Does anyone know of a TSB on the door or roof channel cracks? I would greatly appreciate it. The more ammo I have the better. The worst thing of this that I really like the truck and Ford is souring me on owning it. Again, any help I'd appreciate it. Thanks. Sorry so long.

 

It's my understanding that you can still buy the extended warranty from Ford as along as the vehicle is still within warranty! Don't drive it and call Ford. I think it's about $1100.00!

 

Thanks. I did inquire today and they said 1100.00 and it only covers "powertrain" and I know they'll split hairs on any repairs. Anyway, why should I pay for something they know about but won't acknowledge unless you throw it in their face. I called FORD customer service and they said it's out of warranty now and any future problems are on me even if I complained about it before the warranty was up becuase they couldn't "duplicate" the problem. The service rep said they looked into OASIS and couldn't find anything related to my noises when it was cold, even thogh the TSB is called Cold Start Knock / Piston Slap #12010. I guess their computer doesn't cross reference well. I can see this is going to be a battle though it shouldn't be like this when you spend this much. One other thing on my copy of the report- which for some reason they didn't make me sign even thogh I've had to sign for everything done there warranty or not, I guess they didn't bill Ford for the look around- they said they looked at my roof channels and found no cracks. I read this in front of another service adviser and after I offered to show him this he said, "I don't know why she wrote that we saw them but take it to our body shop and they take care of it. We'll see won't we. I'm gonna call the dealer tomorrow and Ford customer service and see what new fantasies they can create.

 

I dont know where you are getting those prices but for $1,100 you should get a 75K BUMPER TO BUMPER!!!!!!!!
SHOP SHOP SHOP!!! You can go online and search for warranties FROM FORD! They ARE negotiable as well!

 

Don't let them screw you because they sure will try. Tell them that you want to invoke the lemon law, and that you want to talk to you the ford regional representative, and see if that doesn't get you some action.
Good luck.

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2000 F-150, XLT SuperCab
4.6 V8, auto.
3.55 Limited Slip Diff.
Class III Towing Package
Stainless ICI nerf bars
K&N Airfilter
Flowmaster 40 Catbck Sys.
Colonel Bedliner
soon to add a TEKSTYLE
Quick Hatch and
Superchip

 

TerrifiedTom
Go to alldata.com and you can print out a sheet for all of the TSB'S for your truck, it is very helpful. As for the door crack, their is an article on the home page of this web site, print it out and show the dealer!! All of the dealers are playing dumb with the door crack, including mine. Supposedly a new brace fix has just come out for the crack (read it on another post), I have to see my dealer about it. The TSB on the reloction of the exhaust is TSB#97-26-13 and as long as it is under warranty they will relocate it for free.(mine is waiting for the parts to arrive at the dealer). Also check your back window slider for cracks in the plastic frame (should be in the corners) they will replace it with a new 2000 model slider.

[This message has been edited by jburd (edited 03-22-2000).]

 

UPDATE!!!! First, let me thank everyone for all your help with this, Especially like that TSB site at alldata.com - every one should go their now. After ya read the rest of this of course. I talked to the dealers own body shop and it seems like they're gonna replace the drivers door and I guess if it's covered for 5/50(although no one has actually told me that's the deal - these people should work for the CIA because ya can't get nothing out of them) I'll worry about the other door later. And the guy said he would look at the roof cracks, although from reading the other posts here I'm not too worried about them. I'm gonna dig around for a better warranty too. I need some clarication for a post related to the piston slap issue. I read here that there is a TSB on it (Cold Start Knock / Piston Slap #12010), but when I went to alldata.com and found the TSB list nothing matched this topic or code #. Does it relate to a code in Oasis? Any help here would be greatly appreciated. Lastly, After reading about the Flowmaster exhaust and the cost I figure for $200.00 I'll solve my own problem and it will sound great too. (check out Mudder's exhaust download and you'll run to the muffler shop too). I just thought of one more thing, sorry. Being as it's out of warranty - that "superchip" sounds real interesting. Who makes it? Would it clean up my confused transmission shifting? From what I've read it seems well worth 200.00 Finally, everyone thanks for your directon and comments. they're helping me arm myself for any future battles, if necessary. Thanks again.

 

Welcome Tom, you sound terrified.
1st With your possible exhaust problem, you've come to the right decision, get it done yourself. There is plenty of information on the web on catbacks, flowmaster,dynomax,gibson,borla,magnaflow, etc. and opinions of each here.

2nd Many of us love what Superchips does for our rides. If you have any questions go to www.superchips.com (www.superchip (no s) went out of biz.) or throught the link on this site. Also you can e-mail mtroyer@compuserve.com Mike can answer every question you have about Superchips.

3rd Philly 'boy', we are having a get together in Mercer County. NJ this Sunday. Check out the Events and Happenings Forum.

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Y2K F150 XLT SC SB 4.6 V8 standard, 3.55 LS,RED!

• K&N FIPK
• Superchips
• Fumoto Oil Drain Plug
• Added extra leaf to rear spring
• 2 Century NextStep Child Car Seats
• Jeraco Deluxe High-Rise Cap
• Duraliner
• Clear corner lenses
• Super White head lights
• Ventvisor
• F150Online sticker on rear window

Previous Ford Trucks '84 F150, '87 Ranger
NEW JERSEY the GARDEN STATE

 

Dear Tom, Please e-mail back a.s.a.p. regarding the piston slap problem. I filed a class action lawsuit against Ford regarding the engine knock. Please e-mail back at fosterja@yahoo.com. Thanks. John.

 

UPDATE!!!!! Thanks again for everyone's help! I was lucky enough to have a friend of my brother in law's who's a parts guy at a Ford dealer around me read off TSB 97-26-13 regarding the exhuast relocation on the 97's. You only have to be concerned if you have the stainless steel rim and you let it get crapped up with exhuast grit - so I figure nobody reading this has to worry much. If you have any pitting they or you will try to use something(can't remeber the name, but it's basically a polish) bright and polish off the pitting first and then replace the exhuast and/ or the rim if necessary. So keep 'em clean and you shouldn't have to worry about it. Or get an aftermarket exhaust and solve your own problem. Special thanks to Ricmail@compuserve.com for the piston slap wav. After I heard that I'm pretty sure I don't have that problem, boy was that ugly. I think maybe it's just cam noise or something like that till the oil gets circulating, but I'm gonna keep my eye and ear on it. So now all we have to get taken care of is the door crack(which they said they'll do) and the roof channel thing which I might just cure with a good white silicon caulk(truck's white). I think I'm gonna get a suprchip when I get some scratch but I have one final question on that the chip thing. Superchip's info says they programed it for premium fuel(that hurts! I've got a lead foot and, as you know, gas isn't cheap. Does anyone run their chipped wheels on less then premium and, if so, what's your performance on it? Again, thanks to all for your help on these things. Lastly for mtknee thanks for the invite to your brew ha ha but I work in Jersey Monday to Friday and I use the weekends to recover. (teeee heeee) Only kidding. I couldn't resist.