I have noticed the piston slap on cold starts the last few mornings, I couldn't figure out what it was until I read the thread on "Piston Slap revisted". I only have 5800 miles on my 99. Would I be better off to wait until higher mileage to get it checked out with the idea that the engine will be replaced? Or, should I get it check out now. I have only noticed this on very cool mornings. I called my service dept. and they are aware of the problem, I didn't make an appointment yet to get it checked out. Does anyone know of any real problems with driving with this condition.

Just a note I took delivery on April 20th.

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99 XLT,4x4, S/C, 5.4, 3.73LS, Black, 6 Disc Changer, Gibson Dual Cat-Back Exhaust

 

I've been really interested in this whole 'piston slap' issue, and have been trying to keep up with the posts. I have a 2000 5.4L on order and heard just this morning that it'll be here next week... that's the good news. The thing that concerns me is if Ford has 'fixed' this for 2000 trucks. My dealer has stonewalled and claims that he's never heard of any piston slap problem. Maybe so, maybe not, but that's not the issue. Anybody know anything about 2000 5.4 engines?

Thanks– Reavis

 

Thor,
Do you know what the cut off is for the "new" engine replacement. I am glad all turned out well for your engine swap. How do you if they are giving you a new engine or a "fqr" engine, what would be the indicator? And also, if they do offer the "fqr" engine, do I have a choice to get a brand new engine?

Sorry for all of the questions

I Have an extended warranty so I am good until 75K, which might prove to be worth the initital cost if there are problem with the engine replacement.

The only reason I haven't been to the dealer already is, I would have to leave the truck there overnight in order to ge the cold start. Hopefully I can get it in there next week.

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99 XLT,4x4, S/C, 5.4, 3.73LS, Black, 6 Disc Changer, Gibson Dual Cat-Back Exhaust

 

I took mine to the dealer last week @18,000 mi for an oil leak. When I mentioned that I had a cold start knock as well, they got a funny look on their faces. I hadn't heard of the piston slap problem, so I was fairly shocked to have them tell me that they ordered an updated engine for me.

As a side note, I heard a rattle as I pulled into the garage the other night. It happened to be my gibson. A weld broke on one of the baffles inside the muffler. When I called gibson, they told me they've gotten back quite a few like that. They're sending me a new supertruck assembly and a rma # to ship the old unit back freight pre-paid. Pretty slick.

97-98's had 235 hp and 330 lf-lb
My 99 was built in October of 98 and has the 260 hp 5.4

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99 black ex-cab, flareside, 5.4, ORP, Gibson Supertruck exhaust, K&N, more planned!

 

had the same problem, took truck to dealer, a new engine is on its way, for your information they referenced ford's SSM-13285 & 13286.

[This message has been edited by Alltex (edited 10-06-1999).]

 

You definately want to go into the dealer and have it looked at now. Regardless of wether or not you want to wait, you should have the problem logged so that they know this problem started early on. I believe Ford used to say this was not a problem, but lost the case in arbitration and now have to supply a fix.

Some people are waiting for the complete new engine replacement which does not have this problem, some however, are taking the "Ford Quality Replacement" engines which amount to re-using as much of your existing engine as possible, versus just replacing the entire engine.

As you can tell by my signature, I have an identical truck, and so far, with under 5000 miles I have not heard the slap of death yet but I honestly believe it is just a matter of time.


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David
'99 F150 XLT SC, STYLESIDE
4X4 ORP 5.4L, AUTOMATIC,
139wb, Rhino, K&N,
BugGuard, RainGuards
Superchip

 

I too have the same truck as you. It has a build date of 3/1/99 and an engine date of 3/5/99. I took mine into the dealer at 1,200 miles and was told it had piston slap. dah, Diesels don't come in the f150. As of 9/29/99
they put in the new engine and did an excellent job which i have to give them credit for. The new engine has a build date of 9/09/99 and it was a completely new engine. The only thing they had to do to it was swap the intake manifold and the wire harness from my engine onto the new engine due to production changes. I am still trying to find out what that exact change was. I suspect the new motor was out fitted for the 2000 model. DEFINATELY, have all of the work done now!!! You still stay under the 3/36 plan for warranty, so that gives you longer time on this new engine to see if it holds up. If you wait you will only get the 1yr 12,000 mile warranty extension for the engine only. Plus with it being so new and low miles they should give you a complete new engine like i recieved. If you wait you will get an "fqr" replacement.
Does anyone now what the original hp was for the 5.4 and when did they bump it up to 260 hp. I know 99's are at 260hp but when in the year did this happen?

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1999 F-150 4X4 Super cab lariat, 5.4, 3.73 gears,deepwedgewood blue,
and all the options, build date 3/1/99

 

I bought my trucked used from the dealer (97') w/ 48k miles . I did opt for the $1,100 3yr / 36k warranty. Is the problem(piston slap) a recall? If you are out of warranty will they still replace the motor.The warranty I got is not a FMC warranty. But its suppose to be a bumper to bumper plan. Are they tougher to get warranty items repair than a factory warranty?

Thanks so much..


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97' F150 Lariet S/C long bed 4x4 3:55LS 4.6L auto...SuperChip More mods as $$ allow.
Colorado Springs, CO

 

Darren Dude,

Since you have the 4.6L engine, you will not get the piston slap which is occuring in the 5.4L. The problem is apparently (in laymens terms) that the spacers used in the piston pin is not the correct size or strength, something like that. The little ring at the bottom of the piston, in which the pin goes thru, is sometimes not installed properly, and not being the exact size, will move and start causing problems. The 4.6L engine has a different material for this little ring, or it doesn't have one, can't remember, but yours won't have this problem. I'm trying to remember what my friend at ford told me.

As you can tell, I don't know alot about engines!

------------------
David
'99 F150 XLT SC, STYLESIDE
4X4 ORP 5.4L, AUTOMATIC,
139wb, Rhino, K&N,
BugGuard, RainGuards
Superchip

 

Shad,
The only way to tell is by the engine serial# and the build date on the engine. Most of our trucks should have the build date stickers on the left valve cover(drivers side) or in close proximety. This build date should be real close to the build date of you truck! The exception is first year models due to the fact that the manufacturers will build more engines before the truck rolls down the assembly line. Once everything has stabilized on the assembly line the engines aren't even shipped or assembled until the factory needs them. Everything is tight scheduled. The "fqr" engine will not be shipped to the dealer complete and they will have to use your old parts to put on the new
"short block". I marked a few of the parts on my engine before i took it in for the open heart surgery. Sure enough the only mark left was the one i placed on the intake maniflod to include the whole upper assy,throttle body,plenum assy ect.. which is what my work order said they did (see prior post).
Also just remember those extended warranty's don't cover everything!!
p.s The new engine is quiet and smooth.
If everyone would post the build date of there truck in the signature then we could see when this problem tapered off!
The stupid part of this whole situstion is that people, myself included, mistake this to be noise to be normal. New triton line of engines, how do we know what isn't normal until it gets louder! I fell for it. OH well
seems to be fixed now. Buy those 2000's and don't worry about it. I LOVE THESE TRUCKS!
Thanks for the hp info RLAFOND.

 

My FQR replacement motor arrived at my dealership the other day and i am scheduled to have it installed next thursday, The servive manager had thought it would take two
days to install because he was not exactly sure how well dressed the new engine would be
he said once he looked at it he thought 1 day might be enough because he said it is fully dressed and had a build date of late september. i am going to go look at it prior to the install to see what is included as far as accessories go, he said it had water-pump
and was full of oil and ready to go, i can't
wait to get this installed i have been fighting this for 2 years...

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97 F-150,XLT,4X4,Supercab,bright Red,5.4,3.55 LS,LT265/75/16 Bridgestone Dueller A/T tires,Downey SST soft tonneau cover

 

The piston slap only occurs in 5.4L right? I havent noticed it in my 4.6l.

 

cloaker
I thought I read in several threads that the piston slap had occured to several 4.6L owners. I don't think this problem is confined to just the 5.4L engines.

My 98 with the 5.4L has 17,200 miles on it and does not (yet) have the piston slap problem.

 

Dustoff with that said.....Does ford treat it like a warranty issue or a recall issue? If you get piston slap and your out of warranty will ford fix it free?

What is the most miles somebody has put on , before they heard the piston slap?
I have 48k on my 4.6L. No slappin yet

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97' F150 Lariet S/C long bed 4x4 3:55LS 4.6L auto...SuperChip More mods as $$ allow.
Colorado Springs, CO

 

As of right now..there is NO RECALL or TSB for piston slap in the F-150. If the problem continues and gets worse...you could probably bet on one.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/proble...all_links.html