I just bought a 2002 XLT Supercab 4.6...replaced my 1999. I have noticed a problem with about every F150 from 1997 to present that I have seen. The rubber gasket around the back window falls in behind the plastic and sheet metal (along the top of window, most of the time by the third brake light). Go look at yours! Every new truck on the lot had fallen in along the top edge, and even the used car lot. I do not want a leaking window or water to get behind the plastic and sheet metal (ice can cause problems). Now.....I did notice that some of the 2002 had a new gasket around the window that has a lip on the gasket so it can't fall in. The service department is looking into getting me the new gasket. I will let you know what happens. Ford must know of the problem or they would not have made a new gasket!

I have a question on the gear ratio. My 1999 4.6 had a 3:55 and my 2002 4.6 has a 3:08. The 3:08 is faster from a dead start. I keep up with traffic from stop lights now (why)? The guy in service said the trans. if different now. It has a sensor to detect how much gas you give it (so it adjusts for that) and the gearing in the trans. is different. Any input?

 

I've noticed that on mine and EVERY other F-150 I've seen. The way Ford mounts the back glass with the plastic frame seems like a bad design anyway with all the leaks I've read about on here... What were they thinking?

 

--Response to your gear ratio.


The only way I can see that it would feel faster than your 3.55's is if the tranny in your current truck has a better first gear ratio than your older model?

Any one else have an idea. Maybe tire size as well?

 

Tire size (1999 had 255/70/16 w/3:55 gear ratio w/4.6 motor, 2002 has 245/70/16 w 3:08 gear ratio w/4.6 motor)...2002 is one tire size smaller.....So why does the 2002 take off better,1999 was a lot slower? The 2002 motor gained 10 hp also. The new truck shifts way different than the 1999. The 1999 always shifted at 40mph into OD (With normal excel or slowly rising to 40mph). The 2002 shifts different every time depending upon how much gas is applied. The shift is way smooth now....can't even tell it is shifting (under normal excel) most of the time. The 2002 does not down shift once you drop under 40mph (1999 thought it was annoying that it would shift down). Also, the 2002 goes up hills with out much power loss. Something has had to change in the transmission! Can anyone explain this?

 

Your going to have to do some searching in the transmission section.

But it sounds like you had a different tranny in the previous truck, and most likely it had taller gearing for each gear.

Plus like you pointed out the horsepower and torque numbers slightly increased.

That should answer your question man.

Maybe you lost some weight and the truck is lighter??

 

You scared me for a second. I had to go look at my '97 Supercab. Mine is fine and is still making a good seal. It has been garaged it's whole life, so maybe that makes a difference. Guess I'll start parking in the shade more.

 

I too had the seal around the rear window caved in on the drivers side. I took it to the dealer and they paid for a glass specialist to come and replace it. Now it looks just like it should...It never did leak, but I wasn't going to wait around for it to either.

 

The seal/gasket between the plastic and the metal of the truck is not designed to be water tight. It is there to fill the void between the plastic and the metal.

There is an internal seal that keeps the water out of the cab. My external gasket did the same thing in a couple places. I simply put a small amount of superglue on the plastic and/or gasket and reattached it. I've never had a problem since (over a year). The gasket has a sticky surface which attaches to the plastic and this is what is "supposed" to hold it in place....yeah right!

It certainly is a poor design by FORD and looks bad when it falls into the crack! I've seen brand new F-150s on the lot with less than 10 miles that have this gasket out of place and sitting down in the void.