Has anyone had any luck with this issue - I'm going the rounds with Ford right now. Other than that, I think my truck is great. I have a 98 250 ld with just over 12000 mi. on it

Here's my latest reply from Ford 05/14/1999

Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company.

The circumstances outlined in your e-mail regarding the piston slap
concern your 1998 Ford F-250 is experiencing have been given careful
consideration.

We contacted Mr David Mace, the Service Manager, to check on the
availability of a repair procedure for the piston slap concern. He
informed us that he was still waiting for a response from the
engineers. Please accept our apologies for it taking so long for the
concern to be addressed, but rest assured that the concern will be
addressed and your vehicle repaired as soon as possible. Regretfully,
we do not know precisely when this will be.

Owner satisfaction is Ford Motor Company's most important objective.
Please feel free to contact us again with any other questions you may
have.

Sincerely,
Ford Motor Company
Customer Assistance Center


[This message has been edited by lanman (edited 05-14-99).]

 

Yes I have heard of the problem. To this date I have never hve any one tell me it affected the preformance or the life expectancy of the motor. If you wish, try a serch under this topic and see what has been said in the past.

------------------
97 F-150 4.6 auto, 4x2, 3.55 LS, trailer tow pkg, ABM with K&N, Dynomax Super Turbo exhaust.
Oh yeah, it's Oxford White with crome wheels, Legacy shell & custom grill.

 

Ianman: See my post under "Taking it back". I filed and won an arbitration case against Ford for piston slap (98 F150 4x4 w/4.6L). There may not be any long term proof that this piston slap causes damage to the engine (do you really think Ford would come out and admit it if it did?), but in my opinion (and the opinion of the arbitration board) pistons banging against the cylinder walls can't be good for the engine. Common sense would say that eventually, the cylinder bores will become out-of-round which will lead to loss of compression, loss of horsepower and utlimately engine failure. I know for a fact that Ford's special service message on piston slap has been around for more than a year, and a repair has been promised by Ford for just as long. If you read past posts up to one year old, you will find long discussions of the problem, including others who have won arbitration and others who's arbitration applicaations have been denied because the owner wiated too long to file.

 

This morning 3 representatives from Ford called me. They assured me that Ford has new pistons that are being installed in new vehicles that overcome this problem. The pistons are not yet available for the repairing of this problem, but should be around the Fall of 1999.

They assured me that Ford is well aware of this problem and intends to make it right.

I found a great line of comunication. You can at set up an owners link at Ford's web site. http://www.ford.com. Click on the Owners. There is a spot in the owner's link were you can send an email message.

I would highly encourage any of you who have piston slap, regardless of your current warrantee situation, to set up this link and initiate communication with Ford.

 

Does anyone know:

1) Ford's TSB number for the piston slap issue?

2) At what point (date) new engines will have the fix incorporated? In other words, if I order a truck today, will the engine have the fix.

 

BDE,

The special service message for the Cold Start Knock/Piston slap is "12010".

I just had the 5.4 in my 99 Lariat replaced with a complete new engine from the factory. I had to wait until this spring for the engine as the Ford Rep advised me that engines built before March 15, 1999 might have the Piston slap.

I will post a complete details of my experience later this week.

BTW, the new engine sounds and runs great.....so far!

bassman

 

How loud is the piston slap that everyone has been talking about? Does it sound like a diesel truck coming down the road? No problems yet but curious

------------------
99 F250XLT Supercab LD
5.4L 3.73 LS
White/Silver
Graphite interior
6 CD changer/Captain's Chairs

 

Bassman,

Do you have a 99 f150 or 99 f250? just curious.



------------------
Eric
'99 Lariat SC 5.4 4x2 3.55ls Tow-pkg
Oxford White/Harvest Gold

 

Eric,

My truck is a 1999 F-150 Lariat SuperCab 4x4.

 

In reguards to it sounding like a diesel... Dunbarton heard me coming down the street, and thought it was a diesel (I've only got the 5.4)... is this sound a common occurance with the "piston-slap" problem?

-Kris
'99 F-250 SDSC 4x4 5.4

 

Kris,

I didn't take the arrival of your big SD as a piston slap noise. I believe it disappears after warm-up if you have the noise at all.

Would like to hear you start it up cold sometime.



------------------
Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The Z-71 Eater!
Wedgewood & Denim "Blue Lightning" SuperChipped
Man, I got it all!

 

Actually, I'm on my way to your house in a few to pick up Dave (Dunbarton Jr.?)

-Kris

 

The piston slap sound appears on a cold start up around 1000 rpm. It sounds a great deal like a tappet noise, but louder and deeper in the engine. It will disappear after warm up.

It can be an off and on sound, depending upon the temperature outside.

[This message has been edited by lanman (edited 05-24-99).]

 

This is what I got back after e-mailing Ford. This same thing they have been telling me for a year not - NOTHING! Thought you guys may get a kick out of it though.

Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company.

The circumstances outlined in your e-mail concerning the piston slap
in your 1997 Ford F-150 engine have been given careful consideration.

We have contacted Mr. Dungan, the Service Manager at Bill Woods Ford
regarding your concern. Mr. Dungan informed us that he had reported
your concern to the engineering department and they are still
investigating this concern for you. We are not able to advise you
when a repair procedure will be available and we suggest that you
continue to contact Mr. Dungan for the availability of the repair
procedure.

Owner satisfaction is Ford Motor Company's most important objective.
We commit resources and effort in a sincere attempt to resolve the
concerns of our owners. Please feel free to contact us again with any
other questions you may have.

 

I called the regional representative for my quarterly "no solution yet." Although the response was "still no solution" she indicated that progress had been made towards one. Apparently the engineers are testing, and these are her words, a new engine. Not simply a new piston, but a new design of some sort. As usual details of any kind were not available except that results of testing would take until the end of summer (August). And the wait goes on.