What does everyone do for a living? Where do you live?
11-02-2011, 03:23 PM
#2956
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: midwest
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string of bad luck
My 2001 was purchased new and the first american vehicle in many years.
Drove mostly Nissan Maxima's prior.
Long story short, my F150 has been riddled with mechanical problems. I have 56K miles on it, averaging 5K per year, and self-maintain with a passion. The truck is used to tow 2000 pound fishing boat to Canada 1x or 2x per year
and my wife just doesn't feel safe anymore. Still rides and looks good though.
To this point, the following non-age related has failed me:
-thermostat
-air conditioning valve
-starter motor
-power steering unit
-ABS sensor/bearing assy
-air conditioning system leak
-both ball joints
-fractured exhaust manifold bolts (requiring partial removal to drill out)
-CV boot
-metal brake line perforation
-rear hub leak
-rear axle leak
Just last week, one of the caliper bolts backed out, causing the caliper to swing down and cut through the aluminum rim before I could sufficiently stop.
This is the last straw and I'm looking to replace said little-used lemon.
Any advise on my recourse before I write Ford off the new truck purchase list based on my previous painful experiences? I hate to just dismiss them but was expecting a bit more quality out of the best selling truck in America. Love the ride, hate the reliability.
Thanks,
Ciese
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Drove mostly Nissan Maxima's prior.
Long story short, my F150 has been riddled with mechanical problems. I have 56K miles on it, averaging 5K per year, and self-maintain with a passion. The truck is used to tow 2000 pound fishing boat to Canada 1x or 2x per year
and my wife just doesn't feel safe anymore. Still rides and looks good though.
To this point, the following non-age related has failed me:
-thermostat
-air conditioning valve
-starter motor
-power steering unit
-ABS sensor/bearing assy
-air conditioning system leak
-both ball joints
-fractured exhaust manifold bolts (requiring partial removal to drill out)
-CV boot
-metal brake line perforation
-rear hub leak
-rear axle leak
Just last week, one of the caliper bolts backed out, causing the caliper to swing down and cut through the aluminum rim before I could sufficiently stop.
This is the last straw and I'm looking to replace said little-used lemon.
Any advise on my recourse before I write Ford off the new truck purchase list based on my previous painful experiences? I hate to just dismiss them but was expecting a bit more quality out of the best selling truck in America. Love the ride, hate the reliability.
Thanks,
Ciese
-
11-02-2011, 08:34 PM
#2957
Junior Member
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I worked for Ford for 20 years, 14 as a technician and 6 as Shop Foreman...it became too political for me so I opened my own Transmission/Auto repair shop at my home...have been at it for a year now-I love it!
11-02-2011, 09:36 PM
#2958
experienced junior
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ohio
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new here but not to Ford
Im in Akron Ohio. I work as a mechanic on small engines, my daily driver is an 06 f150 XLT extended cab 4x4. I have a had a several mustangs, a 97 ranger, a 95, 98, and an 01 F150 and a 97 F250. MY o6 is best of all by far.
11-02-2011, 09:52 PM
#2959
experienced junior
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Location: ohio
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Ciese, If I didnt know better i'd say you were talking about my 01 XLT ext. cab. identical problems. I made a cut in the boot and spraied them full of penitrating oil then a good all season synthetic grease, as for the leaks i let em go until they made too much of a mess on the driveway. The passenger side caliper bolt came backed out in the middle of nowhere too! I ordered a new one form Ford and applied lock tite and torqued it an extra 5lbs over the recomended tourque. while towing about 6klbs It dropped the number 5 cylinder. as i was playing with that after i replaced the coil, an SUV pulled out in front of me. I must say that the truck kept me and my son safe while we took the front of the SUV off. the engine of the SUV was 20 yards down the road. as it was, i never got to find out what the cause of the cylinder drop was but I did get to learn about my 06 5.4 3v that i currently drive. Ill tell ya, while it isnt always favorable to get a new truck, it's easily twice the truck my 01 was on it's best day.
11-02-2011, 11:58 PM
#2960
Senior Member
Originally Posted by DanielJ.
Ciese, If I didnt know better i'd say you were talking about my 01 XLT ext. cab. identical problems. I made a cut in the boot and spraied them full of penitrating oil then a good all season synthetic grease, as for the leaks i let em go until they made too much of a mess on the driveway. The passenger side caliper bolt came backed out in the middle of nowhere too! I ordered a new one form Ford and applied lock tite and torqued it an extra 5lbs over the recomended tourque. while towing about 6klbs It dropped the number 5 cylinder. as i was playing with that after i replaced the coil, an SUV pulled out in front of me. I must say that the truck kept me and my son safe while we took the front of the SUV off. the engine of the SUV was 20 yards down the road. as it was, i never got to find out what the cause of the cylinder drop was but I did get to learn about my 06 5.4 3v that i currently drive. Ill tell ya, while it isnt always favorable to get a new truck, it's easily twice the truck my 01 was on it's best day.