rmp213

I need to vent a little about My 2006 5.4L SuperCab. I love this truck, but it's about to get a For Sale sign hung in the window. This truck is too new with only 79,000 miles to be making all these strange rattles and vibrations. I use this thing as a truck, don't get me wrong, but mechanically it's been babied. Always do scheduled maintenance with all the recommended ****t..

So here is the laundry list of noises I'm hearing, maybe ya'll can give me some advice on what they could be and how to fix them...

1) Rear window sounds like its loose, when I'm in park or sitting at a red light or idling in the driveway, it just rattles and I've already discovered that it leaks water into the cab where the 3rd brake light is...

2) Also when sitting in park or idling at a red light, I get an obnoxious rattle that sounds like its coming from under the bed or between the cab. I've checked everything under the truck thinking something was loose, but can't seem to find anything so I'm thinking its something mechanical. I only hear it when the engine is under load and it comes and goes, but recently its been louder and fairly constant so I know it's getting worse...

3) When I first start it up in the morning, I get a nice loud rattle from under the hood. It sounds like something is loose behind the dash (It's not cam phasers because I know what that sounds like) this is more of a plastic rattling around. Like I said though, I've checked everything under the hood and under the dash and nothing is loose...

4) This is more a complaint just to complain, but recently it's been studdering shifting out of o/d and seems to downshift kind of hard at times (like when slowing down) It only does this every now and then, but the Tranny fluid is clean and full and I've replaced the plugs and cats at around 70K miles so those can't be the issue, I'm just assuming its the trans going..

I'll put a disclaimer on this post so people don't think I'm just complaining about a Ford because I'm a Ford guy, always have been and always will be..It's just a real shame how cheaply these new trucks are made..It seems these new trucks are nothing more than souped up grocery getters..I had a '95 F150 and sure it made some noises, but this 2006 is way too new to be having stupid issues like this..I guess I was just expecting more from Ford...

Ford, I hope you're listening...quit trying to cater your trucks to those who don't need trucks...If I wanted a grocery getter, I'd buy an Explorer...

Vent over, anyone have any ideas on what these noises could be? Thanks!

Lenn

Noises are one of the hardest things to diagnose via the interwebs.

I can tell you from personal experience that the supercab doors themselves are commonly prone to noises. There's an easy way to adjust them and tighten them up to the body a little. I used to have pics of this with arrows and a pretty diagram to give you an idea of how common those complaints are/were.

Take a torx socket (can't remember the size off hand) and loosten the striker on the bottom of the rear door sill JUST A LITTLE (the one on the cab itself). Enough to be able to tap it inward toward the cabin just a little at a time. Test drive. Do this until your noise goes away. I can't speak for all of your noise... but I guarantee this is one of them, possibly more. Do this on both sides.

As for the water leak... that's also common. The third brake light is a frequent offender for water intrusion. Either buy a new one or go to any Lowes or Auto Parts house and purchase a sheet of foam or cork gasket material and make a new gasket for behind the light... DONT DOUBLE STACK ON THE ORIGINAL, make one a little thicker.

I hope this helps some of your problems.

rmp213

Lenn, I appreciate the quick response. I did suspect the vibrating from the cab to be the suicide doors because when you slam them shut, they make a very similar noise to what I'm hearing vibrate when at a red light.

I knew the 3rd brake light was an issue, but the rear window I'm going to have to figure something out with...any suggestions? I looked up the new window seal gasket but I don't want to take out the glass to replace it because I fear it will never seal right again.

The noise under the hood I have no idea what it could be, I think that one may be driving me more crazy than the doors rattling..

Lenn

Take a soft mallet and tap on the engine hoist hook point on the engine. It loostened up on my buddies and caused a really high frequency, fast paced rattling when the engine was idling in gear. Shift to park or neutral (reducing engine load) and the noise went away. We took it off and it was fine after that. That's the only thing I can tell you. If its not that, use that rubber/soft mallet to start tapping on heat shields and whatnot.

Rear window- Check the window mounting points on the regulator and the track guides. If they're loose, it'll rattle. I can also see if its loose, it'll allow water into the door. A gasket does not hold the window tight, it only seals out the water.

Sorry to be so vague. Noises are tough.

How long have you had this truck? Do you know if its ever been wrecked? Its odd that you're having all these noises at the same time.

rmp213

Yeah noises are really tough to track down. I've had it since July of 2011 and these noises slowly started happening over the span of the time i've had it. They've just been slowly getting worse. I turned my radio off the other day driving and it was like a had an orchestra of strange rattles lol.

I don't believe it was ever wrecked, but it has its typical scratches and dents to i'm sure the previous owner was rough on it..I'm going to try adjusting the rear doors like you said and the 3rd brake light gasket...as for the rest of the noises, i'll keep checking for loose stuff like you said until something eventually goes or I find the issue. Thanks again!

Lenn

Sounds good! Keep us posted on the progress.

mscheuler

Sounds like my truck exactly. I've owned my since it was brand new and it's a 2006 SuperCrew 5.4 4x4 XLT Lariat with only 67,000 miles. Tow a boat about 5 times a year, maybe a small trailer a couple times a year. Other than that it's to/from work and around town and short distant trips. Nothing really off-road or terrorizing.

List of headaches:
- Cam Phaser noise
- Injectors Ticking
- Pop/rattle under dash all the time
- Auto HVAC has mind of its own (Hot cold fast slow fan speed)
- Lip seal drip on back of transfer case since 34,000 miles and nobody could get it to stop dripping at Ford dealer.
- When it gets to freezing temps my transmission feels like it shifts from 1st to 3rd until it warms up the fluid. Had fluid changed and filter changes in tranny thinking it would clear this up and it did not.


Truck really turns heads and looks great. Just makes a lot of noises that drive me nuts! I'd love to have a new one but don't want to spend 10-15k above this one to get switched right now. I just hope this think will last me another 60k miles or better.

Lenn

Get used to injector tick, bud. It's par for the course.

08f150xlt

Passenger side manifold leak gives a loud tick, very common... It'll be real loud at startup then get quiet once the metal expands. Once u start driving tho it'll tick tick tick...

Quick way to check it is this- once it's warned up put it in drive hold the brake and give it some gas. If it ticks its most likely the manifold leak. It won't tick if its in neutral and u just rev it... The engine needs to be under a load(driving). Also driving along a wall will make the tick louder. The tick resonates off it...

ford lover 07

Yeah mine rattles under the dash when it's cold as well or at just about idol in gear and it's super annoying I will forever prase the person who figures out where the heck the rattle is coming from