crash_ice

X2

Tuner Boost

The issues are the engineers are so restricted in what they can implement. There is no great bureaucracy (except the Government) as far as controls over every move. I can't express how many times (and the non-disclosure contracts are air-tight) an engineer has a simple solution to correct an issue, or improve on a design, and even though it may add say, $1.19 to the over all cost of production, and they are shot down. We live in an era of total manipulation (and Ford is no more guilty than any others, they all are competing in a very well targeted marketplace for the target demographic for a model, sub-model, etc.) of believing what your told. In the old days, the Father, Grandfather, etc. even taught their daughters to check oil, trans fluid, tire pressure, etc. Now the public is conditioned to purchase a vehicle and never open, or think about what is under the hood. They only put fuel in until a DIC message prompts them to come to the dealer for service. How many have tried to check auto trans fluid on a passenger car lately? Check your oil every few fillups? No one has analysed the market and potentail buyers better than the auto makers, and they all do it. Why does Caddilac tell the buyer of a CTS DI v6 to use 87 octane when it is 11.5:1 compression ratio? Because the computer will pull timing when detonation is occurring and even though on 91-93 it will have more power and better MPG? And tells them to use far inferior DEXOS approved oil VS a good full synthetic like the V8 is required to use when the V6 is far more advanced and better oil is more critical? All appealing to the budget minded buyer who wants to spend less than the V version, and less on maintenance, etc.

Why do all cars/trucks (except super cars of course) come prefilled with good oil VS a break in oil like the old days that allowed the rings to seat properly in the first few hundred miles before the cylinder walls glaze over and that critical period has passed?

You wont see an airplane engine do that (where lives depend on proper break-in). And then these same engines have oil consumption issues they should not have. All in what they are told as consumers, puppets. And we can't just blame Ford, itis every car maker plays these games.

Cord

I don't know if that's quite true. I joined back in 2011 before I bought my truck. I was singing it's praises up until a month or so ago.

Azuri

To piggyback off what Cord is saying I work with at least a dozen f150 owners and I believe I'm the only one on these forums. The majority of vehicle owners don't frequent forums regardless if they are or aren't having issues. Gauging reliability or issues is probably not very accurate on forums.

modru2004

this is true. but the vast majority of people you encounter posting threads on forums are asking a question or have a problem. that the reason most people find these places.

Cord

Well, got my truck back last night. Wow! What a difference! We both remarked on how well the engine was running. I had noticed the engine was getting a bit rough at idle, but I didn't realize just how bad it was. And the engine was so quiet! Even running down the highway at 70 you could tell something was different. Much quieter and smoother. This stuff sneaks in over time so you don't realize it's actually happening. This chain must have been getting loose for at least the last 20,000 miles.

I noticed the remote start is working again. For some time now, the remote start wouldn't work. At first it would engage the starter for a moment and then stop cranking. If you tried to start it again, the horn would honk. Later it would refuse to start at all. Now the remote start works great. The computer must have been seeing the error for a while before the other symptoms showed up. Even after there were symptoms it still took a while for the check engine light to come on.

I was able to look at the chain and there wasn't anything remarkable about it. The pins all looked tight and there was only minor polishing on the teeth. I couldn't see any signs of wear. Unfortunately, I was not able to keep the chain as the dealer needed it for proof that it was replaced. I also was able to read the conversation between the dealer and the hot line. Replacing the timing chain was clearly the last fix they would authorize. If somebody is going through this problem, they would be wise to buy the chain (it's only $90 on Taska) and order the dealer to put it in.

sgtpatiolantern

We have a fleet of one ton Cummins Rams where I work, and the bulk of the issues we have with these trucks is related to the assigned operators not caring, and running the living **** out of these trucks. Some may follow the maintenance religiously, others don't bother. Every one I have been assigned has had the least recorded failures. It works just as hard, and sometimes harder than most trucks in the fleet. We fired a guy last year, and when his truck was reassigned, the dealer discovered he had rigged up a propane injection system to the truck, and found track slips from a local race track.

I am not assuming this is the case with this particular fleet, but I post this as something to ponder. Never underestimate your employee's indifference when it comes to vehicles that they don't own a bolt in. When someone else is footing the repair bill, it's pretty common for people to care very little about the vehicles they are assigned.

General Pain

Exactly....well stated.

Tuner Boost

You hit that right on the head. A lot of the fleets we deal with have us tune in speed limiter to 75 mph, RPM limiter on gas engines to 4500, etc. along with the economy tunes to put a little more control over the "could give a dang" employee abuse. Still need proper maintenance though. Good post.

KJ Smith

So, are you going to put the 5 star back in or leave well enough alone?


https://www.f150forum.com/f70/ecoboo...g-life-199275/