Added another truck to my fleet

[jgillott]

I know that Ford is developing a new big cube gas V8 (7.3L I believe) for the HD trucks, but the thing I can't figure out is why this little Ecoboost hasn't made its way in to the Super Duty platform. Can you picture it, 375 HP 470 lb/ft tq in a Super Duty Chassis with 3.73 or 4.30 gears and the 10-Speed auto.

Sounds crazy yes, but picture it....huge towing capacity, fuel mileage in the 20 MPG highway range and enough payload to handle pretty much anything that you would trow at it. Blasphemy maybe, but sounds awfully familiar to the reasons why I bought my '92 Dodge all those years ago.

 

[Wayne M.]

I’d love to see how that EB does with 16k for a 12 hour shift. I’m sure Ford already knows.

 

[jgillott]

I’d love to see how that EB does with 16k for a 12 hour shift. I’m sure Ford already knows.

Tow until those little turbos glow.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Yes, cab and body repairs, not too bad. That’s all I’m gonna comment.

Back when I had an Excursion with a V10.......I had to pull the engine to remove a rusted off oil dipstick tube. While I had the engine out, I went ahead and replaced all the cooler lines, engine gaskets etc. The engines are very easy to work on. I won't make the same claim of their diesel engines because they are suffering from the 10 pounds of poop in a 2 pound bag syndrome. Of course, I don't have to tell you that Wayne!

 

[jgillott]

Funny little issue. My dang drivers door is frozen open again. I had the same problem last fall on the first cold morning. Dealer performed a recall that was supposed to fix the issue.

This morning, I tried to drive the Ford when it was 2 degrees out. Same problem. Just made an appointment to take it back down to the dealer for them to try it again.

For your reading pleasure, Google Ford door latch freezing.

 

[Wayne M.]

Interesting. Unheard of on SD.

 

[jgillott]

The actual recall is FSA-17S33. That was done in the fall. There is also a Customer Program modification 18N03 that they will do if the recall hasn't worked and if the problem reoccurs. Apparently that is where we are now. I'd be interested to know if the Super Duty has a different lock mechanism.

 

[jgillott]

I dropped off the truck at the dealer this afternoon and had a good laugh in the process. Pulled in and went up to the service counter. Service advisor asked me what I was there for and I told her my drivers door will not close. She asked me "did you try any of the other ones?". I said, no....I was afraid to after this one wouldn't close.

Young girl also working behind the service counter said.."yea...it would be pretty hard to hold more than one door closed while driving". We all just busted out laughing.

 

[fest3er]

... Young girl also working behind the service counter said.."yea...it would be pretty hard to hold more than one door closed while driving". We all just busted out laughing.

Piece of cake. Ratchet strap between the doors so they hold each other shut.

 

[jgillott]

Piece of cake. Ratchet strap between the doors so they hold each other shut.

You may be on to something Neil. Ford could brand some ratchet straps with the Ford logo or F150, put them in a nice carrying bag, and sell them as their "Cold Weather Accessory Group". Could even put them in a leather bag for those with the King Ranch or Platinum level trucks. Ford could probably make thousands on that little item.

 

[Dl5treez]

Check your drains at the bottom of the doors. Couple trucks here at work were plugged and the subsequent moisture inside the door was freezing. Mitigating the recall “improvement”.

 

[jgillott]

Check your drains at the bottom of the doors. Couple trucks here at work were plugged and the subsequent moisture inside the door was freezing. Mitigating the recall “improvement”.

I will do that when it comes back from the dealer. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Wayne M.]

That cold snap we had yesterday really wreaked havoc on some of the mechanicals.

 

[Dl5treez]

I will do that when it comes back from the dealer. Thanks for the tip.

No problem we got them back from the dealer about a week before they froze up again. Normally they park indoors in a heated building so we didn’t notice. Drained about 1 quart of water out of each door.

Cold jungle up here. Since we cleaned out the drains no more freezing.

 

[jgillott]

No problem we got them back from the dealer about a week before they froze up again. Normally they park indoors in a heated building so we didn’t notice. Drained about 1 quart of water out of each door.

Cold jungle up here. Since we cleaned out the drains no more freezing.

Did you ever notice that the drains are a square shape? Different than what I've seen from other manufacturers.

 

[Dl5treez]

Yessir it does appear like a design booboo. Too easy to catch gunk on the sharp corners.

 

[jgillott]

Yessir it does appear like a design booboo. Too easy to catch gunk on the sharp corners.

I have noticed that water lays in the drains for an awful long time after a heavy rain or a car wash. I'll have to take a real close look and clean them out when it gets back.

Thanks again for the idea.

 

[fest3er]

You may be on to something Neil. Ford could brand some ratchet straps with the Ford logo or F150, put them in a nice carrying bag, and sell them as their "Cold Weather Accessory Group". Could even put them in a leather bag for those with the King Ranch or Platinum level trucks. Ford could probably make thousands on that little item.

I was thinking "Supplemental Restraint Accessory".

 

[jgillott]

I picked up the Ford this morning. Looking at my reciept, the Recall and TSB supplement were applied in November. So, they redid the 18N03 supplement with updated seals.

I'm not expecting any different results from the last attempt.

 

[jgillott]

Truck went back in for the door locks yet again this morning. -5 here and the doors that would actually open would also close thankfully. The front passenger door however will now not open from the outside or lock/unlock using the power door locks. It will only open using the inside door handle. I'm hoping that it is something simple like something coming loose in the mechanism.

Either way, back to the dealer it went. I'm just really thankful that my dealer takes it immediately when these problems arise. But, this is now the 3rd attempt at these dang door locks and 8 days and counting being out of service due to these door latches. It's really funny that a company in business 100 years can't get a door to close properly on a $50K+ unit.