I bought my '08 f-250 SD with a 6" pro comp lift and 37" tires installed - truck and lift was brand new and I bought it off the lot.

I'm having issues with the front end and Ford says they won't touch it and they won't send it out to 4 wheel parts to get it fixed - customer service is awesome.

But that's not even my issue. They said my Kenwood 9140 stereo/gps head unit is the cause of the TPS failing and the reason my truck is stalling out when coming to a stop sign. They said it's sending out RF signals that are screwing with the truck electronics.

#1 - how can they prove this, ort how do they even know that's the issue.
#2 - I can't think of anything that would be different between a stock head unit and an after market unit, besides better components. I can't see how one would send out RF signals that the other would not.

#3 - Why when I spend $53k on a new truck does their service treat me like I'm some second class citizen? (My neck might be red, but I still deserve a little respect.)

It just seems that once they got their $$$ from me, their promises of "bumper to Bumper" and "just bring it down and we'll take care of whatever issue you have" have gone out the window.

I'm a little p!$$ed and a lot frustrated. Have any of you heard of these issues and what have you done to combat them?

 

It could be true, They are not responsible for problems or compatibility issues caused by aftermarket equipment. What happens when the unit is disconnected or turned off? The factory doesnt cover the aftermarket lift or tires either. That would be a dealer issue, as it was obviously modified AFTER it left the ford assembly plant probably by the dealer who then flipped it on you.

 

They are full of crap on the head unit, unless it wasnt installed properly. It giving off interference is B.s.

 

I installed that Kenwood series in my 08 with no issues. Was the proper wiring harness used? When I did mine, I bought the exact wiring harness needed and that way I was assured no wires were miswired and therefore no signals wound up in the wrong place. Could the stereo mess with your other electronics? Absolutely. If a hot lead was wired wrong or the ground was misplaced, you can have issues. I'm guessing the dealership did the diagnostics and found something there. Whether it's actual RF is hard to tell though without the proper testing equipment. I doubt it's RF though as the electronics should be properly shielded. I would pull/ disconnect the head unit, drive the truck and see if the issues go away. It's a pain but there's not a better way unless you have access to some good test equipment. Check your harness and make sure the connections are made by factory connectors; any thing less and even an experienced installer can grab a wrong lead and screw the install up. If nothing else, verify the wiring schematics. Mine worked perfectly and was a great unit.

 

I appreciate all of the feedback, but I think that I'm pretty tech savvy, and I had Al amd Ed's install it in LA. They are top notch when it comes to custom installations.

The service dept said that there was a bulliten that came out from Ford stating that aftermarket head units were sending out random RF signals that were messing with the electronics. The service dept said they think this is what is causing the problem - the truck had the aftermarket stereo so the fact that the truck dies isn't a Ford issue. Sounds like total BS to me. I can't believe they expect all of their customers to be content with the stock head unit and not upgrade without their truck falling apart.

They also said this is the reason for the TPS system acting up.

I was just wondering if anyone else has been fed this line and if anyone has seen any proof of this.

 

Have never seen a TPMS unit affected this way (my tire store services a lot of TPMS), I think the dealer is giving you a line. Find a different dealer or at worst, return the audio system to stock and then make them fix it.