OK - had to do a trip to Kentucky and TN this past weekend to do my "final out" of the Army. Truck is running well. I am on my way back and I get the oil change needed soon light. I'm about 400 miles out. a couple hundred miles out I get the message oil change required. I run Rotella T-6 and then go off the oil minderm so I'm not worried about the interval. Anyways, I get home and take the truck down to the auto-services shop on base and throw her on the lift to change the oil. I notice diesel or oil or some fluid blown ALL over the back end. I'm starting to panic as I meant to take the truck in to the dealer to get the pre-36,000 mile "everything's OK" check. I didn't get the chance as work has been so hectic.

Anyways, I then notice that one of my batteries is cooked and has boiled all over the place and I'm starting to sweat as I am on terminal leave and am retiring and I see nothing but a HUGE repair bill smacking me in the puss.

I take it to the Ford garage and the dude there says Ford takes a hard line on anything over 36,000 miles. Doesn't matter on the trip; doesn't matter Army; doesn't matter jack-squat. I'm sweating.

I was worried it was a split fuel cell/tank (a LOT of fluid).

I drop it off and don't hear anything for a day. Phone rings the next day and dude's telling me that the battery is fried and needs to be replaced. I asked him to replace both of them and to run an electrical check. Also had them run the reflash on the PCU.

As to the source of the fluid, turns out that the rear pinion seal had blown and spewed oil all over the place and that the repair was covered by the power-train warranty. The reflash was routine and under recall. Only thing I had to pay was the replacement of the two batteries. Made me a happy camper!!!

I was sweating as it was one of those things wherein I "was going" to purchase the additional warranty; I "was going" to bring it in prior to the 36K expiration....etc.

Just a reminder to those coming up on the 36K issue - "get her in".

 

Jim...sorry to hear of the repairs. Thanks for your service

 

Jim,
Glad it was not as bad as it could have been.
Thank you for your service and enjoy your retirement!
Pat

 

Glad is was not that bad, congrats on making to the end. It feels realllllll good.

 

The whole time reading your post, all I could think was (please don't be the motor!). So glad it's a minor deal.

My truck now has 33,000 on it and I'm hoping I can get it to the dealer before I break the threshold!

Now, go drive your truck!