Hey everyone, I just bought a brand new 2015 F150 4x4 3.5L ecoboost supercrew F150 here about 3 weeks ago. I love this truck but the day after I picked it up from the dealer, I noticed a clicking nose while I was driving between about 20-50 mph. At first I thought it was maybe a rock in a tire or a backing plate on a brake rotor rubbing a little. It doesn't matter if you are in 2wd or 4wd. I took it in to my dealer and the tech went for a ride with me. He could hear the noise I was talking about and they checked the truck for any obvious signs of this noise. Nothing. They asked me to bring it back the next week because they were pretty busy. I brought the truck back in and left it. They told me they fixed the noise. I jumped in with the service advisor and went for a ride. It was still making the noise.


They have no clue what it could be and say that they have never had an issue with these 2015s. They asked me to bring it back so they could put a mechanics stethoscope on it to pinpoint the noise. I was reading a forum on another site and quite a few people are saying they have this same issue I am currently having. They are all saying it is a transfer case problem. Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue and if so, what was the outcome?


Sorry for the long post. Thanks!

 

Welcome to FTE!

Keep us in the loop if you would please.

 

Start narrowing it down methodically.

Does the clicking noise remain at a constant speed? Does it vary with engine RPM or road speed? Is it related to climate control or dependent on fan speed?

The more of these observations you can make, the better you can focus your search.

 

Yes, welcome to FTE! And thanks for the heads-up. I will be following this.

 

I've been checking everything from the a/c blower motor to shutting off the engine while driving. The dealership first told me it was a common characteristic of the Ecoboost which I know isn't true. It's loudest around 40mph and I can hear it on the highway at 75mph too. It's not too noticeable outside the truck but it's loud inside the cab. I'm taking it in Next Monday. I will keep you posted.

 

If the dealership starts right in with the lies, I'd think about using another. Is that possible?

 

Yeah, That made me a little skeptical. Ive been using this dealer for a number of years. They have always been pretty straight up and taken good care of me. After I took the service writer, advisor and technician for a ride, they all hear the noise and agree it is not normal. We will see how they handle this issue and that will help me determine if I will continue to be a customer there.

 

Does the ticking speed up or get louder as your speed increases?

 

It becomes audible at around 20 mph and is loudest around 40mph. It is noticeable at 70 mph too.

 

I would check for a crack/leak in the exhaust manifold. Get a rubber tube and stick it next to your ear and probe for the sound location.

 

Yeah, I've checked just about everything. I shut the engine off while driving and it still makes the noise. It's a rotational noise that sounds metallic. I eliminated the engine and all of the wheels and brakes.

 

Well....Looks like Ford is addressing the problem. I went to the dealer this morning and they said there is a TSB on this problem that was just Released on 11/11/15. They ordered a ring gear and planetary gears for the transfer case. Parts are backordered a few days. Ill update after the repair is complete and let you know how it goes. Hopefully no more noise!

 

Did this solve the issue? Do you know the TSB #?

 

I'm still waiting on the parts to come in. They are still on back order according to my dealer as of last Wednesday. I will post an update as soon as I get it in the shop and get the TSB done.

 

Thanks, I'm having what I think is the same issue I was hoping to have a TSB # or something to give them to reference what you have so they don't just tell me "it's normal"