Hi everyone, I'm a Ford virgin no longer; just bought bought my first Super Duty for work, obviously an F-550 dump. I don't see many 550's on here, hopefully it's not too uncommon.
Any specific technical threads I should be aware of? It's an automatic.

Things I'd like to know about:

- Is the door chime supposed to start ringing the second I open the door, even with the key out?

- The door lock solenoids make noise, but they don't move the locks either way.

Thanks for the help.

 

Congrats! What year is your truck?

 

Thanks.

It's a 2000, less than 100K kms.

 

The 4R100 isn't the best transmission out there, so I would be doing a through service on it changing the oil and filter. Change out the engine oil with 5w-40 synthetic, do a brake inspection make sure your brake rotors are good. These trucks will carry more than they can stop.

I currently have a 2006 F-450 the truck will carry the same amount of weight as the earlier 550s I think it carries the same weight as the current 550s aswell. The truck handles up to 11,000lbs on the deck with no problems that is scale verified.

The older F-550 trucks do have a bigger rear axle the Dana 135 is bigger than the current axle used in the 450/550 trucks S110. Most F550 trucks that year have the 4:88 rear axle gear, with the 4spd auto it does scream at the highway speeds. Used to drive a 2001 F-550 the truck would pretty much go the same speed loaded or empty.

Not sure why the door chime is working with the key out have you tried wigging the ignition switch with the key out to see if it stops ? Things might be sticky from the truck sitting so much. The gremlins may disapear when you start using the truck regulary.

The door locks probably need some greasing, take the door panels off and see if things are free and loose. If things look dry and sticky use some fluid film and start lubing the schit out of everything.

Things about the 450/550 trucks, don't buy cheap 19.5 tires the cheap ones are a real head ache. I'am currently using Bridgestone Bridgeston M729 for drive tires and Michelin XZE for steer tires. Michelin doesn't make a good traction tire and Bridgestone doesn't make a good RIB steer tire.

KYB shocks seem to work well on these trucks, the steering stabilizer is a Ford only item the aftermarket ones don't fit work a damn.

Brake parts you want to use Motorcraft brake rotors, with either Motorcraft or Raybestos brake pads.

The emergency brakes on these trucks don't hold all that well on these trucks so don't expect much from them.

Keep the front end greased up these trucks are heavy and tough on ball joints and tie rod ends etc.

 

Thanks for the advice.

It really does scream at highway speed...about 100 km is as fast as I take it because it's turning over 2500 RPM at that point. The tires are Hercules S309's all the way around, and are brand new.

Yes, tried wiggling/moving the ignition around, to no avail. I'm mechanically inclined and have owned and maintained 40+ vehicles, but this is an odd problem and my first Ford. I'll lube the locks and see if that work, it's way too uncomfortable trying to unlock the doors by hand, especially since it's a crew truck.

Overall it's a good truck, but man it sure is gutless.

 

Truck isn't gutless just feels that way the truck is so low geared your not getting much road speed out of it with the 4spd automatic. Put a load on the truck and it will travel at the same speed. Your screaming at 100 km/h so your foot is damn near to the floor, the motor has to scream to get any speed,

When I first drove a F-550 back in 2002 I thought the truck was underpowered till I put a heavy load on it the truck did the same speed.

The 7.3 F-550 trucks were better off with the 6spd manual, they are hard to find.

The 6.0 is a different story the manual transmission doesn't work good behind a 6.0 you need the Torqshift automatic.

Put 4 ton on the F-550 you have you will find the truck hauls the load like nothing. As I said the 4 spds isn't enough for a truck with 4:88 gears, trying to put taller gear ratio in the rear axle isn't going to help much.

 

Weak power door lock actuators are a very common problem on the Super Duty line. Either replace with updated parts or do a search for power door lock actuators. They can be disassembled and rigged to operate again but it takes some work.

 

Great advice again, thanks...I guess I'm just used to my daily driver's power, it's a 6 cylinder / 6 speed though. 4 gears really isn't enough in the SD, I've hauled a skid steer (on a trailer) with 3 pallets of blocks with it already, I really have to push the pedal down to make her go.
As far as the actuators, that's what I've been reading. Time to rip the doors apart.