CruelCrew,

I know you're not b****ing, just pointing out some things you want changed.

I upgraded from a 4 cylynder Ranger, so the 4.6L has plenty of zip for me. And no shimmies or shakes, my truck is very smooth and tight.

The defroster is weak, but gets stronger with the A/C on. All my past Ford products automatically turned the A/C on with defrost to move more air. I think a lot of customers thought that was bad, so they changed it. My defroster works OK for central Texas, but if I lived where it got colder, turning the A/C on would probably help.

But; I have to agree that a more powerful blower would be the correct fix.

Every vehicle I have seen with remote locks works the same way. First click unlocks driver door, second click unlocks the rest. I'm not sure why.

I guess the ***** and lights are a personal thing, I like them.

 

Yes, I really do like the truck JohnBoy.

The 5.4 has the power...it just takes forever and a day to come on (I've even developed two distinct flat spots on accelleration). The Hemi and Titan were way more responsive when I test drove them. And I feel the older 5.4, although not as powerfull, had more response. I guess I knew this when I purchased. It's just disappointing to have to wait...and wait...and wait for the 300 HP to come alive. After all, Ford didn't wait to take my money for the engine upgrade option.

The truck is very tight. But it does have a noticeable shimmy or shudder over bumps. This is becoming a well-known irritation for many owners. I see no reason for a vehicle which is riding so smooth on a road, to have it all ruined by a little seam or bump. Ford should've had this one ironed out.

The way the defroster works hasn't changed. The A/C is automatically engaged with any defroster mode on this truck. I push the A/C button anyway, but it doesn't make a difference. I've tried everything. IMO, the A/C doesn't draw enough moisture in defrost mode. Plus there are zero ducts to the rear. What ducts there are to the front windshield, leave missed spots. I live where it gets cold, as many owners do.

The locks are a pain. I don't have a problem with the auto lock...I have a problem with the auto lock not auto UNlocking. Only the driver's door auto UNlocks. It's too easy for the driver to exit the vehicle, walk off, and forget that his passengers are locked in. Their locks should unlock along with his. So you either have to disable the entire auto lock feature, or hit the unlock button twice to unlock the rear.

I drive a lot at night. Lighted ***** are basic, not personal. IMO, the interior lighting was designed specifically for Helen Keller and Braille. No other vehicle I've ever owned lacks such basic lighting. The only time I really adjust my mirrors is at night when the lights behind me glare. It's extremely hard to find the *****. How about turning the radio on in the dark...Where's the ****? I frequently grab the 4X **** and turn it the wrong way, or to 4 Lo. I don't smoke, but I use the cigarette lighter for accessories. It's not lit. Heck even the **** that dims the dash lights and turns on the interior lights isn't lit. I mean come on...that **** is specifically used in the dark. No glove box light either. I drive several vehicles, sometimes many throughout the day. In the dark, the ergonomics of this truck's interior functions are challenging to re-learn, to say the least.

Ford's on the right track with this truck, but I'd like to see them quit cutting so many corners.

 

Cruelcrew, I am certainly happy that I am not the one who sold you the truck. You are the supreme nitpicker. I don't think you would be happy with any new truck. Is this the first new vehicle you have purchased?

 

I don't know of any ford truck that's got either an extended or crew cab that has defroster vents in the rear. As for the AC engaging automatically, this used to be something we got, for some reason it doesn't now. From my experiance during a test drive on a cold rainy day all the cabin windows started fogging with defrost on, I pressed the AC button and the problem went away almost instantly. Maybe I got lucky and afterall it was only a test drive. I can feel your pain about the lack of illumination, but my 97 and 2001 trucks neither have the interior/cargo switch thing illuminated (I think you're talking about the dimmer roller switch). I'll have to double check, but I believe my 2001's shift on the fly does illuminate (2h,4h,4lo), and also has a glove box light. I believe the radio on/off button does not light up, if so it's only a halo of green. What sucks most about the radio in the 2001 is the lack of illumination where you load cd's (it's a 6disc in dash).

Just went and checked. Yes both 97&01 have a green halo around the radio/volume ****, it's gonna suck if the 04 doesn't. Confirmed that neither have the dimmer roll switch illuminated, the 01's electric mirror switch isn't illuminated. I agree with cruelcrew, ford shouldn't be cutting corners on little things like this, I mean how much extra does it cost to have a green halo around the radio on/off button?

 

Nitpicker? Gee jim, do you work for Ford, or are your standards and expectations just low? Do you really feel there is no room for improvement?

I don't think it's too much to ask to be able to see out of the windshield or back windows. Hardly a "nitpick". Have you even driven this truck in below zero weather? Have you even ridden in back and tried to see out the windows? Does your driver's wiper not leave 4-5" of uncleaned area? Is your truck different in some way?

And I don't think it's too much to ask for a truck that doesn't shudder or shimmy. Is yours shudder free? It's embarrassing to me when passengers ask why my truck shudders like that. Who knows what the shudder will be like 100K miles from now?

The sluggish power isn't something to be pleased about either. Yea, it does fine. Average. But this is Ford's mighty new 5.4L Triton for Pete's sake. 3-valve per cylinder, aluminum heads, variable camshaft timing, "instant gratification when you accelerate", "fighter jet inspired technology", etc., etc. 300 HP $option$ in a light-duty truck, and I can hardly spin the rears. My 4-ton diesel will smoke it.

Yea, maybe it's picky about the lighted ***** and ergonomics. But ask yourself why those ***** are marked for daylight use only... Why even mark or lable them at all? Do you ever drive at night? How do you know where the ***** and adjustments are? Braille?

I suppose we should be happy that the cover on our $850 moon roof option opens only 3/4 of the way too?

BTW jim, you must have missed my positive comments, as I feel this is one of the best trucks going.....

"I love my truck too"

and

"Yes, I really do like the truck JohnBoy."

However, Ford can do better for the $$. I simply pointed that out.

jim, I bet you could still find a few Courier's and Pinto's around to satisfy your standards.

 

ultramax,

I own two other crew cab pick-ups besides this new one. One a Ford F-350, one a Dodge Quad. Neither one of them fogs windows as bad as this new F-150. I think I remember either the Titan or the Dodge having ducts in back. But it doesn't matter. Just because other trucks don't have them, doesn't mean this truck doesn't need them. Ford could've gone a step above here. Maybe they didn't test it in the cold?

According to my owner's manual, the A/C "Engages automatically in AUTO, Defrost, and Floor/Defrost." But you can put it on manually anyway, it won't make a difference.

I've never seen a vehicle with such poor illumination of controls. I suppose if I drove this truck every day, Braille would become habit. But I only drive it a few times a week, usually at night.

Maybe Ford will listen and the guys buying trucks next year will get an improvement.

 

Hey I feel your pain cruelcrew, I don't even have possesion of my FX4 yet. On some days I'm very excited that I'm one day closer to it arriving, sometimes I drive outta my way just to ride by the dealers lot in case it's arrived. Other days I'm scared to take it because I read on FTE about another "little" something ford either forgot or removed to cut costs. Already I've learned that the 6disc audiophile won't shuffle all 6 discs only 1 (my 01 SD lariat with 6disc shuffles all 6), now I'm reading a lot about shudders,shimmy's, and vibrations (I hate those no matter how much a vehicle cost or how old it is), need we forget the rear window rattle, now I'm learning from you I won't even be able to see half my controls at night. Maybe I should just wait for the 05 to see if any of this is corrected, but then again the truck has a ton of positives about it. I'm iffy on the power issue, so far I've test drove four 04 f-150's 3 with only ~20 miles which all felt very sluggish, and the other had 600 miles on it and it felt extremely peepy. All were FX4 Scab's with 18" wheels. I believe some of the "engine lacking pwr" is due to the quietness of the cab. I can't honestly comment on the window fogging bc I don't yet own one. And according to what your owner's mannul says, ford just allows us to entertain ourselves with the AC button while using defrost.

The sad thing cruelcrew is according to the other vehicles you've got I think its safe to assume you won't have this 04 for the next 15yrs. Much like myself, Good Lord willing this won't be my last new vehicle purchase. We both just over analyze something, and I for one am unforchantely bessed with being the type person that requires someTHING or someONE to PROVE to me their good points and during the process I will find 99% of the bad things.

 

Just to add my two cents, I love my 04' xlt and have had no problems. knock on wood. 3500 miles and counting in the cold Ky climate (and less than perfect roads). IMHO

 

ultramax, all in all you'll be very pleased with your FX4. I bought my truck because I thought it was the best out there. Yes, it has its silly quirks, but I haven't been sorry. The point is that there's always room for improvement.

BTW, I think I saw a service bulletin out on the rear window rattle that works. And in my experience, the power does increase after about 500 miles. I have a feeling the shuddering, poor night illumination, and fogging will be around a while.

 

CruelCrew - In general I think your observations have been informative and reasonably objective. Certainly, your experience with other comparable vehicles helps in this regard. The last statement you make certainly sums it up best - "...there's always room for improvement."

With the addition of my 2004, I have owned 8 Ford trucks spanning 25 years. The 2004 is by far the best of the lot. That said, however, it cost more than twice as much as my '90 F-150 SCab 4x4 XLT Lariat. There have been giant improvements in all areas (well, other than fuel economy) over the last 14 years. I love my new truck but, like you, I realize that any mass-produced vehicle is effectively a work in progress.

 

Do you have the auto climate control? If so please note that there a separate, hard to find button for defrost. I had my truck for a month before I knew to use it, but I still didn't have any defrost problems .. and yes, it does get cold here.

As for the numerous lighting complaints, get a LAriat and you'll find most, if not all, of that stuff.

I guess your next complaint is that everything should be "standard equipment".

And it does sound like you have a problem with your throttle if it's not instant response. While I didn't buy my truck to spin tires, it's certainly capable of spinning when I apply full throttle from a stop. It feels like a great motor to me (and my Chevy friends!)

 

I have a blast everytime I get in and drive my F-150. Each time is like the first, teriffic!! No problems just turned 5K after 4 months.

Johnboy2,

I see in the post that you are deploying to Iraq in June 04, good luck and God bless ya man I am deploying in March 04 to northern Iraq for a quick 4 month stay. I returned from Afghanistan last Sep after 5 1/2 months. Do a great job be safe and get back home to your sweethearts (wife and F-150).....

 

Cruel Crew, I just checked. You have 95 posts of various complaints and gripes. I don't work for ford, but I truly think you are overly obsesive. All you do is bitch and complain. Several posts on the same greviance. You seem to be on a mission. This is a forum to exchange information. I frankly find it difficult to take you serious with your irrational repetitions

 

jimtracker, that's twice now that you have thrown stones at me.

Although I find your ego amusing, I think the personalized attacks on me are against forum rules. "Bitch"? "Supreme nitpicker"?

My posts here at FTE include discussion and help for many topics. There are a handful of minor problems with this new vehicle, many of which seem to spawn a common topic of discussion. Thanks to those discussions, we are finding consensus with many of the issues, and we're even starting to see some fixes. I simply offer my view on those topics when they arise. I very seldom initiate a topic.

I don't see the world through your rose-colored glasses. My truck is not perfect. My money comes hard. My expectations, while reasonable, are high. I believe in making things better by pointing out where to improve. Status-quo and passivity are not me.

I'm sure people who are looking for all aspects on this truck appreciate that. It would be nearly a crime to ingore an owner's actual experience in favor of bliss or ego.

BTW, what part about, "I love my truck" don't you understand?

 

Cruel Crew, the way to get your problems resolved is simply take it to your dealer. Sorry none of us are able to unshimmy your shimmy. I think 96 and counting posts in two months is excessive.