2004 F-350
Help Please

10/28/2003 I purchased this truck to replace a lemon 2001 F-350 7.3 Diesel, 6-speed transmission that had numerous running problems. I was nearly run down by an 18-wheeler trying to enter the freeway with suddenly no power. I agreed to trade in the 2001 F-350 for this 2004 F-350. I was completely satisfied with the 2004 F350 until the reprogramming of the computer was performed without my knowledge or approval.
01/__/2004 Idle Surging problem began on this truck, at approximately 5,000 miles.
04/30/2004 Serviced at Ford Dealership for Idle Surging (Invoice #xxxxxx) this solved the Idle Surging. The mechanic apparently reprogrammed the computer and removed the Tow/Haul mode without my knowledge or approval. I didn’t realize this until the Service work on 6/23/2004.
05/12/2004 In the Tow/Haul mode, @40 mph and “D” going down into the American River Canyon on Highway 49, the transmission dropped down from “D” to 2nd or 1st gear on a curve, 1,000 feet straight down into the river. It did not downshift to 3rd > 2nd > 1st. The rear tires broke loose slightly and skidded, it also ran the rpm’s up excessively. This is hard on the engine, transmission, driveline, rear end, tires, my heart & nerves.
06/01/2004 In Drive @ 55 to 60 mph and empty truck, I attempted to accelerate onto the freeway in Woodland, no power, speed would not go past 70 mph. I eventually had the throttle pedal on the floor, no acceleration or speed above 70 mph. I finally had to let off the pedal and then punch it, the transmission finally shifted down and accelerated normally.
06/03/2004 In Drive @ 40 mph the engine revved like it wanted to shift, but did not. At times the transmission seems to shift *****-nilly, almost seems like the transmission is slipping. At times @ 70 to 75 mph with the slightest touch on the throttle pedal the transmission shifts down and back up. This is very annoying.
06/10/2004 Trip from Loomis, Ca to Clear Lake, Ca. While towing my 30’ houseboat, I was accelerating onto I-5 in Williams, the engine/motor light came on, and it would not clear when I turned off the key. I took it to a Ford Dealer to have them check it. They did not look at the truck but told me as long as the light was orange and not red it should be ok. They told me it could be a turbo boost sensor or emissions issue. The engine/motor light remained on for 3 days and finally went off 06/13/2004 and has not come on since then.
06/23/2004 Serviced at Ford Dealership for the above mentioned shifting problems, lack of power at times of acceleration, and the engine/motor light that came on 06/10/2004 (Invoice #xxxxxx). This is when the dealership and I were made aware of the Tow/Haul mode removal. This is totally unacceptable. I expect Ford Motor Company to restore my truck to the original programming with the Tow/Haul mode or replace the truck with a manual transmission.
06/25/2004 Trip from Loomis, Ca. to Mitchell, SD (1,700 miles). Empty 55 to 85 mph the truck ran fine.
06/28/2004 Return trip from Mitchell, SD to Loomis, Ca (1,700 miles). Truck bed full of furniture, enclosed 6’ x 12’ trailer heavy load. Loaded 55 to 75 mph, the truck ran fine except for no Tow/Haul mode in lower gears on very steep downhill grades, again this is why I bought this truck with the new automatic transmission with the Tow/Haul instead of my preference, the 6-speed manual transmission. I have always owned manual transmission trucks for the engine compression hold back feature, speed control downhill with or without heavy loads.
06/30/2004 Return trip from Mitchell, SD with loaded truck and trailer, Westbound I-80 & Hwy 20 uphill grade, 45 to 50 mph, I attempted to pass a slow moving truck. The engine sounded like it was blowing up. Banging and clattering noises, jerking, black smoke each time the noise was happening, no power. This continued for about 100 to 200 yards. I have been told of a known issue involving a faulty turbo solenoid that may cause this. This has only happened once.
06/30/2004 15 minutes later with loaded truck and trailer, I-80 at Blue Canyon, downhill grade, in Tow/Haul mode, transmission “Drive” @60 mph. The transmission shifted down to at least 3rd gear and possibly 2nd gear. The engine revved excessively again, 3,600 to 4,000 rpm or higher, I was busy trying to figure what was happening and controlling the truck and trailer. This has to be extremely hard on the engine. I nearly lost control of the truck. I was dealing with two 85+-year old frightened women passengers.
06/30/2004 45 minutes later with loaded truck and trailer, Auburn-Folsom Road, downhill grade, in Tow/Haul mode, transmission “Drive” @40 mph. The transmission shifted down to at least 2nd gear and possibly 1st gear. The engine revved excessively again. This has happened now twice on that section of road. I determined the last time it downshifted from “D” to 2nd gear. I was in the Tow/Haul mode both times.
06/30/2004 The idle surging problem has returned but is different than before.
To Present
07/24/2004 The idle surging problem is about the same as original complaint.
Still shifting from “D” 5th gear down to 3rd gear at 50 mph in Tow/Haul skidded again.
08/30/2004 With the transmission in “D”, during light to mild accelerating from a stoplight, when the transmission shifted from 2nd to 3rd, the transmission made a loud bang noise.
09/07/2004 Will not accelerate at times around 60 mph unless pressing the throttle to the floor or stomping on the throttle. Other times it shifts up and down at 50 to 55 mph just because it wants to.
09/08/2004 I am filling out the Customer Viewpoint form and am including this detailed explanation of the problem. I am still waiting for a resolution.
Again, I purchased this 2004 F-350 to replace a lemon.


I have called & talked twice with the Ford Customer Relations line 1-800-392-3673. I registered my complaint as strongly as I could. Again, I expect Ford Motor Company to remedy this problem ASAP. I purchased this truck with the 5-speed Automatic-Tow/Haul mode transmission, $1,480.00 extra charge, instead of a manual transmission (my preference). I only purchased the Automatic Transmission because of the Tow/Hall mode. If Ford Motor Company is reprogramming this feature out of the truck, without the dealer’s knowledge or the owner’s approval, Ford Motor Company has only three choices.
1. New Computers (original programming) and extend the factory warranty to cover damage to the engine, transmission, transfer case, driveline, rear end and who knows what else has been damaged because of Ford Motor Companies actions.
2. New truck with 6-speed manual transmission and they can have this one back.
3. Full refund and I will have to look at Dodge or Chevy, not my 1st choice.

If Ford Motor Company wants to buy this truck back and then reprogram or screw around with it and have me give them feedback as a test dummy perhaps we can discuss that option.

I don’t think I can get by on Thursday to have the Ford Field Engineer just look at the truck. If his only function is to look at the problems and not have one of the three options listed above as a solution, I/We are wasting our time. I have a business to run and this is extremely inconvenient. Again, I traded in a lemon, paid the difference, to solve those problems. Now I have a Ford truck with more problems than before, caused by Ford Motor Company, not the dealer. This action by Ford Motor Company has really (SNIP) me off. Their action has caused an unsound and very dangerous vehicle. Ford Motor Company needs to take care of the problem they caused, NOW.

Please forward to:
Ford Motor Company (someone who can take care of this - NOW)
Owners of “Ford Dealership”
Service Manager
They need to know how upset I am, and I am more upset than this letter indicates.

 

First WELCOME to the site...second, I moved you over to the 6.0 area....for some help!

 

Let them do the July04 reflash--I had similar issues with my 10/03 '04 model truck--this flash made it a completely drivable truck. If that doesn't resolve your issues then go the way of your choice--DSB, Lemon law--whatever......These are REALLY AWESOME trucks they just need a little tweak occassionally to the program. It's NOT always a bad thing--IMHO it will help tremendously

 

Paclik,
First welcome to FTE.
Second, This is not a Ford site. I think you would do better to go meet with the Service Manager where you bought the truck. I would go through the documentation you have and give them a chance to address the issue. If you are not happy with the SM response, go to the general manager of the dealer.

Check your owner manual and warranty guide. They have all the above info in there and how to proceed.

Before the last flash, tow/haul mode behaved a little different than it does now. It doesn't seem to lock up the torque converter until you get to 45 or below.

 

Good luck....been down your road and I am going through it again......$4000 later out of my pockets because Ford wasn't willing to help. Next stop, class action!!!!

The Ford Customer Relations department is a joke....it is based in like Canada where most would not know what a 6.0 is and better yet they have an excellent transit system.

 

Paclik
sorry to hear about your problems I to have had simmilar problems with my trucks, thankfully I had a dealer and salesman that were very concerned with my issues. Doccument everything and head for the DSB goodluck and above all else don't lose your temper you are talking for the most part with bean counters and paper shufflers. If you lose your temper they won't hear a word you say!



04 6.0 lariet SC SB FX4 P.S. this is my third 6.0 and my last weather or not it runs for 20 years or it turns into a competitors model that runs without visiting svc dept. every two to three weeks for a kick in the ficm to make it run

 

If you DSB. Make sure you test drive the manual and like its acceleration. It is not the same bird as the 7.3 and you may not like it.

Is your motor an 04 motor?

 

I wonder where our guy is????

 

Thanks for the reply,
The truck ran perfectly until they reprogrammed/flashed the computer. The lead mechanic was very helpful. He didn't realize the 4/30/2004 service by one of his mechanics removed the Tow/Haul function of the auto transmission. I was told the computer cannot be reprogrammed to it's original state. The torque converter will act normally most of the time and lockup-shift down to 4th at 55 to 60, and down to 3rd at 35 to 40. It will not however shift down to 2nd or 1st as it did before the reprogramming. It will at times shift from "D" 5th to 3rd and sometimes to 2nd, skipping 4th and 3rd at higher speeds. This is the problem.

 

The date on the door jamb, 9/03. The date on the passenger side valve cover Model 2003. Where do I find the build date?

 

What does the July/04 flash do? My experience with updates or flashing computers is, they are just a band-aid added to a string of commands. They never actually write a new command just try to tweak previous problems. I had a perfect truck before Ford screwed with it. I could have lived with the idle surging problem. Although it was getting pretty bad.

 

The date on the door jamb, 9/03. The date on the passenger side valve cover Model 2003. Where do I find the build date?

 

Thanks for the reply,
The truck ran perfectly until they reprogrammed/flashed the computer. The lead mechanic was very helpful. He didn't realize the 4/30/2004 service by one of his mechanics removed the Tow/Haul function of the auto transmission. I was told the computer cannot be reprogrammed to it's original state. The torque converter will act normally most of the time and lockup-shift down to 4th at 55 to 60, and down to 3rd at 35 to 40. It will not however shift down to 2nd or 1st as it did before the reprogramming. It will at times shift from "D" 5th to 3rd and sometimes to 2nd, skipping 4th and 3rd at higher speeds. This is the problem.

 

this is an 03 motor--if I'm thinking correctly the last flash for it was december 03 and you should have the latest flash installed (if your dealer had it in his computer). I'd get someone to run your vin just to make sure of what they say they installed. It sounds like the flash (not sure which as it was done so many times) done to my 03 that absolutely ruined the tow haul function til they did the last flash in dec03 right before I traded it for my 04. Good luck in your pursuit of happiness--it IS there and these ARE great trucks.

 

The December flash will help….IMO...glad to see you came back.

These members here are the best the knowledge base is termendous…stick with us and hopefully we can help.