Center Consol
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 185
From: Dedham, MA
Beware of the 04's. Do a search on these forums for related issues, mostly rear axle vibration (some people have never had this resolved) and poor engine performance on the 5.4L (required a reflash). If you can afford an '05, go for that instead.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 185
From: Dedham, MA
She's not that bad on fuel, but a lot of guys complain about the power vs. mpg thingy. (it should be quicker for the crappy gas mileage we get).
with the reflash, they actually reprogram the engine's computer to updated specs, making the '04 run more like an '05. I'm not sure what the issues were with the 04 engines, but they performed poorly, very sluggish, poor mpg, no ooomph on highway for passing, etc. The reflash seemed to help most folks with this. Now the axle is a different story...
with the reflash, they actually reprogram the engine's computer to updated specs, making the '04 run more like an '05. I'm not sure what the issues were with the 04 engines, but they performed poorly, very sluggish, poor mpg, no ooomph on highway for passing, etc. The reflash seemed to help most folks with this. Now the axle is a different story...
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I have an 04 F-150 and she runs great got the axle whine fixed power is good no reflash.......yet but im hoping for the best!I know people say the 04s have problems but they seem to have most the problems solved!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 185
From: Dedham, MA
zach, you probably got yourself one of the better '04's. Not all of them had the problem with the engine and I'm really glad to see they fixed your axle whine. Maybe you have a later built model (closer to '05).
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Hey guys ...
Thanks for the info thus far. I'm doing everything in my power to purchase an 05 Lariat (i've got a connection for good deals) however, should I not be able to afford it, I'll end up with the 04 (I actually found one - gorgeous truck).
My question is - if I'm looking at the same, 5.4 lariat etc in both years, were there any changes made from 04 to 05 ? I read somewhere that they did the "super insulation" for noise reduction etc in 05 ?
If anyone knows if that's true (nice feature), or of any other changes they had made please let me know !
Thanks all !!
Shawn
Thanks for the info thus far. I'm doing everything in my power to purchase an 05 Lariat (i've got a connection for good deals) however, should I not be able to afford it, I'll end up with the 04 (I actually found one - gorgeous truck).
My question is - if I'm looking at the same, 5.4 lariat etc in both years, were there any changes made from 04 to 05 ? I read somewhere that they did the "super insulation" for noise reduction etc in 05 ?
If anyone knows if that's true (nice feature), or of any other changes they had made please let me know !
Thanks all !!
Shawn
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 152
Likes: 1
My `04 5.4 was a dog even after a reflash last year. My `07 4.6 is more peppy under most normal conditions of my commute. Same axle ratio on both trucks, and the 4.6 aint even broke in yet.
I made my `04 problem truck someone else's problem by trading it. Couldn't have sold it myself with a clean conscience. Personally I think you'd be much safer looking at `05s, but even then many `05s had the vibrations that plagued the `04s. I'd ask for the full Ford service report on any truck if I were you. Good luck.
I made my `04 problem truck someone else's problem by trading it. Couldn't have sold it myself with a clean conscience. Personally I think you'd be much safer looking at `05s, but even then many `05s had the vibrations that plagued the `04s. I'd ask for the full Ford service report on any truck if I were you. Good luck.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 185
From: Dedham, MA
i think the early build '05's had some axle issues, but not after mid-year. I haven't seen anybody on these boards mention the axle vibration in that model year truck. I have heard of the reprogramming not having the desired effect, sometimes taking 2 or more shots to try and get it right, but to no avail.
Shawn, I don't know about an "super insulation". I'm fairly certain that an '04 Lariat is the same as an '05 Lariat for all intents and purposes. Now keep in mind, some Lariats and FX4's did not come with the center console option from the factory. That being said, my XLT is still very quiet on the inside due to the excellent overall noise dampening in these trucks.
Shawn, I don't know about an "super insulation". I'm fairly certain that an '04 Lariat is the same as an '05 Lariat for all intents and purposes. Now keep in mind, some Lariats and FX4's did not come with the center console option from the factory. That being said, my XLT is still very quiet on the inside due to the excellent overall noise dampening in these trucks.
