Ok, I traded my 2005 Scab 5.4 FX4 4wd for a 2006 Screw 5.4 FFV 4wd Lariat and have had nothing but problems. It's been to the dealer twice before today because of a vibration coming from in front of the driver area that only happens while stopped at lights then starting off from a stop up to 1200 rpm. They tell me it's the A/C system but even with the system off it still happens. Then I started to notice a vibration in the gas pedal and steering wheel when I hit 72 MPH along with a droning noise from the engine. It has also started to hesitate when exclerating and actually slows down before picking up speed. It's started to idel rough in park around 600 RPM slightly shaking the whole truck. I used the 4wd system twice so far and both times in 4H I get a clunking and grinding sound when I turn the wheels at all. I have to straighten up the wheels or it locks up and won't move. And last night after I already planned on taking it back in today it died on me. I go in and turn the key and get a clicking sound. All the lights work, gauges and headlights the truck just makes a clicking sound then I turn the key until I stop. I had it towed in this morning and they said most of the items I listed above were normal, inluding the inability to make a turn in 4wd, and the nonstarting issue must be a dead battery. Now I always thought a dead battery was just that dead. The radio lights A/C system all come on the truck just won't start. Then they told me it takes a lot of amps to crank in the cold weather, we're in North Carolina and it's over 40 degrees down here. My biggest issue is that my 05 didn't have these problems with the same engine although not a FFV engine and the loaner they gave me, also a 5.4, does not have these issues. Any advice??? I've contacted Ford about the issue to document it and told the dealer that I want it fixed or I want a swap out with a truck that works properly. Over $40K in a truck the thing should work. Oh and the clear coat on the hood was put on to thick and there is areas where it ran and started to drip but dried before it did. Think I got a lemon.

 

You are doing the right thing by documenting everything. Keep it as detailed as possible, dates, names, what they told you, etc. If it continues to be an issue you won't have to remember everything.

 

Sounds like you may have bought a truck that was somehow damaged in transit or at the dealer. Have the service dept pull an Oasis report to see what all has been done to it prior to you owning it. The repainted hood and electrical problems would make me suspicious of an electrical fire under the hood. Did it have anything aftermarket such as an alarm or remote start?

 

It does sound like one of those trucks produced on a Friday, Monday or right before or after a holiday. Like stated above, document everything and keep at the service department. I found through personal experience that some of f150 problems don't get taken care of unless you as a customer complain about it at least 3 times. That seems to be the magic number. One more thing try to stay calm when dealing with the dealer. If you stay calm and persistent, they will eventually help you. If you get nasty with them, they will use that as an excuse not to fix anything. P.S. just because the paint has runs in it doesn't necessarily mean that it wasn't factory applied. The paint on my truck has runs in the clear coat all over the roof and is completely factory applied.

 

I'm keeping track of my contact with the dealer and am keeping it civil. I called Ford and they said to give the dealer a chance. They also asked what would make the situation right and I said I wanted what I paid for. I suggested a swap with a new truck keeping my loan term and payment and staying as close as possible to the original MSRP including the cost of the bed cover and tinted windows. I said if I picked a truck that cost more I would pay the difference and if I picked one less they would pay me the difference. Ford said that sounded reasonable and to persue it with the dealer then return to Ford if the dealer doesn't help.

There were no aftermarket or factor add on's and I already asked the dealer to print me out a report of everything done to the vehicle between when it left Ford and arrived to me. One shady thing is I've brought the truck in three times now for the vibration issue and the dealers records only show two visits. The one visit they have before today doesn't reference the problem with the vibration it was just listed as a drivability issue. When I talked to Ford they pulled the service records and told me they had it listed as a sheduled service appointment and there was no mention of the vibration problem reported to them. I hope this all works out, I love the truck just want what I paid for. Thanks for the imput.

 

Here's an update on the truck. Still in the shop, they called yesterday and said the reason it wouldn't start is because of a bad/dead battery. Now I'm no master tech but when I put the key in the ignition the lights went on and the volt meter went to the halfway/middle position which I thought indicated a good battery. Like I mentioned before when I turned the key I got a clicking sound like it was trying to spark but no engine sound. Then it started beeping and humming. If a battery is bad will the lights and volt meter still register normal? They still have it trying to identify all the other problems but I'm not holding up much hope. Every time I go there all they do is slap it on the computer and say there are no errors. What ever happened to old fashion techs that knew what to do without the computer? Any master tech's on here feel free to contact me with ideas/suggestions. Like I mentioned before I had a 2005 5.4 and currently have a 2007 5.4 loaner from the dealer and neither has the vibration issues I have in my 2006 5.4 that's in the shop now so them telling me the vibration sound is normal.... well that dog just won't hunt.

 

A bad battery can act exactly as you describe. It may be more accurate to describe it as junk instead of dead. Whatever the actual physics are, the battery in that case is able to supply a small amperage (at the correct voltage) to run the lights and radio and what not, but when the starter calls for the large amperage it needs, the battery just can't do it, and you get that clicking solenoid you heard.

 

Thank you for the imput. Thought I was going crazy. Well maybe that's one problem down. Now if they can just locate the source of all the other problems.

 

That's definitely a classic symptom of a weak and or bad battery. The voltage may be there to run some accessories and there may be enough current to activate the starter relay and or solenoid (hence the clicking sound), but not enough current to turn the engine over. As long as your alternator is functioning correctly to fully charge a battery, then the problem should be isolated to just the battery. Hopefully you'll be back in business soon and won't have any further issues.

 

Man that's just a total bummer. I'm sure you have plenty of time to play games with them - NOT! A lot of guys here have that truck (I have the Scab) without any of those problems - so yes you got a lemon or a damaged POS. Don't take any crap from them and make sure they fix it. I would tell 'em "I'll just keep this '07 if you don't fix it!"

 

I would but the 2007 loaner they gave me is 2wd XLT, think I'll keep fighting for the 2006 Lariat 4wd. I have contacted Ford though and they want me to try to resolve it with the dealer before they get involved. Still waiting on a call from the service shop so guess they either found something else wrong or their just waiting till after 5 to call me so they will be closed before I can test drive it and bring it back. There's always tomorrow to bring it back.

 

Does one of these describe your situation with a North Carolina lemon vehicle?

• Three or more repair attempts for one defect and not fixed?
• 19+ business days in the shop for any defect and not fixed?
• Safety condition or defect?

(Google N.C. lemon law) !

 

Yep that's the law. It's in now for the third attempt on the vibration. First attempt with the other items. If they don't have the vibration gone today I've already written a letter for the dealership. See how it sounds.

I bought a 2006 F150 Lariat last year from Huntersville Ford and since then have had it in the shop four times now for a vibration issue that can not seem to be fixed. The vibration occurs when in drive, stopped at a light and seems to be coming from the driver side rear of the engine compartment. The vibration lasts until you start off from a stopped position and hit approximately 1200 RPM. Then I do not hear it again until I stop again. I also notice it when I pull into my driveway and the RPM is in the 1200 range. I have been told that the vibration is normal and might have something to do with the A/C system. I have tried turning off the A/C system while driving but still have the vibration, although sometimes it does not seem as loud. I had a 2005 F150 and was given a 2007 F150 as a loaner while my truck was in the shop and neither had the same vibration problem but all three trucks had the same 5.4L engine. In addition to this problem I recently brought it in for the following issues:

• Truck would not start. Lights came on and volt meter registered normal but when the key was turned there was only a clicking sound that continued until I stopped turning the key.
• A vibration in the gas pedal and steering wheel when I hit 72 MPH.
• When the truck is placed in 4wd high I get a clunking/grinding sound and the vehicle is hard to steer. The truck lurches when attempting to steer until it stops and feels like it locks up. This happened both on a muddy road while hunting and on a snow/ice covered parking lot while in Pennsylvania. There was no clear dry pavement in the area.
• There is a power loss on occasion when I pull onto the highway. It is also sluggish while driving on the highway and I attempt to pass a vehicle.
• The truck has stalled out a total of five times since I’ve owned it. I turn the key; the truck attempts to turn over then stalls. I try to start again and it starts.
• After a long drive, at least 30 – 45 minutes, there is a rough idle when I park and sit with the truck running. The RPM seems to be around 600 and the whole truck vibrates and shakes slightly.
• I’ve started to notice a rattle noise coming from the area around the step tubes.
• The clear coat on the hood has run marks around the edge where it started to drip but dried.

I’ve also contacted Ford directly and asked for assistance. They requested that I try to settle the matter with Huntersville Ford first. They also asked that if a resolution can not be reached with your dealership that I give them an opportunity to resolve the matter prior to contacting the Better Business Bureau or involving an attorney. I also asked Ford for suggestions but was informed that they could not give me options in case this became a legal matter. Ford asked what I wanted if the problems could not be fixed. I told Ford that if the dealership is unable to fix the vehicle I wanted a vehicle swap. I would be willing to swap my vehicle for another similarly equipped vehicle. My vehicle has an MSRP of $42,375 and I have over $800 invested in tinted windows and a bed cover. I would want $43,175 towards a new vehicle. If I choose a vehicle with a lower MSRP I would want a refund of the difference and if I choose a vehicle with a higher MSRP I would pay the difference. I would want the new vehicle swapped with my old vehicle on my loan with Ford Credit with the payment and terms, including the number of remaining payments, to remain the same as they currently are at the time of the swap. I explained to Ford that I am not trying to get something for free but am only interested in getting what I paid for. The response I received from Ford was that the above was a reasonable request and I should pursue that if the issues can not be corrected.

I have bought at least five vehicles from Huntersville Ford and would like to retain my relationship with the dealership. I do not want to turn this into a legal battle but believe I deserve to receive what I paid for. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss how to resolve this matter. I would like to start enjoying my F150 again rather then dreading what new or old problems I’ll be dealing with every time I get in it.

If they don't take care of it I'll take it to Ford then I plan on filling the complaints.

 

Sounds good to me - good luck!

 

Well let me start off by saying that when the service manager called me and said the truck was ready I was prepaired t be turing back around and drpping it back off. They found the vibration!!!! The darn air box was misalligned and between 600 and 1200 RPM it would vibrate and resonate through the dash board driving me nuts. I've spent countless hours crawling around this truck looking for that vibration. The tires were out of balance and allignment so that fixed the highway vibration problem, already mentioned the battery. They couldn't locate the cause of the hesitation but while I was waiting on my truck I talked with someone there that told me a gas station up the road just lost the police account because of problem gas so that might have been my problem with that. 4wd I'll have to keep an eye on but they couldn't find anything there. Needless to say this new manager is my new best friend. I'm waiting on the customer service department to call like they always do so I can tell them how awsome this guy was. Love my truck again. Now I can consentrate on what Mods to go for now. Later all.