View Poll Results: whats the weakest link
Engine
0
0%
Voters: 72. You may not vote on this poll
the weak link
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
I voted owner/idiot. The tranny will fail eventually and with an idiot that does nothing about it it will happen quicker. Being a proud owner of the diode model I almost and should have voted tranny. What a bunch of *********s they were. They should have replaced every one of those as soon as they realized what a POS it was. The HEUI system is fine for what it was designed to do. They just stayed with it for too long.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,413
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, MO
Out of that choice, I think it's the trans. No matter what you try to do with this truck, the trans is the weak link. If you're just wanting a solid tow rig, the engine & fuel system is fine, but the trans won't like it. Big HP...engine's got a lot of issues there, but again, the trans won't take it. When I got my BTS trans, I knew it pretty much opened the door to making more HP and having no fears while towing.
Edit: I don't consider lack of maint a weak link specific to these trucks. Lack of maint is a weak link for nearly every vehicle.
Edit: I don't consider lack of maint a weak link specific to these trucks. Lack of maint is a weak link for nearly every vehicle.
Hook it, I'll pull it.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,037
Likes: 4
From: Grand Lake, La.
I voted owner error, with that said, if we are talking about only the people on this forum, I would have voted trans. I have seen too many people come into my store, (I see all the big truck around here) and there are a lot of 7.3s around here. I try to talk to them about the engine and I am totally amased at the lack on knowledge they have about the engine. None have ever heard about the HPOP, Up-pipes, down-pipe, CPS, I could go on and on, but you get the idea.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 0
From: Millbrook Alabama
I voted "Owners lack of knowledge on maint. and upgrades". If you have the "knowledge" about the short comings and the "knowledge" to do the upgrades you can upgrade it before it breaks. Good "knowledge" of maintenance will keep a "stock" truck running for 300,000 to 500,000 miles. I am a big believer in preventative maintenance. Beats the H3LL out of having to do corrective maintenance. Cheaper too. JMHO
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg, NC
x2...can't blame the truck for a short between the seat and the steering wheel!
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,196
Likes: 0
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,413
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, MO
Provided the owner doesn't neglect maintainence and uses the equipment as it's designed...what's the weak link then?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,766
Likes: 8
From: Hutchinson, KS
I'm with Jeremy and Mike on the tranny. No matter if your working with a stock truck or a modded one, with a stock tranny, it's eventually going to go.
Knowleged and/or operator error can either speed up or prolong the tranny death, but that's it. It'll still go.
Knowleged and/or operator error can either speed up or prolong the tranny death, but that's it. It'll still go.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,418
Likes: 1
From: Circle Pines
All mechanical and electrical parts will eventually break so they are ALL the weak link. I voted for owner lack of knowledge on mods and preventative maintenance that causes early failure of these parts
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
I voted transmission. Even though there are lots of guys that have stock trannies that last along time, alot of guys have have problems with them.
I also voted thinking whats the stock weakest link.
On a side note too, alot of 03-07 6 liter guys praise the t/s tranny. I have had three people I know personally that have had to get the 5 speed t/s changed out because it was screwed.
Ford seems to have a problem with their trannies.
I also voted thinking whats the stock weakest link.
On a side note too, alot of 03-07 6 liter guys praise the t/s tranny. I have had three people I know personally that have had to get the 5 speed t/s changed out because it was screwed.
Ford seems to have a problem with their trannies.
Of the next Riffraff East
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 2
From: Concord NC
Another vote for the tranny. Thanks to you guys and this place, I feel that I have elimanated a lot to the owner error factor. The tranny is always in the back of mind and will be until I can upgrade.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 1
From: Littleton, Colorado
2001 vehicles equipped with 4R100 transmission, having a transmission build date between 7/27/2000 and 3/23/2001.
Austin
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,760
Likes: 27
From: Hampton, Maryland.
You could go either way on Owner error/lack of maintenance or the tranny. I see Jeremy's point and I agree with those that said operator error. I voted operator error prior to reading any responses.