Need help with an 03
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New User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8
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Need help with an 03
I just bought an 03 FX4 supercab with a 5.4 auto. I got it for what I thought at the time was a great price but now i'm starting to think I made a mistake. There are problems now that I did not notice at first. It has 185k miles on it. I'm going to list some problems and see if some of you can help me out. I will start with the most serious.
1. On cold start up it makes a nasty valve train noise. The oil is full and I have changed it since but the noise didn't change much. The noise lasts anywhere between 1 and 4 seconds.
2. When I make a sharp turn like into my drive way or into a parking spot the rear end makes noise and the truck vibrates. Sometimes after I make a turn onto a road it will do this and the noise and vibration will carry out for 15 feet or so after I have already made the turn. Bearings? Grease is full.
3. Slight miss at idle
4. Check engine light= lean both banks. I'm going to check the pcv, and for bad vacuum lines. Maybe this is related to the miss at idle?
5. The abs light comes on some days and some days it does not.
6. The windshield wipers do not go back down on there own. They just stop wherever they want at random. This must be the switch?
7. The 6CD changer reads "cd error" whenever you press the "cd" or "load" button. If I press eject it just reads "no cd" Is there a fix for this or do I need to just buy a new stereo?
Thanks for your help. I think I bought a lemon. The valve train noise is the only thing really making me worry.
1. On cold start up it makes a nasty valve train noise. The oil is full and I have changed it since but the noise didn't change much. The noise lasts anywhere between 1 and 4 seconds.
2. When I make a sharp turn like into my drive way or into a parking spot the rear end makes noise and the truck vibrates. Sometimes after I make a turn onto a road it will do this and the noise and vibration will carry out for 15 feet or so after I have already made the turn. Bearings? Grease is full.
3. Slight miss at idle
4. Check engine light= lean both banks. I'm going to check the pcv, and for bad vacuum lines. Maybe this is related to the miss at idle?
5. The abs light comes on some days and some days it does not.
6. The windshield wipers do not go back down on there own. They just stop wherever they want at random. This must be the switch?
7. The 6CD changer reads "cd error" whenever you press the "cd" or "load" button. If I press eject it just reads "no cd" Is there a fix for this or do I need to just buy a new stereo?
Thanks for your help. I think I bought a lemon. The valve train noise is the only thing really making me worry.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 727
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From: north shore, minnesota
1. If it's piston slap, it's normal don't worry about it.
2. The limited slip clutches are worn out.
3 & 4. are likely related. Need scanner to diagnose.
5. Again need scanner to diagnose.
6. It is the wiper motor itself not sensing where to park the wipers.
7. Search this site there might be a way to get codes through the radio display?
The truck has 185K miles on it, it is not a lemon.
2. The limited slip clutches are worn out.
3 & 4. are likely related. Need scanner to diagnose.
5. Again need scanner to diagnose.
6. It is the wiper motor itself not sensing where to park the wipers.
7. Search this site there might be a way to get codes through the radio display?
The truck has 185K miles on it, it is not a lemon.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
1. If it's piston slap, it's normal don't worry about it.
2. The limited slip clutches are worn out.
3 & 4. are likely related. Need scanner to diagnose.
5. Again need scanner to diagnose.
6. It is the wiper motor itself not sensing where to park the wipers.
7. Search this site there might be a way to get codes through the radio display?
The truck has 185K miles on it, it is not a lemon.
2. The limited slip clutches are worn out.
3 & 4. are likely related. Need scanner to diagnose.
5. Again need scanner to diagnose.
6. It is the wiper motor itself not sensing where to park the wipers.
7. Search this site there might be a way to get codes through the radio display?
The truck has 185K miles on it, it is not a lemon.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 357
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, PA
if you know what your doing, pull the valve cover off and look, maybe some redneck mechanic tried to adjust the valves and made them worse. The hydraulic lifters could be wore out or need a couple of seconds to pump up;.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 695
Likes: 4
Other than your "nasty valve train noise" if it really is valve train noise, all of that can be fixed by you for under $1000. To fix your miss and ck engine light, replace the front o2 sensors and clean your egr ports. Replace the wiper motor. Add some friction modifier to the rear end and find out what wheel speed sensor is on it's way out. Ck for radio fixes or find a used one on ebay. If you think it is valve noise, try running some sea foam through the oil and see what happens. If you think you got such a great deal on the truck you can't be suprised that it may need a few things, especially with 185k miles. Don't give up on her, it can still be a great truck!!
