Nothing mechanical, fuel filter change and coolant check.

While its there I am going to have them look at a few things:

1. Back up sensors - they work intermittently with a message that comes up saying "check back up sensors" or something to that affect on the display. The icon on the display that lets you check off or on will not let you put a check mark next to "on" after you push the "OK" button to get out of the check message. There is nothing coating the bumper/sensors (mud or anything).

2. Blinkers - sometimes, out of the blue, my left turn signal comes on and it doesn't like to go off. I have to push the blinker wand down to the second full position then back, or repeat if it comes back on. It is almost always the left blinker. It also happens sometimes when I start the truck.

3. Windshield wipers - sometimes if I go from the remote start to key power in the morning I get the windshield wipers going. So I will turn them on with the dial and back off. This is pretty rare.

4. The Ford emblems are starting to corrode.

5. I might have them look at the cruse control - sometimes I can get the light to come on the dash and go to green when I push the + button, but it doesn't hold the speed. I have to shut the truck off and restart all the electronics for it to start working again.



Do any of you know how to check the back up sensors?

My gut tells me with the rest of the issues that unless they can repeat and verify my "complaints" they won't be able to do anything. There probably isn't a code thrown for the blinkers going on at will. Any thoughts? Is there anything I might be able to do to fix it? Or do these issues require parts being replaced - which we're back to square 1 with being able to verify what it's doing at the dealer?

 

Yea, I think you are right. I get the well known blue screen on my backup camera after doing remote start when its hot. they couldnt reproduce the problem, so no fix.

I get a similar problem with the easy entry/exit seat setting where sometime it wont work, and you go into the menus and you cannot check the box to turn it off or on. Stays that way until a restart of the truck. Again, reported to Ford, even with a video showing it, but since they couldnt reproduce the problem themselves, no fix. Only has happened twice in almost 2 years.

 

These are the kind of problems that worry me if I end up owning the SD for the long haul. The $20k engine swap would be a big hit, but the odds are in my favor.

These minor issues can add up in a hurry. I had the electric seats repair on another truck and it was almost $1k. The dealership told me that the evaporator replacement they did on my SD under warranty would have been $1800.

These trucks are packed with electronics!

 

Oh, as for the backup sensors, the only thing I have heard about them is that sometimes water can leak into the housing on one or more of the sensors. If they get enough in them, they can cause an intermittent problem like you are describing. Try putting a strong flashlight on them and see if you can see anything in the housings.

 

Well I had a somewhat easier experience at the dealer than I thought. I got out of there with a new back up sensor and a replacement blue oval on the way.

That having been said, none of the other issues they could replicate so no fix yet. I did spend some time with the tech working on it and figured on when it starts acting up again I'll take it back in. He did mention in the diagnostics that the hotline recommended was to unplug a module to see if that makes the blinkers or the wipers quit. I don't know how everything integrates with each other, other than the blinkers and the wipers are on the same wand.

Another note regarding the transmission fluid flush - they still recommend changing it at 30k - especially the 6 speed torq-shift transmissions. Does anyone have any possible documentation as to why this would be recommended? Even the heavy-service/severe service schedule doesn't spec 30k? Was there ever a service bulletin that came out regarding this? The writer did mention that ford has a zero-tollerance policy regarding scheduled maintenance along the same conversation topic.

 

I have not seen anything that says we need tranny flush more often than the service schedule in the owners manual. But the dealership told me the same thing, "You need to get it done every 30,000". I'm kinda thinking they enjoy the cash flow from that kind of service work. Since they are not seeing the 6.7L very often for repair work. They are still putting oil change stickers on the windshield for 5,000 mile oil changes also. Even though the oil change monitor in the computer is usually popping up around 7000 miles

 

I can't come up with anything on the tranny flush Steve. I had mine flushed at 100,000 but the fluid was good as new and really was a waste of money. It's been a very long time since I have seen darkened stinky trans fluid in any of our trucks.

 

Glad to hear everything went well for you Steve. I never trust anyone recommending something that directly benefits their interests without further validation. And I have never seen or heard anything stating that a 30,000 mile service interval is necessary for anything newer than a Job 1 2008 truck.