What does everyone think? I have a 99 4x4 ORP supercab. I have had a lot of problems with it. So far about $8000,00 worth of work done to it. It has developed a driveline clunk when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd. The service department says they cannot find where it is coming from. So they cannot fix it until it becomes more prevalent. So I have been pondering the thought of trading for either a 2 wheel drive superduty or a 2 wheel drive sport with a 5.4 and loaded up with all the goodies. I have only used my 4 wheel drive a couple of times through the last winter and that was just to lubricate parts and to see if it worked. I figure if I get a 150 sport with the 5.4 it will be the closest thing to a Lighting I will get, in an extended cab. I have also been thinking about a 2wd Supercrew. I have had 2 4x4’s and never really needed to use either of them. Am I crazy for thinking this way? It seems that 4x4s have a lot of problem, at least with my experiences. The only thing that is hard to take is NADA gives a $2700.00 up for 4x4. And with a 2wd the resale is not as good. I’m not going to trade right away so I have a lot to think about.

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1999 F150 S.Cab 4x4
Northland Edition,5.4
Off road pkg. Fleetside
Black w/grey int.

 

Hey Bob:
Good news bad news. First the good news. I have exactly one of the truck configurations you described and I like it very much. Would do it again in a heartbeat. The bad news is that I have had the drivetrain clunk as well, and it obviously had nothing to do with 4WD, as it doesn't have 4WD. I noticed mine when shifting between gears at a stop (parking, leaving, etc.), or when coasting down to a stop. The dealer replaced the entire driveshaft assembly and the clunk is gone. On the plus side, I haven't had any other problems in my 7 months of ownership.

Ultimately, you need to do what makes you happy, as long as you can afford it. If you have a lemon, maybe it would be good to unload it and cut your losses. On the other hand, I would just hate to see you take the depreciation hit due to a "grass is always greener on the other side" syndrome, and then have troubles all over again in a newer vehicle. Ask you dealer about any TSB's on the driveshaft assembly before you jump.

Just my two Abe Lincolns,
selva1

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[This message has been edited by selva1 (edited 05-11-2000).]

 

I dont understand. You say you've had $8000 dollars worth of work done but only mention the driveline clunk. What else is wrong with this truck? $8000 is alot of money....did you get a new engine and suspension...I hope so.

Also, the driveline is an easy fix. If your dealer is too lazy to spend the time to look at it, go to a different dealer. There is a TSB out on it and they will first try to lubricate a joint on the drive shaft. If that doesn't work they will replace the drive shaft. I had the clunk when stopping, got the lubricant and now its gone.

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[This message has been edited by Triton46 (edited 05-11-2000).]

 

Triton46. I have had the engine replaced as well as the rear window twice. Then the rear trim for the window which required window removal again. It seems to go through fan clutches. Soon to be on my third one in 10,000 miles. And other little crap, nickel and dime stuff. And 16 hrs. of diagnosis time on this clunk. I know this is not the forum but it sounds like it is coming from the front?? but the sound can travel through a driveline.

selva1. I see your pic's and that’s what I have been leaning towards, except I've been thinking of a fleet side. The dealer has checked with engineering and all tsb's and nothing has come up. I wanted them to replace the drive shaft but Ford will not authorize them to do so unless they are sure it will fix it. so they told me to wait to see if it gets worse. Well any sound in a $30,000 truck is bad enough. Your sound sounds like a slip yoke problem. To me mine sounds like it Transmission related??. I had the shift points changed with a tsb but it didn’t seem to help if anything it got worse. For now I think I may wait it out to see what happens. I still have warranty so I'll at least run it to that unless I can get a great deal some where.


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1999 F150 S.Cab 4x4
Northland Edition,5.4
Off road pkg. Fleetside
Black w/grey int.

 

Bob: I agree with you, the clunk from 3 to 2 downshift is annoying. Had mine clunk from 1600 miles and at 23000 miles they gave me a new 2000 tranny. Guess what? still have the clunk. Only does it in drive, not with the selector in 1 or 2. Replaced the driveshaft on first tranny, with no change. I wonder if it is a problem with the aluminum drive shaft material resonating the gear noise? Is your drive shaft aluminum? j.b.

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99 SC Sport, Silver color everywhere, 4.2 auto,3.55 rear gear, split bench, stock AM/FM @ 2 cheesy speakers w/Ford brand bedliner. Keep'n stock from the factory because we love it for what it is...One fine ride!

 

j.b.
No my drive shaft is steel. By what you have described it sounds exactly what my truck is doing. I wonder if it is the downshift program in the computer. I would like to change the code to move the shift but the dealer is not authorized to do so unless Ford says they can. Other than that it may be to much lash in the ring and pinion of the rear end. I have e-mailed a chassis engineer at Ford to see if he could get the F150 engineers to call me. If so I will let everyone know what I find out.

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1999 F150 S.Cab 4x4
Northland Edition,5.4
Off road pkg. Fleetside
Black w/grey int.

 

Bob...I checked my pinion to ring gear mesh and it appears to be just fine. I cannot get the clunk when the selector is manually placed in 1st or 2nd range. If it was the ring and pinion setting, it would still clunk when stopping and starting, but it does not. I agree about the software being part of the problem, the 99 5.4 combo has a TSB which covers "flashing" the computer to a new setting, but some on this board have had it work for only a short time. Please post when Ford returns your answer. My service mgr. has been in contact w/Ford on this issue and he was told that they are aware of this problem on some V6's but do not have a fix as of yet.....j.b.