I spoke with my service manager and the regional rep yesterday. I was inquiring about the replacement program since the pickup went in today for its last laundry list of things to address under warranty. Surprise Surprise the replacement program is on hold now until at least January. They supposedly were advised of this a couple of days ago with no reasons given, I had the service manager out with me in the truck this morning for about half an hour and he wouldn't even speculate what's up now. Anyone else hear the same?

 

Don Lewoniuk,


I was talkingto a fellow at the Arena where my kid plays hockey and he workes at the Essex Engine Plant. Home of the tritons. They are in the process of switching from the cast iron cranks to steel. Too many of them would brake when dropped on the floor. This may be part of the problem. Next time I see him I will ask about the "Texas" engine. The Cleavland plant which supplies the Triton Blocks is having problems since their fire a while back. There were rumors of blocks being flown in here to Windsor on the weekend to keep the Engine plant going. They have been working 4 hour shifts because of the slowdown in Cleavland. A side note: CAW has a tentative agreement with Ford which will avert a strike. My truck will be built after all.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

------------------
On Order: 00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd
using: Wife'S 99 Explorer till arrival



[This message has been edited by JMC (edited 09-22-1999).]

 

Don, i talked to my service manager yesterday
and he said HEY your engine is on it's way he finally got the code # he needed to obtain a motor out of the NO SLAP pool of engines instead of the normal FQR pool of engines that is still sending out potential SLAPPING
motors. Although the service manager said that they guy at the engine plant he was talking to was getting roughly 150 calls a day and all the supply of FQR motors was gone
out of both pools of motors, Not sure how he obtained my motor, but it does sound to me that my initial thought of FORD being a little surprised and unprepared for the # of
people coming forward with the problem may be
coming true, so what will they do, either try
to reload with the FQR motors between now and
Janaury and or come up with a new program and
in the meantime hope a few more complaints go away in the meantime. I hope the program is still alive because this has been going on FAR too long and isn't right. Hopefully in my
case an engine does exist for me and will arrive, it is set to arrive this Friday or next Monday only when i see the motor will i
finally believe that my roller coaster ride
is about over, i will let you know when and if i recieve my motor and i will also check
with my service manager to see if indeed the
program is being dried up or delayed again.
I hope not for everyones sake....


------------------
97 F-150,XLT,4X4,Supercab,bright Red,5.4,3.55 LS,LT265/75/16 Bridgestone Dueller A/T tires,Downey SST soft tonneau cover

 

kcdan and other readers

Sorry this has nothing to do with the FQR topic but I just wanted to get kcdan's opinion on his tire size and his email isn't listed on his profile. Noticed the LT 265/75/16's on your sig. I've got factory LT 245/75/16 Goodyear's yet and would like to go to the 265 for the slightly bigger tire. I tow a fifth wheel though and think the 5.4 @ 230 with the 3.55's is a bit weak already. If you tow was the loss in torque noticeable when you went up in tire size? Email me back if you prefer to keep this topic on topic. Don.Lewoniuk@amhb.ab.ca

Thanks, Don

 

My service guys tell me mid-Oct (still) for engine arrival. But I don't think they actively are in the middle of all of this. They are just waiting for Ford to tell them more. As of last week and today, still mid-Oct. I guess I'll have to print all this out and take it down there and haunt them again.

 

I just purchased a new 99' f-150 with a 5.4l on 8/15/99 and the dealer has diagnosed it with piston slap and said they will be putting a brand new 5.4l long block in the truck. It was no hassle at all but i am extremely upset that the truck has only 1,200
miles on it and it is getting a new engine!!
Dealers always manage to F**k things up to the point that it is never like new and the fact that my resale is now shot should be reason enough to be offered another new truck
So should i shut up and let them take care of it or should i fight this???? opinions!!


------------------
1999 F-150 4X4 Super cab lariat, 5.4, 3.73 gears,
and all the options, factory rollout 3/1/99

 

I presume, by 'factory rollout 3/1/99, you mean the build date. If so, then from posts I've read here, the bug was still in the March engines, and allegedly the fix was in from April '99 on. (???)

As for fighting it - ??? - don't know. You're sort of in the same boat as the rest of us, and we're all getting engines.

 

It's in! All told it took about a year-and-a-half for Ford to come up with a new engine and three days for the dealer to put it in.

As far as the new engine goes most of my comments will be reserved until after the break-in period. I ran the last motor pretty hard right off the show room floor. I'm going to take it a little easier on this one for a while.

I can say though, the dealership did a good job with the install. There is no way I would even attempt it. I helped replace a 6 banger in a Pontiac station wagon one time and thought that was a pain. Nothing compared to what the service guys had to go through on the 5.4l. My hats off to them!

The engine seems to have a little more power but I haven't had it over 3,500 rpm YET. It also seems very well balanced. The old engine (53K miles) started to idle pretty rough. Don't know if it was the plugs or the engine or the pistons.

For everyone else out there with a 5.4 piston slap, good luck and keep after 'em!

 

KKIRT1, Sure glad everything went alright. My replacement engine showed up at the dealer yesterday and I stop by to take a quit look at it. Mine goes in for surgery Oct 1 and I told them they could keep it for 10 days while I go on vacation. Did you get 12 months or 12,000 mile warranty with the replacement engine?

------------------
97 F150 XLT, 5.4, EXTANG,SUPERCHIP, EDELBROCK SHOCKS,
GIBSON SPLIT REAR,
HELLWIG SWAY BAR,
AIRAID, BOSCH +4,
SONY ES-CDX880 HEAD,
SONY ES-XM5046 AMP
BOSTON PRO'S 6.5 FRONT
PISTON SLAP- WAITING 4 NEW ENGINE




[This message has been edited by INDY (edited 09-23-1999).]

 

I am also one of the many owners with the piston slap. As soon as I read the first discussion on this topic, about 5-6 months ago, I quickly relized this wasn't a normal sound at start up. Luckily enough, I personally know the head service manager, so I printed off all the posts and showed them to him. He thought some of the guys were blowing it way out of proportion, for considering a lawsuit against ford for ignoring the situation. He even said that if your warranty runs out, you still shouldn't have a problem getting the replacement engine. I also know a couple of ford mechanics at the same dealership, so I shouldn't have a problem trying to get the replacement engine. I'm not sure if this was covered yet, but, what exactly was changed between the '98 5.4's and the '99 5.4's, that makes up the hp/torque gain? kkirt1 mentioned that they increased it by tuning the intake and installing bigger intake valves. Can anyone verify this? I imagine the replacements won't have this upgrade, since it will only be a short block replacement.

------------------
'98 F-150 XLT Reg. Cab Flareside 4x4, Black, 5.4l, 3.55LS, tow package, K&N, GTS headlight covers, Alpine changer w/FM mod, Clifford alarm system w/keyless entry & starter disable // Future considerations: 285/75/r16 Mud Terrain BFG's, bed mat, tonneau cover, suspension lift.



[This message has been edited by fordification (edited 09-23-1999).]

 

You know I hate to go back to that definition topic but - define "short block." Mine came with oil pan to waterpump no intake but new heads and plugs. Others have refered to the short block as only being pistons down. With this new overhead cam thing they really can't send just the block and pistons. I think it has to be set. I wouldn't have settled for less.

 

I have been reading the many "piston slap" posts with great interest. I have a 98 Expedition with the 5.4 and since the weather has cooled a bit in my area I have noticed the engine is a lot noisier on cold starts. It makes a noticeable clatter that may take up to a 1/4 mile of driving to go away. It never seems to happen after work (approx 10 hrs) only in the AM after sitting for about 12-13 hours and the colder weather is definitely a factor. Some details please from you people if these symptoms sound similar to yours. Any responses would be much appreciated. Timbo

------------------

 

They said it had 12/12 warranty. The service advisor didn't have the paperwork done yet, he said "it is going to be a nightmare." I can only imagine. Most service work done has the the 12/12 though, I don't know why this would be any different.

I started it cold this morning. I couldn't wait to get out of bed just to see. No knock here. Silence IS golden

 

THOR, get your owners manual out and read up on complaints and how to go about it, you'll start with one of those area reps talking to you, then if no go, you start the paper work on a arbitrader(sp)
1200 miles and a bad engine, no way would I take the new motor.
That's my vote...........NO WAY

------------------
DOGCAM
2000 F150 Lariat flareside 4X2
S/C
5.4, 3.55 Ls, Tow Pack, Captain
Chairs, White clearcoat/w
harvest gold & wedgewood blue accent,17"X8"
BFG T/As 275x60s on chrome wheels
Mods:K&N Filter, True duals
(Dynomax) with 3.5 chrome
tips out behind the rear
wheels
dog46cam@webtv.net
dogcam@myf150.com