I replied to a few posts about 4.6L & 5.4L having piston slap problems. My buddy's truck is a '98 4X4 SC XLT 4.6L, which he bought new on Sept. 11/98. About 2-3 weeks later, he heard a noise when the truck was cold. The dealer couldn't hear it, as the truck was never cold enough when they listened to it. Finally in Dec '98 they kept the truck overnight and heard the engine just about knock itself apart in the morning. They told him they would put a "new" motor in as soon as it was ordered. The first week in January they told him that they were unable to get a new motor because Ford was having a problem with the piston manufacturer. My buddy figured this was BS, and called a different dealer and asked to buy a new 4.6L for his street rod. The dealer told him he couldn't get one, but could get a QFR. He declined. So he kept checking with the dealer about the availability of a new engine, but was told that they were working on it. Finally in August of '99 they said the new engine was ordered, and to bring it in on Aug 23/99 to have it installed. On the 24th he spoke to the mechanic and asked if it was new or rebuilt, the mechanic showed him the QFR sticker. My buddy went tilt, spoke to the Service Mgr. and was told that is all you're getting. Nice attitude. There has been articles in the newspaper consumer advocate column, letters to the business editor, and talks with the Ford of Canada Rep. All to no avail, as the Ford Rep says that this is all Ford of Canada has to put in. My buddy's response was " If I wanted a used truck I would have bought one, not 35 grand for a new one with a rebuilt engine.
The truck has a 160k warranty, and the engine has a 60k warranty?????? Ford says this is all they have to give.
This is the reason the truck is still sitting at the dealership, since Aug 23/99. He refuses to accept the truck, he has bought over 15 new Ford vehicles in his life and wouldn't have anything else in his driveway. Look how Ford is treating him.
He is presently taking Ford to Binding Arbitration through CAMVAP, and has been told he has an excellent case to get a new truck. All he wants is a new engine in his new truck.
What comments do the rest of you good people have on this very very touchy subject.
P.S. The dealership promised all along that it would be a new engine and not a rebuild, and they said "how could we put a rebuilt engine in a new truck...Ford would never do anything like that".
Thanks

 

My 98 4x4 SC XLT also has piston slap. I was shocked the first time I heard it. Dealer has duplicated the sound and ordered a new engine. He says it will be a new, 2000 engine. I have the windsor. Is your buddy's a windsor too? Do you know how the romeo compares to the windsor?

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'98 F150 XLT S/C 4x4 4.6L 5spd 3.55 Lt Denim Blue, Raven camper shell

 

Romeo 4.6L engines apparently do not have the problem, only Windsor manufactured engines...4.6, 5.4 and V10.

[This message has been edited by ml (edited 11-21-1999).]

 

racecar, why so many post? Every post I look at you have about the same thing posted in it. I know you are a new member so I will give you alittle constructive criticism. You can post this on any thread under "engines and it will get read" FYI my dealer said that alot of the FQRs are brand new. They are just given that sticker because they are being replaced. On all ford replacements (from car motors to truck motors) they say that most of the time they just put a sticker on it. I have talked to technicians from other ford dealerships and they say the same thing. However I know mine is an FQR and it runs stronger than the other motor. At first it seemed equal to the other one but now it is broke in and making more torque. BTW I do think ford should give us brand new motors.

 

Ford Tough 1: I've worked in the Automotive Industry for over 25yrs, at many dealerships, and plants as a technical troubleshooter. Ford would not put rebuild stickers on new engines. First off, you can't misrepresent your product like that, and second of all, whats the point? The dealers are filling you with BS! Would you go to a dealer and buy a new vehicle for 35 or 40 grand, only to look under the hood to see a rebuilt sticker on the motor? Then have the salesman assure you that the motor is new...I don't think so. Or the next new TV you buy has a remanufactured sticker on it, I wouldn't pay full price...would you? So you see what my point is here, if the new engine fails...just replace it with a new one and correct what ever defects are in the design so it doesn't happen again. Don't pawn off rebuilt engines for new, and pretend that the problem doesn't exist. There are hundreds and maybe thousands of complaints about these engines, Ford has to wake up and smell the coffee. 'nuff said.

[This message has been edited by racecar (edited 11-22-1999).]

 

Yo Racecar
I build engines for Prostock and Nascar's, and my shop was approached by Ford (along with 2 other shops that I know of) back in late 1998 to start rebuilding 4.6 and 5.4's by the truck load. We had to turn them down cause we were building so many Winston Cup engines, we would have had to hire 20 more wrenches and get a bigger shop. We turned down the job and so did the other shops. I heard they built a new line just to rebuild these engines on site in Windsor. The rep we deal with from the US(Ford) said that they are replacing all the Windsor built engines (in US destination vehicles) with new Romeo ones. Then they are sending the bad engines for rebuilding, and are to be put in Canadian vehicles. This could be the new line at the Windsor plant that I heard about, but I would make sure your friend gets a new engine cause all this gives engine builders a bad rap. I deal with Ford(US) though and not Ford Canada, so I can't cut off my meal ticket by giving you names of reps in US. Sorry. Just keep plugging away at the dealer, Ford Reps, and whoever will get you satisfaction.
Good Luck
~Snake~

 

Snake: I just had a new engine installed in my 99. The engine is a 2000 model Windsor, unless, Ford has done a superb job of misrepresentation. This engine had all the mods on the 2000's, different intake and exhaust manifolds. It came with instructions to retrofit this engine into a 99 truck. I looked at the engine before and after installation, everything indicates a NEW 2000 Windsor. We really should talk, see my e-mail address. I build racing outboards for Tunnel Boats. Mostly Mercurys and Tohatsu's. We manage 365 HP from a 120 cu. in. engine that will live for a 24 hr. enduro at 8400 rpm, and pass APBA inspection. Very neat technology.
Later DD

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99 Lariat, SC, Tow Pkg, Loaded, Sprchpd, K&N, Flowmaster, ex slapper!

 

Yo Double D
Made a couple inquiries and found that in about early to mid '99, Ford got a handle on the problem with their engines. I'm sure you do have a 2000 model and its an ok unit. Good luck, as my season just rapped on the weekend and I'm off to Margurita Ville!
Hasta LaVista

 

Ford is replacing 99 engines with new "off the line" 2000 engines and 97-98 engines are being replaced with FQR remanufactured engines. Even in the 99s, a few parts such as exhaust manifolds are being used from the old engines (depending on the engine type/size and application) because of engineering differences between the 99s and the 2000s. According to Ford they fixed the PS problem 04/99. So far I have not seen any posts from anyone who has had an engine built after that date.