Clifford the Big Red Truck, an F150 Story

[JPolen01]

so if i understand this right, i guess its OK to step on another man's balls if he puts them in the middle of the sidewalk.

All is fair when you put your balls in the public domain

[Jake]

Got the truck washed up for the holidays. Gatdamn I love Ruby Red.

[Sijray21]

that's a nice color for the f150. tired of seeing black and grey trucks everywhere.

[Jake]

Mileage: 15,300
One-Year Update

So we passed the one-year mark a few days ago and I managed to cross over the 15,000 mile-per-year magic lease number about one day prior - yay. 

Clifford has been, for the most part, a very good truck. I am continually impressed by the technology that Ford built into these higher-trim trucks, and how well it works both on its own and with my trailer hooked up. The auto emergency braking has saved me at least once, and the trailer blind-spot monitors are killer when towing home at night. The only tech piece I don't care for is the Pro Trailer Backup Assist. I know how to back up a trailer, so it's counterintuitive to me to use their knob and software. 

We loaded it and my trailer up with a lot of my parents' things for their Delaware move, completely ignoring payload numbers. Had mom and I up front, a completely full backseat, a completely full bed, and a trailer full of one Chrysler Crossfire and many many boxes. It was stable and happy at 65-70 mph:



It also had a good ol' sketchy time towing Dave's definitely-roadworthy 1985 F150 to Harrisonburg late last year. This was the only tow where I felt uncomfortable... tongue weight, overall weight, and the aerodynamics of the old truck + bed cap meant we kept our speed down to 55-60 for stability:



Parking is semi-tight in my underground apartment garage but it fits. The 360° cameras help me navigate tighter spaces even with mirrors folded. Fuel economy has been great on the highway (23-24 mpg) and is kinda whatever around town, probably 15 or so. 

The 10-speed automatic had some teething pains regarding really rough shifts and general unpleasant behavior, all of which was fixed a few months in with a TSB (tech service bulletin) that amounted to a TCU reflash. It's great now. I keep it in Sport mode if trying to shoot gaps in downtown DC, and Tow/Haul does a great job with the trailer.

The engine has been my mild pain point, really more of an annoyance point. Around 7k miles, it developed a ratcheting sound when cold soaked (i.e. after sitting overnight). Start truck, drive it, get to about 2500 rpm and lift throttle... *krrrrrrr*. This is tremendously annoying when you are leaving a multi-story underground garage in your brand-new, very expensive vehicle and have this noise echoing back at you every day on the way to work.

I've been dealing with two Ford dealer service departments/managers and Ford corporate care. Ford issued a TSB claiming "some trucks were affected," and updated ECU software, which did not fix it. The second dealer has isolated the noise to the variable cam timing solenoids. Problem is, the replacement solenoids will probably still make the noise. My big beef is that Ford corporate is considering this "normal behavior" after releasing the TSB saying only "some trucks" do it. I'm being pedantic but based on that statement, it is not normal.

Anyway, there's 60+ of us on F150forum.com with the same issue. Ford has bought a few trucks back, replaced a few long blocks, replaced a lot of timing components, etc. I've had mine in three times now and am taking it in again on Saturday. I really like everything about the truck, but on principle, it needs to be made right. If Ford would come out and say "yep, it's X and Y components, engineers are working on a fix" I'd be less worked up... but the fact that they claim it's "just normal" is them buying time and/or hoping I go away.

I'm not at the "boycott Ford" stage given this issue isn't being denied in the name of safety, but for the kind of cash I'm forking out every month, it does drive me nuts. I spoke to a Lemon Law firm this afternoon just to have that information in my back pocket.

TLDR: New trucks are wonderful and also complicated, which can be annoying.

[JPolen01]

That photo is rad. Hope they can get it fixed for you.

[Sully]

Is this the same issue the new mustangs are having. An old friend who I only see on Facebook now bought a brand new 19 mustang or whatever first year of ugly redesign was and I know he had some issue with motor to the point where they replaced it once I think and then maybe same thing happened it something and Ford ended up buying it back eventually and now he has an older pre redesign mustang so I guess he thought Ford hadn't fixed the issue (or he just wanted lower payment)

Yours doesn't sound that bad I guess... Yet. Think his started with just a noise too.

I really like the new f150s and I think it'll be a top contender whenever I can afford to get something newer. I also like the mustang but I really need one car and I can't imagine not having access to a truck sometimes especially with a house

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[Jake]

Is this the same issue the new mustangs are having. An old friend who I only see on Facebook now bought a brand new 19 mustang or whatever first year of ugly redesign was and I know he had some issue with motor to the point where they replaced it once I think and then maybe same thing happened it something and Ford ended up buying it back eventually and now he has an older pre redesign mustang so I guess he thought Ford hadn't fixed the issue (or he just wanted lower payment)

Yours doesn't sound that bad I guess... Yet. Think his started with just a noise too.

I really like the new f150s and I think it'll be a top contender whenever I can afford to get something newer. I also like the mustang but I really need one car and I can't imagine not having access to a truck sometimes especially with a house

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The Mustangs are getting what they call "Typewriter Tick" which is different. I think the F150s can have that as well, but not sure. Mine is just the cold ratcheting noise. There is some concern with the Mustangs and possibly F150s about three different piston sizes (diameter) and some being mismatched.

[Sijray21]

There is some concern with the Mustangs and possibly F150s about three different piston sizes (diameter) and some being mismatched.

um..wat?

that seems pretty bad from a manufacturing/logistical standpoint if that were the case.

[Jake]

There is some concern with the Mustangs and possibly F150s about three different piston sizes (diameter) and some being mismatched.

um..wat?

that seems pretty bad from a manufacturing/logistical standpoint if that were the case.

Yeah. Unsure what's up with that. My noise issue is almost certainly the VCT solenoids being told to do something they cannot/do not want to do with cold oil. But I'm not paying $Lots per month to diagnose my own new truck.

Sucks about the 2018+ 5.0 as the pre-18's were great engines. They added dual injection (direct + port) to 2018 and I guess figured some of us could beta test things.