ok, this will be part rant, part (hopeful solution) but a long winded response so here goes...
The Rant...
Spent loads of cash on my new Truck. More than I probably should have but hey, I'm in my truck 3 to 4 hours a day so it better be what I like...
Like others here I started hearing the strange groan noise at about 1,700 miles. It was quite pronounced and I could hear it especially in the morning (I leave around 5am). It would make the noise just as stated here, between gears 3 and 6. I would also hear it when I dropped the truck in drive and when I put the truck in park.
So I thought, no worries, I've purchased 7 different Ford cars and trucks from the same dealership since 1992. Great dealer and always had great service (until now). I've even used the same salesman (who I think is the best in the business) for the last 4 purchases going back to my '05 Mustang GT. So I took her in...
Explained the noise to the service writer, provided the TSB info! Quotes from this forum regarding the issue, also explained that it was nearly impossible to reproduce once the engine was warmed up and that their best bet was to wait until first thing in the morning to hear it. They provided a loaner to me and had my truck for three days. Their response? THey couldn't reproduce it so back it comes to me. Needless to say I wasn't happy but thought, ok, lets see if they're right.
THE VERY NEXT MORNING, I head off to work and bam, there's the noise again. Now, I'm sorry, but they obviously didn't really make an attempt to decipher this. But, to give them the benefit of the doubt I drove the truck for the week. At the end of the week I got the infamous survey regarding my experience with their service department. Now, quite honestly, I didn't say anything in that survey that wasn't true. Did they fix my issue, well no! So I answered the questions never really thinking I'd hear anything about it. On the following Monday I received a phone call from my dealership asking if they could look at the truck again. To my astonishment the got the survey and wanted to try again.
Well, I took it in the next day and dropped it off. Again, I was given a loaner vehicle. This time they had the truck for 8 DAYS!. Yes eight days. They were able to reproduce the sound woo hoo! However, they had turned the truck over to a regular mechanic, not a transmission guy. He tried to figure the thing out for 8 DAYS! I was called back to the dealership with the words, it's fixed! I asked what did you do. They said the re-positioned the exhaust and cannot reproduce the sound. I chuckled and said, ok, we'll give it a try. Next morning heading out to work, voila, same sound.... Now I'm beyond angry. Needless to say I called the dealership as soon as they opened and had a long winded discussion with the service writer. Not an angry one but one that certaily explained my disappointment.
Back it goes for the third time! This time with the video provided here and the explanation of the TSB again!. I asked why the customer had to do the leg work for them to locate the problem. I stated I showed you the TSB the FIRST time I brought the truck in. It was just flat out ignored. So, they've agreed that the TSB has to be executed on my truck. Dropped it off Monday with the explanation that I HAD to have my truck on Thursday as I'm moving my son to college. He paused and said well, the mechanic that worked on my truck last was on vacation. I calmly told the tech writer that the guy who worked on it last was not a transmission guy and that's what the TSB called for! He said oops, it'll be tough but we'll have it for you in time.
I called Tuesday (yesterday) to get a progress report, found out that they hadn't even looked at my truck! They said their transmission guy had to finish one that had been in there two days! I said really? Mine's been in a total of 12 days at this point. Why no priority, especially when you called me to get a second look at it? I was not happy. I spoke with my salesman and explained my frustration and he went down there to raise a little hell.
Well the fun continues, I get a call today explaining that indeed the TSB needed to be performed on my truck but woops, the part is on backorder. I can pick my truck up -- AGAIN -- and bring it in the following Monday. This is four strikes and your out. If not fixed when the part comes in it's Lemon Law time in my state and the States Attorney General will be acting on it.
Now that being said, I'm hopeful that once the part comes in it will be fixed this time. But I'm taking nothing for granted. Lawyer lined up, ready to go. I'm just tired.
I've loved every truck from Ford I've owned, I've loved this one as well, this is truly a Ford / Dealer / Service issue and it's unbelievable with the expense of these trucks that I've had to go through this. I know others are feeling my pain as well. With all the recalls and issues going on at GM, Ford, Chrysler and so on, you'd think they'd be all over this to try to keep the customer happy and quiet. I guess not. I'll update this once I get an answer.
To FORDSERVICE (Nick), thanks for making contact, I'd like to at least see if the part comes in and fixes my issue. If so, great. If not I'll contact you with pertinent information but honestly, there would have to be an incredibly fast resolution to this from you in order for me not to pursue the legal actions described above. I will give you time to respond if this doesn't work out.
Thanks for letting me rant... srs77
