apextrans
What Log Book????
Well I flew into Dallas Friday morning & picked up the truck. It was a little rougher than the pictures showed but all in all, a nice truck. Just some dings & scratches that weren't apparent in the pics. Few things that I noticed when I got there. Back of oil pan ,Starter, Tranny lines & front lower half of trans were wet with oil at one time but no drips on the ground....at first( I'll get to that). Steering is a bit hard with a dead spot in the middle & window switches on the drivers door didn't work. The dealer took me down to the Ford dealer & he bought a new switch cluster, new steering stabalizer & drag link, & a new 6 cd Changer radio 'cause the volume on the other radio was not working. I was happy with all this. I drove the truck around downtown Dallas for about 45 min & it seemed to run very well. I never found my way out to the freeway on the test drive & really wished I had. Went back to his shop & did the paperwork, swapped the switch cluster & radio & I hit the road around rush hour. I drove for about an hour & 35-45 MPH and then the road opened up so I accelerated....... This truck was shaking like a poodle *&%@ a peach pit sideways. EVERY tire was out of round. Screw out of balance, I drove it this way to Mt. Vernon Texas, to a little tire shop that was getting ready to close & asked them to balance the tires. First one we tried took 9.25oz on the outside & 8.50 on the inside, but it balanced. The next three all called for 86.0oz at least per side. Obviously that wasn't happening. So I had to buy tires 150 miles into the trip. Didn't have the 315's so I got stuck with 305's (for sale by the way only 1200 miles on em'). Called the dealer & asked him if he every drove the truck on the highway & he said no so maybe he didn't know about this. Anyway he said he will work with me on the bill. Next problem along the way: driving at night the lights would dim & then come back up, did this on & off four about 3 hours. It was the end of the first day & I was beat so I just hit a motel & decided to deal with it in the morning. Got up Sat. & forgot to check the batteries & alt connections b4 I left & going down I-40 Gauges, radio, & windows died. Truck kept running & everything else worked so I rolled that way to the rest area where I popped the hood to find 3 of 4 battery terminals lose enough to take of with 2 fingers. Tightened everthing & problem gone. Called the dealer & told him his final inspection guy sucks. Now, on the second fuel stop I look under the truck 'cause I dropped the key & there's 2 oil spots quickly forming right under where the tranny meets the back of the motor. I kept an eye on the oil level the whole way & it didn't seem to move. Where is this oil coming from? I was thinking rear main seal. Is that a likely culprit? Also, on the same fuel stop, I found a rear wheel with a crack completely thru . Didn't see it before. And finally, the steering didn't improve with the smaller tires. I think it has a steering box problem. The dealer blamed it on the big tires. I told him that was crap. I have to call the dealer monday to tell him the other things that happened on the way & see what he does about it all. He said to let him know everything went when I got home, so I will.
I'm gonna take it to the Stealership this week & have them go thru it & see what it really needs then call the dealer in TX & try to settle some of the issues. I don't expect him to foot the whole bill for what it needs but I expect a bit more than what I got down in TX. I asked specifically about oil leaks & wheels/tires. On a whole though, I'm happy with it. Came half way across the country with little trouble at all & made home in 2 days.
Any thoughts on what might be leaking or the steering deal?
I'm gonna take it to the Stealership this week & have them go thru it & see what it really needs then call the dealer in TX & try to settle some of the issues. I don't expect him to foot the whole bill for what it needs but I expect a bit more than what I got down in TX. I asked specifically about oil leaks & wheels/tires. On a whole though, I'm happy with it. Came half way across the country with little trouble at all & made home in 2 days.
Any thoughts on what might be leaking or the steering deal?
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