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  #1  
Old 09-22-2009, 04:40 PM
superakcraig superakcraig is offline
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Default 2008 Ranger Engine Vibration...ideas???

I am an owner of a 2008 Ford Ranger XLT Excab 3.0 V6 that I purchased in March 2008.

Since I have owned it I have been experiencing a “harmonic vibration” in my steering wheel and my foot pedals. The best way for me to describe this sound is have you ever spun a toy wagon wheel that wasn't greased very well, it spins really good and the fast speed but as it slows down, it tends to vibrate on its axle. This vibration occurs when I am on the road driving or just setting still.

There are two factors that appear to be causing this vibration.

The first is the RPMs of the truck have to be between 1000 and 1300 RPMs, the second, the air conditioning has to be running. When the AC is not running, no vibration. When I role up to a stop sign with the AC running, the vibration is felt. When I am sitting still and the RPMs are floating between 1000 and 1300 RPMs, the vibration is felt.

I have taken this to 3 different Ford dealerships including the one I bought it from and was told it was normal (I guess it is normal since the AC appeared to be working correctly). Finally at the forth dealership I got a friend of mine (who is the Service Manager) take a look at it and they decided to replace the AC for me. Well to my surprise, the sound and vibration is still there.

Does anyone have any idea what this might be? I am taking it back to the dealer this Saturday to show the tech the sound I am hearing so he better understands it.

Any thoughts???
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  #2  
Old 09-24-2009, 11:03 AM
02'4.04x4 02'4.04x4 is offline
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I'll bring this up to some friends, I'd be spitballing. . . . .
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  #3  
Old 09-24-2009, 03:43 PM
superakcraig superakcraig is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 02'4.04x4 View Post
I'll bring this up to some friends, I'd be spitballing. . . . .
Thanks. This noise although not heard all the time, just knowing it is there drives me crazy. I have owned 2 other Rangers with no issues at all. Trust me if it was there, I would have gotten it fixed but because this one is under warranty I guess no one wants to look at it (unless you are friends with the service manager). This truck(being my first NEW one) has more vibrations and dashboard rattles. If I can't get it fixed, I may be looking to trade it and move to something other than a Ford. Shame too because I love the truck otherwise!!
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  #4  
Old 09-24-2009, 03:53 PM
surfer03133 surfer03133 is offline
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i get vibrations also, but they occur when i get to above 70mph or slowing down, i think for me its the drive shaft not being balanced properly, i know there were some issues ford had with that on the 08's. as with the a/c i have not a clue..
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  #5  
Old 09-24-2009, 06:21 PM
Johnbaum13 Johnbaum13 is offline
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Actually, this IS normal. Ford skimped on materials for sound deadening and vibration damping in the latest years, and the result is a bit of cyclic vibration at idle under "load".
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  #6  
Old 09-25-2009, 10:14 PM
02'4.04x4 02'4.04x4 is offline
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Well from what I was able to get it seems that it is normal.
It has to do with the drag on that engine. He (another Mr. Anonymous)said and I quote, "that is a piss ant of a motor". Apparently it has to do with the mapping and idle tuning. So it can be fixed but you'd need to have the truck tuned. HTH
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  #7  
Old 09-26-2009, 11:15 AM
superakcraig superakcraig is offline
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So I just got back from the 4th dealership for the 2nd time. This time, I talked to the tech directly. I showed him what I was talking about and he said it WAS NOT normal. After I explained that it doesn't matter if the truck is rolling or not, just the AC having to be on and the RPMS between 1000 and 1300, he put a "tool" on the truck to measure vibration. After doing this, he has almost concluded that the vibration is coming from the exhaust. When I explained that the sound and feeling seems to be greater when the ambient temperature is warmer, it made sense.

So what he is going to do Monday is contact ford with the data and see what they say. He indicated to me it may just be as simple as "realigning" the exhaust and the way it sits in its brackets when it is in a "relaxed" or cooled state.
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  #8  
Old 09-26-2009, 12:51 PM
West West is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by superakcraig View Post
So I just got back from the 4th dealership for the 2nd time. This time, I talked to the tech directly. I showed him what I was talking about and he said it WAS NOT normal. After I explained that it doesn't matter if the truck is rolling or not, just the AC having to be on and the RPMS between 1000 and 1300, he put a "tool" on the truck to measure vibration. After doing this, he has almost concluded that the vibration is coming from the exhaust. When I explained that the sound and feeling seems to be greater when the ambient temperature is warmer, it made sense.

So what he is going to do Monday is contact ford with the data and see what they say. He indicated to me it may just be as simple as "realigning" the exhaust and the way it sits in its brackets when it is in a "relaxed" or cooled state.
Sounds like you found a tech that actually knows something and how to use the diagnostic tools available to him verses just throwing parts on something until the problem is fixed like a lot of shops/ techs do.
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  #9  
Old 10-04-2009, 05:28 PM
superakcraig superakcraig is offline
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So I finally heard back from the dealership. Ford has said they will not do anything about it because decibel level of the noise is not loud enough. So now I am back to square one and I need some input.

The tech who looked at it told me he could possibly "reset" the exhaust system in its supports by loosening the brackets that hold the exhaust that are connected to the frame, start it, let it warm up and then reconnect brackets while warm thinking that this may stop some of the noise. He seems to think that "relaxing" the exhaust may help this noise.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Does this even sound possible?

The main reason I asked is my friend who is the service manager has told me that since Ford will not cover it, the "experimental" job will cost me $300 whether it works or not. Now if it removes the noise, he said there was a possibility that Ford might cover half.

What should I do??
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  #10  
Old 10-04-2009, 05:48 PM
DieHard4rd DieHard4rd is offline
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Live with the noise
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  #11  
Old 10-04-2009, 05:50 PM
superakcraig superakcraig is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SNOWBALL09 View Post
Live with the noise
Wow....thanks for your insightful "opinion" but that really is not going to be an option.
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  #12  
Old 10-04-2009, 05:56 PM
DieHard4rd DieHard4rd is offline
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Then sell the truck. It is normal.
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  #13  
Old 10-04-2009, 07:27 PM
superakcraig superakcraig is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SNOWBALL09 View Post
Then sell the truck. It is normal.
Or better yet trade it in on a product not made with sub par materials and workmanship!!! (obviously not a Ford)
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  #14  
Old 10-04-2009, 07:42 PM
DieHard4rd DieHard4rd is offline
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Ford is #1 in quality
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  #15  
Old 10-04-2009, 07:50 PM
superakcraig superakcraig is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SNOWBALL09 View Post
Ford is #1 in quality
I choose not to get into a debate with you over quality. My truck was obviously made on a Friday and yours was not.

So much for getting some guidance.
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