I was having trouble with my cruise and decided (after reading searches on this site) that it was the cruise control servo valve under the driver's side battery. In reading several posts about battery acid damge to the fenders and componets in this area I was amazed to find the same problem on mine. Acid had eaten several plastic parts under the battery box. The box itself is not effected by acid so DC knew what was going on there, but within an inch under the box directly where acid would go WHEN the battery leaks were plastic parts that ARE eaten up by the acid.

Just seems to me that the guys designing these trucks would buy and old one (like mine? for $50K) take it apart, and see what is going wrong and what they could do to make it better.

In this case make gell cell (like Optima batteries) an option or standard equipment?

*** Note to guys with new trucks. Loose the old lead acid batteries and buy gel cells. The old ones are going to leak.

Seems to me DC could do alittle better if they opened their eyes.

Anyone else find stuff like this? Maybe DC reads this site?

 

Well of course - how about the KDP, crappy 24V fuel systems, 5 th gear nut ??? etc etc etc. the list goes on and on.

Yeah, most are relatively minor problems when compared to the other big boys and are easy fixes.

 

I agree about the lift pump, fairly weak link for such an important job.

I hear Ferd has a built in trailer brake controller? Pretty silly to ahve the truck prewired for trailer lights, but no trailer brake system? I'm sure its a liability issue, but Ferd just did it!

AND no guages! Come on DC get with it!

 

They do it on purpose. If they made the trucks as good as they could be the dealer service dept would be out of business and no one have a reason to buy new vehicles. They only care that the vehicle makes it though warranty, nothing more.
In the mid '60s the auto makers realized they were making them too good and started engineering in what is known in the industry as "planned obsolescence."

Read about planned obsolescence here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence

I heard the built in Ford trailer brake is a $400 option.

 

Ya know Id rather put the guages in myself - if DC put them in, they'd pick the cheapest crap they could find.

 

Thats a good point Bill - and it applys to just about every product we buy nowadays - everything from lightbulbs, to fridges, to TVs and vacume cleaners. There was a time when manufacturers made things that would last for just about a lifetime. Then they figured out if they made it too good, they couldnt sell you another one in 3 years or sell you parts and service to fix their subpar product.

 

Another member, localnet, stated that Ford engineers designed the electronics that are in place on the 6.0 PSD. These electronics seem to be a major part of the problems they are having with that engine. I hope those are not the same folks who designed the built in trailer brake system.

~Rob

 

Not only do you loose the engine, but the brakes and light too! Probably even the heated tail-gate...
Electrical gremlins aren't fun.

I don't think it's too big of an effort to put gauges and trailer brakes in ourselves. That way we're better than everybody who doesn't have them. (Like me)

 

You can only get the ford trailer brakes with the Torqshift for one, and ill take a Tekonsha Voyager over an integrated trailer brake system