I purchased my 2011 6.7 in Albuquerque, NM in February of 11. I loved the truck and milage it was capable of getting if I drove it right. It had no issues until around 8000 miles. The first thing I noticed with it was the trans not going into gear between 2nd and 3rd gear. The rpms would rise until you let off the throttle at which time it would go into 3rd and away you go. While this is not right or good, it would be hard to duplicate for dealer. I let it go and only noticed it 2-3 times.
Fast forward to 9400 miles. Pulling into an appointment and sitting at a stop sign the "cleaning exhaust" message appeared. I thought to myself what the heck, I'm early I'll just drive it up the highway a few miles to let it do its thing. (It seems to be cleaning more frequently than it had been.) So I got it up to about 45 mph and backed out of it so I could cruise for a few miles giving it enough time to complete cleaning. As it shifted into 6th it began running rough, almost missing and choking and coughing and sputtering. I tried to get it to shift back down but it was very delayed. I limped it carefully back to appointment and stressed about it for the next hour as I was in a meeting. Afterward I took it straight to the dealer. The Service Manager put his laptop on it to check for any codes. Nothing. Next he asked if he could check to see if any updates were available for my VIN#. Sure enough there were and he installed them. We agreed that I would see if this cleared up the problem.
Within the week it continued to run this way in 6th gear only during a cleaning exhaust cycle. I could not get it to do it any other time. Then about a week and a half after initial dealer visit the "Cleaning exhaust" message stayed on in the display. I drove it immediatly to the dealer and was able to duplicate the rough missing for the service manager. I was shocked I was able to get it to do it for them.
We tried running around with his laptop hooked to it however by this time the "Cleaning exhaust " message cleared and it would not do this for his computer to get a reading. The Service Manager proceded to call Ford engineers to find out what it could be. They wanted a Vehicle Data Recorder box installed in the truck. It came with a button I was to push each time it acted up. I was told the box would record a minute before and a minute after the button was pushed. We expected I would have 4 solid readings within a few days and he would then be able to send the data to Ford. I left at around 5:30pm and returned with 4 good readings at about 5:45pm the same day.
He kept the box and I went home hoping to hear something the next day.
We did not make it that long. My wife took the truck the next day and at any speed over 45mph felt as if it would die and strand her. She called me and I met her at the dealer. This time we left it there. That was on Wednesday 8/24/11. It has been there 8 days as of today. The Service Manager says Ford sent him another "Black Box" to install and get readings and he should have that back to Dearborn MI within 24 hours. Also says a lot of engineering eyes at Ford are looking at this one.
As far as the dealer, They have been great. The service manager has bent over backwards to help and keep me informed. They also arranged a rental. Its not a Powerstroke, but they did give me a 2012 Tahoe with 14 miles to use while we wait on this to be resolved.
All I really want is to have my truck back running like it did when I bought it. I was a Chevy guy before and never had any trouble with them however I respect the fact that Ford was able to find a way to survive the resession without any of our tax dollars bailing them out.
Fast forward to 9400 miles. Pulling into an appointment and sitting at a stop sign the "cleaning exhaust" message appeared. I thought to myself what the heck, I'm early I'll just drive it up the highway a few miles to let it do its thing. (It seems to be cleaning more frequently than it had been.) So I got it up to about 45 mph and backed out of it so I could cruise for a few miles giving it enough time to complete cleaning. As it shifted into 6th it began running rough, almost missing and choking and coughing and sputtering. I tried to get it to shift back down but it was very delayed. I limped it carefully back to appointment and stressed about it for the next hour as I was in a meeting. Afterward I took it straight to the dealer. The Service Manager put his laptop on it to check for any codes. Nothing. Next he asked if he could check to see if any updates were available for my VIN#. Sure enough there were and he installed them. We agreed that I would see if this cleared up the problem.
Within the week it continued to run this way in 6th gear only during a cleaning exhaust cycle. I could not get it to do it any other time. Then about a week and a half after initial dealer visit the "Cleaning exhaust" message stayed on in the display. I drove it immediatly to the dealer and was able to duplicate the rough missing for the service manager. I was shocked I was able to get it to do it for them.
We tried running around with his laptop hooked to it however by this time the "Cleaning exhaust " message cleared and it would not do this for his computer to get a reading. The Service Manager proceded to call Ford engineers to find out what it could be. They wanted a Vehicle Data Recorder box installed in the truck. It came with a button I was to push each time it acted up. I was told the box would record a minute before and a minute after the button was pushed. We expected I would have 4 solid readings within a few days and he would then be able to send the data to Ford. I left at around 5:30pm and returned with 4 good readings at about 5:45pm the same day.
He kept the box and I went home hoping to hear something the next day.
We did not make it that long. My wife took the truck the next day and at any speed over 45mph felt as if it would die and strand her. She called me and I met her at the dealer. This time we left it there. That was on Wednesday 8/24/11. It has been there 8 days as of today. The Service Manager says Ford sent him another "Black Box" to install and get readings and he should have that back to Dearborn MI within 24 hours. Also says a lot of engineering eyes at Ford are looking at this one.
As far as the dealer, They have been great. The service manager has bent over backwards to help and keep me informed. They also arranged a rental. Its not a Powerstroke, but they did give me a 2012 Tahoe with 14 miles to use while we wait on this to be resolved.
All I really want is to have my truck back running like it did when I bought it. I was a Chevy guy before and never had any trouble with them however I respect the fact that Ford was able to find a way to survive the resession without any of our tax dollars bailing them out.