New 2011 Ford Ranger - Loose cab mounts

[ARCOgraphite]

Got a new ranger xl work truck with spilt bench and radio as I have a lot of destruction an construction to do on my log cabin all this year - and the Yaris was just getting "long in the tooth" after being flogged on my grinding commute for 3 years. Been pretty pleased with the ranger over the past couple days, but I am being the usual nervous nellie concerning breaking in the new truck. Well, coming home today over a few bumps i started hearing and feeling some odd looseness in the front that wasnt there previously - in fact i was impressed with how tight the vehicle was. When I got the beast home in the drive way I steered the front wheels over so i could get a peek at the sway bar links and shock mounting bolts, etc. Most things looked and felt good to the rubber mallet, then I saw the front cab mount on the right side was somewhat crooked and the donut was "expanded" compared to the one on the driver's side. I reached up to the top mounting bolt and it was loose! I took the bottom donut off and it was full of water and the through-bolt was rusting! Well, after cussing up a storm, I finally cobbled together some extensions and tools and a socket to tighten the 18mm top nut, and center the top washer so no water could get in down the assembly into the rubber doughnut hole.
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This whole (minor?) quality episode has me worried about what else they messed up. I spent an hour pouring over the thing and only found a couple rub points for the radiator coolant reservoir tank hose that I will beef up, and a hard polymer(nylon?) spaghetti vacuum pipe that was already being worn through by the sharp milled edge of the AC unit. Maybe this will be it? I am hoping. On the good side, I like that I got a nice metallic charcoal paint instead of white - I am tired of looking like the meter reader or the National Grid surveyor

 

[01rangerxl]

Check it again soon. Hopefully it's a one time problem.

I've never had any factory installed bolt loosen up, and my truck has seen some bumps.

My Ranger has a lot of vacuum and vent lines laying wherever under the hood too, but so far I haven't had any of them wear through.

 

[mrsilv04]

You'd think that after about 20 years, with nothing but minor changes, they'd be able to put a Ranger together correctly at this point.

 

[MNgopher]

May also be a sign of the fact that the factory that makes Rangers, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, was supposed to be shut down by now under Fords original closure schedule, and has since had its closure postponed several times.

I wish you luck in finding good help to fill jobs that have a very finite lifespan at this point.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

When I worked in final assembly qc at a factory, i checked fasteners for proper torque. It was typical to find 5% or more of units ready to go out the door with loose or missing hardware - especially the morning after a good ball or hockey game

Most Asian vehicles have the critical bolts and nuts torque checked and a taletail mark added after the check. I saw No qc paint on any of the chassis bolts on this truck. So much for dealer prep, which I know has deteriorated to wash, clean and shine ONLY!

 

[LTVibe]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
When I worked in final assembly qc at a factory, i checked fasteners for proper torque. It was typical to find 5% or more of units ready to go out the door with loose or missing hardware...

I wish you had been working in Toyota/GM's Fremont, CA plant back in August 2004. I had to have two assembly line 'mistakes' fixed under warranty soon after I bought my Vibe:

1. One of the small bolts on the rear lift gate latch was not screwed in all the way due to cross-threading.

2. Under the hood, a mounting bracket for the A/C return pipe was missing.

I haven't found any other assembly line mistakes since then, but my PCM had to be replaced last March due to a recall. The circuit boards in the suspect PCMs were not properly 'assembled' (soldered).

 

[panthermike]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
You'd think that after about 20 years, with nothing but minor changes, they'd be able to put a Ranger together correctly at this point.


Stuff happens.

Hopefully this won't be a recurrence and the truck will be good to you. They're good little trucks really.

 

[JoeWGauss]

ARCO...

sorry to hear about your "find" on your new Ranger.

If I were you I would have gone to the dealer and had this defect at least documented by them. I would also write a brief letter to Alan Mulally explaining what you found. I'm sure Ford would be very interested to know about this.

As an aside I used to do final inspection / QC checks for ALL OEM oil pumps on the Ranger produced for the MY 2004 while I worked at Pierburg, in Fountain Inn, SC.

Pierburg clearly got their money's worth from me during the time I worked there

. Also worked on the throttle body line for various GM vehicles including the Corvette

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I'm happy to have bought something assembeled in the good ole USofA and I'm feeling pretty good about it being OK now, though I wasnt too happy the other day when I was trying to tighten 'er back up. The body mount top nut (18mm) is in a pretty tight spot so there is an assembly line access hole way up on the raditor cross brace to get wayyyy down to the frame rail with a long extension. Now I'm trying to search forums and find what is "normal' for the engine noise. Seems to sound like a warm diesel when warm(!). Most Ive read about is "noisy injectors" - but I'm a 20 grade oil worrier. I am sure ford torture tested this engine to hades and back with the 5w-20. Still I wonder what I might gain or loose going to a 30 in the DOHC duratec ... Hmmmm. -
Finally these Ranger XL vehicles are a stunning bargain at about 15K out the door new. Four-wheel disc brakes(YAY!)+ABS(BOO!), japanese transmission(!?), Big 225/15 Continental ContiTrac tires, std frame mounted receiver hitch now, Ralley Bumper and chin spoiler, AC, FM/CD/MP3. Rubber floor, killer heater + wait for it ... ... ... FULL FRAME AND Rear Wheel Drive - Whoo HOO!

 

[JoeWGauss]

So does anyone know the general low down on whether or not the current Ranger model will no longer produced?

It seems like the rumor mill about this old work horse model has been that it has ended production and no new Ranger will replace it. I think that is a serious mistake.

The current Ranger has a very large and loyal following whether private owners or fleet buyers. If I was Ford I would just keep right on producing this model until the marketplace no longer wants it.

 

[dishdude]

Yeah I don't know why the American companies are abandoning this small truck market. They are very useful for small business, and as a second or third vehicle for personal use.

I do think GM is coming out with a much improved Colorado in the next year or so.

 

[MNgopher]

2011 is it for the North American Ranger. There is no replacement, and the St. Paul Ford Assembly plant will close.

There is a world version that is produced (with a turbodiesel option to boot) that will not be offered here.

Ford's logic:

-The Ranger is 90% the size of the F150, so there is no noticeable difference in going to the F150 instead (drive a ranger and a F150 back to back and let me know what you think of this arguement...)

-The new V6 lineup in the F150 provides the same or better fuel mileage than the V6 lineup in the Ranger.

-The world ranger is based on a Right hand drive steering configuration.

-People buying the Ranger are looking for a no-frills econobox. With newer, improved econobox options (Focus, etc...) these buyers will flee the Ranger.

-An ever decreasing market share (are they really surprised since there has been no real investment in the Ranger since 1993?)

Personally, I find it to be a bid to put everyone in a more expensive and profitable F150 more than anything else. Its too bad...

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Toyota must like this news. Maybe they will learn to make a decent base truck instead of a 1976 Carina with a pickup box. Maybe ISUZU will come back with the Lil Pup

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Most Ive read about is "noisy injectors" - but I'm a 20 grade oil worrier. I am sure ford torture tested this engine to hades and back with the 5w-20. Still I wonder what I might gain or loose going to a 30 in the DOHC duratec ... Hmmmm. -


Ford's putting the DOHC Duratec in the Ranger now? I bet that makes for one fast little truck.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Most Ive read about is "noisy injectors" - but I'm a 20 grade oil worrier. I am sure ford torture tested this engine to hades and back with the 5w-20. Still I wonder what I might gain or loose going to a 30 in the DOHC duratec ... Hmmmm. -


Ford's putting the DOHC Duratec in the Ranger now? I bet that makes for one fast little truck.


The 2.3L DOHC Duratec I4...not the V6. It has been offered since mid 2001. Not the fastest truck, but lots of owners do get 30 MPG + on the highway.

 

[JoeWGauss]

Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Ford's logic:

Personally, I find it to be a bid to put everyone in a more expensive and profitable F150 more than anything else. Its too bad...


I think Ford of late has been getting really arrogant. I think all the good reviews from the press and the aspect about Ford not taking gov't handouts has gone to their head.

I mean they only started producing good vehicles in the past several years or so and it seems they are getting too smug too soon.


Somehow Ford thinks that a few "good" years make up for decades of incompetence?

Hardly!

 

[MNgopher]

I'd disagree that Ford has only built good vehicles the last few years. My '97 F150 to this day is the best vehicle reliability wise I've owned or driven, and neither my '97 Explorer, 99 F150, or 04 F150 have been terribly far behind. Other models (such as the car lineup) I cannot state anything as I haven't owned them.

 

[The_Eric]

That 2.3 is a bit noisy. Go ahead an try a 30 grade and see what you think... You know you wont be happy till you try it.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
The 2.3L DOHC Duratec I4...not the V6. It has been offered since mid 2001. Not the fastest truck, but lots of owners do get 30 MPG + on the highway.


Oh. Ha ha. I read his statement of "30 in a DOHC Duratech", and just have seen "3.0 DOHC Duratech". My bad!!

 

[Drew2000]

Originally Posted By: MNgopher
May also be a sign of the fact that the factory that makes Rangers, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, was supposed to be shut down by now under Fords original closure schedule, and has since had its closure postponed several times.

I wish you luck in finding good help to fill jobs that have a very finite lifespan at this point.


IIRC, The Ranger assembly plant was closed this spring....only "new" Rangers are ones left in dealer inventory.