i nowhere doubted what you said earlier sad, you're not the one to make stuff up like some on this board with a name synonymous with a very far away planet. lol
good digging and kudos to you. but what really does this say about the FX4? im not going to make any excuses about it. as scorpio preaches, every new model needs about a year to get the bugs out, right? and here's the real eye-catcher- do you know how many manual FX4's there actually are? ive laid eyes on probably 20 FX4 rangers here in the central iowa area, (no smaller dealers in southern iowa even have them) and they are all automatics. i dont know what may be wrong with auto's, but evidently it sounds like its just affecting manual tranny FX4's.
nonetheless, i would still take a TRD tacoma on with any FX4 (preferably an auto FX4 cuz im lazy). its still a tough off-road machine. these problems will be fixed under warranty, and then it will be over and done with.
so what can be said? woo hoo, the FX4 has a problem. no one said it was perfect, and what does the axle breakage have to do with it being able to ford 2 feet of water? you must not understand how it can do this. it is because of a higher mounted airbox and intake area. it had nothing to do with its rear torsen lsd. that is there for traction aid only.
too bad for ford. again, ill say it. go feast your eyes on a silver FX4, and then we'll see how long it takes you to trade in your toyota. its like comparing a corolla (your toyota truck) to an svt focus (the FX4). the FX4 is sweet and very rare. yep it has a problem, but hell, so does ronald reagan, and he's still the toughest president we have.
But FX4 isnt supposed to be a new model, is it? More like the same old Ranger with some extra package stuff. The bugs that I spoke of usually mean engine problems, not the axles. I mean, when an axle snaps at a parking lot, thats not a bug, thats a disaster. And auto ones will probably be recalled later for axle problems, none have snapped yet, thats all. But it seems that FX4, the package that would enable Ranger to traverse 2 feet of water, and be all off-roady......breaks down at a parking lot. You say its a tough machine.....yeah, until you snap the axle when one of your tires is up in the air, and you are trying to get up a bumpy hill. It's a major screwup. You've been preaching about how great FX4 is....well, it's that great. Be careful, sir, don't take off too fast, and please don't take it offroad, or you will have to tow it home.
Thats all find and dandy that ford will fix the problem but I don't know about you but I would be mad if I was off roading my tacoma and the axle broke and I was stuck in the middle of nowhere. I understand new vehicles have problems, but Major problem hmmmm I don't think so
so you're saying that with all the automatic FX4's (probably 99% of them) that they will be affected with the problem the latest? that dont add up my man. i'd still take you on with one. and they're still the cooler looking truck of the two. not a dime a dozen like TRD's are now.
You've been so sarcastic about "Can't Toyota build a water-tight truck" some problem with water getting through the firewall. Well, as I said...can't Ford build a truck that acts like a truck? Seems that under high load the axle would snap. Well, that sort of takes away your big "Ranger can tow more" arguement. Sure, Ford will take care of the problem. So would Toyota. You said it.....Ford has gotten their crap together....I don't think so. Yes, they only made 2500 FX4s, but who cares? They put it out, advertised it, and thats the result. Does that inspire more confidence into Ford? Hell no. The only reason automatic didnt snap yet is because its delivering less torque than manual to the axle. It's just a matter of time now before Ford recalls the rest of FX4s.
Yes, they'll probably be recalled too. Not right now, this recall is because axles are snapping right under the drivers in the parking lots. The autos will be TSBed, most likely, for a replacement axle, later, when the fuss is settled.
I'm speculating at this point, but seeing how manual tranny is delivering more torque than the axle can handle, it would certainly make sense that automatic is delivering just barely within the specs, if not overloading the axle anyway. It's just a matter of time.
Tbunder: There is no candy-coating this one! I live in Iowa and have seen my fair share of FX4's. You can bag on Toyota until the cows come home but PLEASE find something in comparison with this Quality is job #1. I thought tough as a rock was bad, until now!
I should say so. If you think its only the manuals, just wait. The manuals are exploding now, I seriously doubt that the autos will be worth a crap in 20k miles. I genuinely hope that, in the name of safety, Ford does go on and recall all of these trucks. They would be dumb for doing anything else, especially after similar fatal fiascoes. What's sad is that this is old hat for the Ford people.
Forever, we touted our trucks because it beat a hummer and others in an offroad contest for a magazine - namely, the TRD model. Ford couldn't stand it - neither could you guys. So an angel of the Lord appeared and made the FX4. All of you immediately discredited our off-road king status, saying that there is a new boy in town, the FX4. It was designed after Ford talked to and interviewed real, live offroaders who like LSDs rather than lockers. I won't even raise the question as to which mall parking lot they found these off-roaders in. The Ford camp continually said that the TRD was outdated, and surpassed performance-wise by an off-road packaged truck with an LSD. Now because of that miraculous LSD that is "just as good as a locker" the FX4 seems to have a rear end that fails and falls onto the concrete when the gas is mashed too hard. Oh and "too hard" means accelerating out of a parking lot. If the blame doesn't rest on the LSD, which is the only difference, why don't all Rangers have the problem? Give me a break. How weak can it be? Think of the flack a 8" locked rearend takes when one wheel is lifted off road. All the responsibility for moving the vehicle lies on one eleven inch tire. That axle, 0.8" smaller, has never failed, never been recalled, never left anyone stranded (especially not in a parking lot).
I think the TRD was never challenged.
I think the Torsen sucks as bad as we knew it did.
I think that if they take the words "off road" off the quarter panel of those trucks, they would be much better off.
I think if Ford would concentrate on improving their pavement pounders, they would be better off.
I think Ford better seriously rethink this V8 thing.
I think if I had an AUTO FX4 I would TRY and sell it b4 someone found out all this. ~emphasis on the word "try"~
AND -- I think Tacos win again.
PS: I am not trying to really be ugly with any of this. Its just that for months, I have heard all kinda crap in response to the TRD comments. If this had happened to Toyota, I'd be getting the same thing. But the point is this: IT DIDN'T and IT WON'T HAPPEN TO TACOMAS, in the near future. Particularly the 4x4/TRDs.
i think you think you have more truck than you do.
i think you're jealous cuz you can't afford an FX4.
i think you're making this problem more into an issue than it really is. one problem, an axle. will ford not fix it?
i think you know the toyota rearend hasn't been recalled cuz your toyota doesn't have any amount of torque equal to ranger's.
i think you're wondering why rangers still outsell tacomas by the hundreds of thousands.
i think you're pissed cuz for the money you spent on your 2x2 toyota, you could have got a loaded 4x4 ranger with more power and torque and more standard features.
i think you are getting almost as bad as pluto on your repeated postings about nothing (stuff you just posted about the prior post), and i think you're trying to stir up trouble.
i do hope ford offers its new ranger in a crew cab with the FX4, i will personally arrange a get together with you and any other toyota owner for a little rendezvous to find out whose truck is better. like someone said, we'll hook one truck up to the other and have a pull-off. thats the only way. you game?
in the meantime, yep the FX4 ranger has an axle problem. let's talk about it nonstop. how about your tacoma's brake linkage that needs replaced? how about your new re-designed camry that already has two recalls? how about all the rangers that don't have axle problems? how about the ones that have lockers installed in them for cheaper than your tacoma cost with a wimpy factory one in it. you gonna harp on this thing forever? we concede a problem. big woop.
I could get pissed like you just did. But I ain't. I told you my intentions with the last post. I wasn't really tryin to bust your chops. You know you had things like that comin. I'll finish later, gotta go.
Post the link that says brake linkage had to be replaced. I mean..you are talking about this brake problem from the TSB report I listed. And you keep on saying that seat belts on Tacoma are failing, when you were told otherwise. We can afford an FX4. We just chose not to buy a truck that breaks axles. What does that say again about the Ford quality? About Camry? What are those recalls? I don't know, and maybe you can fill us in.
I messed with you so much about it cuz, the thing that got recalled was the very thing that you bragged about so much. Im not gonna flame you like you did me, so chill out. I would say I had it comin, but the part about money was a bit uncalled for. One day you're gonna mess up and call the wrong person poor. Seriouly, why do you think I couldn’t afford an FX4. You have no idea who I am, who my parents are, or anything about me. If I told you a little bit, you would retract your statement, I promise. I am not, however, because I was taught from any early age that, money does not make a person, whether you got it or not. You seem like a decent person, but that way you have of judging people is wrong. Sorry.
First of all, I cannot afford 4x4 cuz of insurance and college, being a male under 25. Once out of college, I will probably have the job of my dreams, because I have busted my [non-permissible content removed] for the past years of school. You might flame me cuz my parents bought my truck. They did, after I secured more money in scholarships than the truck was worth. I take better care of it than they take of their vehicles so everything is cool. That was the deal. However, they would not let me have a 4x4. I could have paid the difference but did not. Everyday I’m thankful for what my parents have done for me, they know it, and I take care of my stuff.
The only FX4 owner I have talked to got an auto for $23k. I could just about afford those payments now, but again insurance is an issue. In fact my 2x2 was about that much. If I did have enough money to buy one, Id spend it on a boat anyway.
I could've got a loaded 4x4 ranger, huh. Maybe so, but the insurance thing again. I got what I wanted, rest assured. When cost is an issue is purchasing a 4x4, I will definitely look at the rangers, promise.
Some rangers may have lockers installed in them for cheaper than the Toyota locker. I'll explain. Remember how you said the Torsen was made explicitly for the Ford Ranger. Well similarly, the Tacoma locker comes only in a certain axle. To get the locker, you must buy the axle. Normal axles are 8.4", the locked one is 8".
The part about the pull off - I am game, man. Just as soon as I say that I have a truck that can hang with yours. LOL. Actually, me and my truck are gonna go see the country one day, and if you'll promise me a steak, we might stop in and see ya.
I guess it sounds like I was stirring up trouble. Sorry. But would you have not done the same thing. Im finished with harping on this subject - promise.
My truck does have a torque amount fairly equal to that of the Ranger. Also remember one thing: our locked rearends are 8 inches. The ones that are falling off of the Rangers are 8.8. Does that account for some credit?
I am very proud of my truck because it is something I have wanted forever but never been able to have until now. I know I have a great truck rivaled only by the Ranger. That sound OK to you. Its just a little argument/debate man. Chill out. What would you think of me if I had just let this go? "What an idiot who's too cowardly to confront us on this." I mean seriously, can you blame me? Sorry if all the posts annoyed you and I'm sorry if this one did, too. Its all in good fun and until now I thought you understood that.
actually pluto, i made $3000 on it (more than i paid for it). at the moment im looking for something to get me through the summer til the '03 rangers come out. not many '01 rangers like mine for sale my man. didn't have a problem selling it at all. it actually went to virginia.
sad- i wholeheartedly apologize dude. i must admit i was getting a bit pissed hearing you bash the FX4 so often, when it really isn't a ford part that is ruining it, its the torsen rear-end. it is a minor thing that ford will take care of. the torsen was a new part that obviously wasn't tested enough before installation. i still don't think the locker is best for everyone. the lsd works out for both drivers on road and off. the locker would be nice, but if one so chooses, one can be bolted in a ranger in an hour and under $350. i am and will always be a ford man and kawasaki man, but i am buying a harley and do like toyotas. i just dont believe that they are the best trucks. i pretty much put the ZR2, TRD, and ranger 4.0 off-road in an equal class in off-road capability (with equal tires). however, i believe the ranger offers more stout (sans the torsen) build quality in everything. bigger engines ('cept for the 4.3, but the 4.0 still has more power), better safety, more power, better standard features, more towing, bigger and deeper bed, larger axles, stuff like that. i like the toyota and chevy, but the toyota seems thin and hollow, and the ZR2 (i had two) heavy and numb.
ps. i still think you should have sprang for the 4x4. also, are you sure on your rear axle thingy? i mean, that means pluto didn't know what he was talking about when he said his axle was only .4 smaller than ranger's 8.8. but hey, he doesn't know his #$%% from a hole in the ground so im not surprised. it was probably news to him too.
"actually pluto, i made $3000 on it (more than i paid for it). at the moment im looking for something to get me through the summer til the '03 rangers come out. not many '01 rangers like mine for sale my man. didn't have a problem selling it at all. it actually went to virginia."
Now why would somebody pay more money for a used truck than a new one? Sorry, tbundy, but do you really expect us to believe your truck is a classic whose value goes up in time? Especially a "pampered" one that's been "jumped?"
OH, I forgot, your truck has a locker and a bed that's welded to the frame!
Seriously, at this point I'm reading your creative nonsense out of morbid curiosity, "my man!"
Hmm...Toyota seems thin and hollow? You should have been in San Antonio yesterday when me and other 3 TTORA guys were putting a bodylift on one of the Tacos. See.....you are making "I believe" things but already providing exceptions to everything you say. Thats not good, is it? With equal tires? Solid build quality except for the axles? Give us a break. If Ford engineers can't get the torque measurements done on the axles at the prototype time, whats to expect from them?
I am not speaking for someone who might have said differently, but my understanding is that the locked rear ends are 8 inches and the other normal ones are 8.4. That is what I have been told several times. Ive never measured anything, though.
How about another year of the best selling compact truck? How about new surprises for 2003 models? Oh that's right since 2500 manually equipped FX4's could have a problem, the whole fleet of Rangers must be bad.
I'm glad the general public isn't as judgemental as you. Like the Explorer owners and buyers who still keep the Explorer the #1 SUV despite all the bad press.
Well, do you at least see anything wrong with the FX4 situation? Seriuosly...the truck should have gone through an extensive testing period, they would have caught the problem then. It feels like they went for a drive around the block, and also ran through 2 feet of water on the way back. Putting out FX4 as it is shows either lack of engineering effort, or seriuos misunderstanding between engineering and marketing as far as due dates go.
"Take it to the dealer, have it replaced under warranty. You trying to sound like this is the end of the world, and your truck is going to eat [diffentials] once a month, and blow an engine once a year. Aint gonna happen. Have the dealer replace it. "
You don't get it. The message this was quoted from was about a blown tranny on 1 DC Tacoma. Sounds like a mechanical problem at the assembly: the robot arm didnt tighten something properly. The FX4 problem IS a design defect. The whole thing was not designed properly. Speaking in db terms, 1 user entering invalid data vs. db admin not designing the entire database properly.
So, what if the supplier (Torsen) supplied differentials lacking the torque rating of the 4.0l ranger with standard transmission? You think Ford will leave them high and dry without any replacement or service on a brand new truck?
"The whole thing was not designed properly" may be true if looking at the Differential. If that comment is made for the Ranger FX4 in general, well good luck with your gross generalization.
Speaking in "db terms", you wouldn't rewrite the whole database topology and code, you would simply change the input code on a module to handle the torque.
I guess I'm just a glass is half full guy, and you see it as half empty. Sort of like the difference between a cluch and a torque converter.
lmao.....i see now you're obviously jealous cuz someone wanted my truck so bad they drove all the way from virginia to buy it. i also see your rage in spending so much on your toyota that you could not get your money back on it. like all ranger owners have been saying, they can be had pretty cheap if you have the cash. they're not overpriced like your tacomas. i didn't pay close to what it stickered for, that is why i made money on it (remember i got a $2000 rebate when i bought it). not to mention my truck's color was discontinued last november, and this buyer was "specifically" looking for bright island blue in a regular bed and not flareside with the off-road package, quad cab, and 4.0. engine. rangers are pretty common, but only a few come equipped to the hilt like mine was. some actually want the 6 cd changer in the dash and every other option mine had. the new tires were just a positive in his opinion. dont weep too hard, but something is telling me your resale theory was just thrown out the window. a main reason you don't see as many toyota trucks for sale as compared to the rangers is because ford builds nearly half a million more than toyota. again, never will i understand your fascination with my life, but i have to laugh everytime i notice that you're thinking of me. just proves how much of a life you don't have. again, i say call your mom, maybe your siblings, get some joy in life and enjoy. stop calling everyone liars and try to hold your head high, i know its hard since you're obviously a high power introvert, but society isn't that harsh is it?
scorpio- you're saying a whole truck is problematic just for a lsd problem? again, you need to be careful as to what you call the problem. its not the axle, it is the lsd inside the axle. it is made by torsen, maybe the whole batch was bad. who knows....but one thing is clear, ford will fix it and FX4 owners will go on about their lives. just like tacoma owners do when they break their transmissions or have their brake linkages replaced. nothing is perfect. you are blowing this up more than it should be. its one problem, not the whole truck.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #269 of 272 1 month 2002 Tacoma with Burned Transmission--HELP!!! by mosespac Feb 04, 2002 (07:07 am) We purchased a brand new 4 cylinder automatic 2002 Tacoma extra cab 4x2 exactly one month ago. Saturday night (2/2/02) the Truck started spewing white smoke and losing power. The oil level is full. When we checked under the hood there was a loose hose and what appears to be (purple?) transmission fluid sprayed all over the place. It seems like the transmission burned. What can we do in a situation like this? I know we're covered under warranty, but who wants to keep a brand new truck with such serious problems one month after the purchase? Any advice on what our options are?????? We purchased our truck at Keyes Toyota of Van Nuys California. Thanks!
Did you see the post I made about the diff. size? You wanted me to clear it up earlier -- just wondering if you saw it.
And with all seriousness, what do you think should be done and will be done with the auto fx4s? Not trying to be an [non-permissible content removed], just a real question for a simple conversation. It seems to me that it would have the same durability issues as the manuals, just not as soon. What do you think? L8r man.
Let me repeat myself: the burned tranny is an assembly problem. Other DC Tacos arent having failed transmissions. It's called manufacturing defect. Producing FX4 Rangers that have axles that can't handle torque from the engine is NOT manufacturing defect. It's a design defect, meaning that designers failed to properly design the product by using weak axles. The FX4 was assembled properly, according to the specs. I can't explain it any easier than this. If Torsen axle doesnt have the specs to handle torque, then engineers should not have used it. It seems that Ford has adopted the "Lets release it first, and work out bugs later when they show up" philosophy.
How Ranger guys are hiding behind "Oh, see, this Tacoma has a blown transmission after 1 month" and "Oh, maybe it's the whole batch of LSDs thats bad". Trying to pass an excuse for this design defect isnt going to work. You can quote that poor guy from SoCal with his blown tranny all you want (tbunder, I'm still waiting for you to provide PROOF that brake linkage was due to failing brakes, etc, and not some paperwork stuff....or replacement for a squeaky part), it's still like comparing apples and oranges. Comparing a manufacturing defect with design defect doesnt work. Just face it: Ford really screwed up with FX4. Sure, they'll replace the blown parts, but ....what did tbunder say? "Ford has really gotten their crap together on how to build trucks". Now did they? This FX4 fiasco isnt a good example of how they got their crap together.
How much do we really know about this? Is the information coming only from a Ranger message board, or has Ford actually recalled the truck or put out a TSB on it? I tend to be pretty skeptical of anything on an internet message board. Doesn't mean there isn't a legitimate problem, but it's pretty hard to gauge the scope of the problem and then draw conclusions from it.
i am looking at a 98 ranger extended cab xlt with 70,000 miles. it's in excellent condition. i am wondering what sort of maintenance might be coming up on it and how much it will cost. the seller is asking about $6900 for it. my dilemma is that i can get a 99 truck with same features at a wholesale auction and only 38k miles for about $1200 to $1800 more. if i am facing any maintenance or repairs (i.e. air con compressor) in the next 10,000 to 15,000 miles that'll put me back 500 or 600 then i will opt for the new car. so if any one that has had a ranger 80,000 or 100,000 miles that can lend any insight, it would be appreciated.
I'd be careful when buying a user car with such milage. Sure, it may be in excellent condition, then again, a guy from this board described his Ranger with 7K miles as never being abused, having bragged here about jumping the truck. I would be careful not only in case of Ford, but in case of a Toyota as well....after all, thats a pretty good milage. In general, you will have some problems with a vehicle that old. Maybe not $500 or $600, but you'll have some problems. I'd go for a '99 one, or look for a newer one, thats still under warranty.
the ONLY reference to the FX4 thingy that you have supplied is from a source that is NOT affiliated with fomoco. in all actuality, this site is known for stating false information, thus ford is involved in a huge lawsuit with it right now. im not doubting the info or supporting it, im just saying that we don't know how official it is. its not on the nhtsa's site. i do think (if it is truly a recall issue) that all FX4's should and will be serviced asap by ford. BUT, i went to a couple dealers today and all the FX4's were sitting in the same spots as they were last week. let's see some other proof other than the blueovalnews.com site.
scorpio- a defect is a defect. you make me laugh when you downplay so much when it's on a toyota, but if it's a ford problem, oooooh, its huge. swallow a little pride and admit that toyota doesn't build the quality you think they do. the toyota tranny is a toyota tranny, the ford lsd is NOT a ford product. why aren't you criticizing torsen. after all, if toyota's TRD's bilstein shocks suddenly started exploding, you wouldn't blame toyota would you; you'd place all the blame on to bilstein. don't even tell me you wouldn't. nothing is perfect.
everfreddy- that person that the mis-informed sc0rpio is talking about "jumping" their ranger is me. jumping to me and jumping to others is evidently two different things. sure i used my ranger for some fun, but never did i jump it like he wants you to believe. i traversed some ditches a few times when the wheels left the ground, but nowhere near the point as to be considered abuse. whatever....most of the toyota owners here don't actually use their 4x4's, they just drive them around. however, when i pay for a transfer case, i plan on using it. trucks are fun. to answer you specific question....i don't think you could go wrong either way. ranger's are known to last a good long time. my dad currently has an '88 4x4 with nearly 200K (which he uses for wood cutting, and crap home use jobs) on it, and he has not done one thing to it. you have to find out how it has been cared for to deduct how long it will last. a warranty is nice, but i wouldn't be scared to buy the '98. '98 and '99 rangers are identical in everything, nothing was changed until '01. i might get the one with lower mileage if it is only the amount more that you said. good luck.
I did not realize that about the blueovalnews folks. However, I think more stock can be put in the message board source than some think. There is even a guy that posts on the TTORA board that owns an auto FX4 and can vouch for the problems with the manual counterparts b/c of visits to the dealer. He claims that the dealer acknowledged a problem in those trucks, just not in his. BUT, I am just trying to back up a statement, not harping on the issue. No tears please.
The only reason that we aren't making fun of Torsen is that this is a taco/ranger argument. Thats just the way it goes. Neither side is doing anything the other would not. As far as I can tell, rules of engagement are being followed here.
I agree, though, what really matters is how trucks are cared for as far as their longevity goes. Do any of you guys use synthetic oil? I am thinking of switching to Mobil 1 at my next oil change.
Judging from a post about halfway down the second page, it sounds like one guy might have talked to a Ford rep. who said that all will eventually be recalled. Read and make your own interpretation, however.
That's the type of link I was hoping for, an actual press release rather than just message board posts. Now the official recall should be right around the corner.
Let me repeat this for 3rd, or 4th time: that toyota tranny is a manufacturing defect. Some robot arm failed to tighten something at the factory. You've used that line yourself. When several Rangers fail to the same problem within 1 week, and are recalled, it's not a manufacturing defect. It's poor design. Chances of Rangers getting 2500 bad Torsens are null, thats why quality controls are in place. Don't try to say that manufacturing defect is the same as design defect. It's not, and you are coming off looking stupider and stupider every time you say it. Design defect applies to all products built off those specs, and in fact those vehicles are built properly at the factory. Manufacturing defect is when they are not built properly at the factory.
You sound like you work for Ford. "Its never our fault! Its everyone else, not us". Hey, if my Bilsteins blow up under me I'll think "Well, what a bummer. I guess I'll just go and get myself that suspension lift that I've been planning to get, since now I need new shocks anyway." Yes, I will take it to a Toyota dealer and complain, so they give me new set of shocks, that I can sell later. Yes, I will hold Toyota responsible for putting defective shocks on my truck. If all of the Bilstein shocks start exploding in all of the Toy trucks out there, it'll definitely be Toyotas fault for holding a partnership with a company that is supplying bad quality products. Toyota in turn will turn to Bilstein and make them replace everything. But there'll still be a bad taste left, because it happened to Toyota. Sure, nothing is perfect, but can you tell me when Toyota had to halt sales and demonstrations of a brand new model like Ford just had to do?
you're wheeling this weekend my [non-permissible content removed]. i'd love to bring a new FX4 to put you to shame, but i dont think ill make it. but tell me this, how many TRD's will be there? how many ZR2's? FX4's? its too bad the TRD is as common as a ford explorer these days. and now to think they may blow up their transmissions or have faulty brake linkages and seat belts? hmmmmm.....
Well, if you don't believe me come check for yourself. We are going to be gathering at 9am at Ingram Mall in San Antonio. Last time there were 9 Tacos showing up, 2-3 of them actual TRDs, 2 Reg Cabs, the rest with a lot of mods. At the Den there's always people wheeling on weekends. Don't know how many people are going this time, probably about the same. ZR2s and FX4s are not exactly part of TTORA, so we just might run into some on the trails/river bed.
Seat belts hold up very well. Brake linkage? Whats that? Blows trannies? Yeah, we had a guy replace it under warranty after he bought the truck from someone else with 30K or so, whats your point? At least Tacos arent blowing trannies 1 weekend after they are bought, in many different places. Again, I ask you, tell me of at least one occurence when Toyota has halted sales and showings of new model. Also, what were those 2 recalls on Camry? I'd like to see whats happening there.
Comments
built ford parking lot.
built ford autoshop.
and the last, but not least....
built ford POOZER!
good digging and kudos to you. but what really does this say about the FX4? im not going to make any excuses about it. as scorpio preaches, every new model needs about a year to get the bugs out, right? and here's the real eye-catcher- do you know how many manual FX4's there actually are? ive laid eyes on probably 20 FX4 rangers here in the central iowa area, (no smaller dealers in southern iowa even have them) and they are all automatics. i dont know what may be wrong with auto's, but evidently it sounds like its just affecting manual tranny FX4's.
nonetheless, i would still take a TRD tacoma on with any FX4 (preferably an auto FX4 cuz im lazy). its still a tough off-road machine. these problems will be fixed under warranty, and then it will be over and done with.
so what can be said? woo hoo, the FX4 has a problem. no one said it was perfect, and what does the axle breakage have to do with it being able to ford 2 feet of water? you must not understand how it can do this. it is because of a higher mounted airbox and intake area. it had nothing to do with its rear torsen lsd. that is there for traction aid only.
too bad for ford. again, ill say it. go feast your eyes on a silver FX4, and then we'll see how long it takes you to trade in your toyota. its like comparing a corolla (your toyota truck) to an svt focus (the FX4). the FX4 is sweet and very rare. yep it has a problem, but hell, so does ronald reagan, and he's still the toughest president we have.
It's a major screwup. You've been preaching about how great FX4 is....well, it's that great. Be careful, sir, don't take off too fast, and please don't take it offroad, or you will have to tow it home.
Sure, Ford will take care of the problem. So would Toyota. You said it.....Ford has gotten their crap together....I don't think so. Yes, they only made 2500 FX4s, but who cares? They put it out, advertised it, and thats the result. Does that inspire more confidence into Ford? Hell no.
The only reason automatic didnt snap yet is because its delivering less torque than manual to the axle. It's just a matter of time now before Ford recalls the rest of FX4s.
I'm speculating at this point, but seeing how manual tranny is delivering more torque than the axle can handle, it would certainly make sense that automatic is delivering just barely within the specs, if not overloading the axle anyway. It's just a matter of time.
So it looks like you shouldn't buy a FX4 with a standard transmission right now, as well as not buy any Tacoma's supplied from Gulf Toyota.
At least this FX4 axle issue gave all the Toyota guys something to come out of the woodwork about...
I think the TRD was never challenged.
I think the Torsen sucks as bad as we knew it did.
I think that if they take the words "off road" off the quarter panel of those trucks, they would be much better off.
I think if Ford would concentrate on improving their pavement pounders, they would be better off.
I think Ford better seriously rethink this V8 thing.
I think if I had an AUTO FX4 I would TRY and sell it b4 someone found out all this. ~emphasis on the word "try"~
AND -- I think Tacos win again.
PS: I am not trying to really be ugly with any of this. Its just that for months, I have heard all kinda crap in response to the TRD comments. If this had happened to Toyota, I'd be getting the same thing. But the point is this: IT DIDN'T and IT WON'T HAPPEN TO TACOMAS, in the near future. Particularly the 4x4/TRDs.
i think you think you have more truck than you do.
i think you're jealous cuz you can't afford an FX4.
i think you're making this problem more into an issue than it really is. one problem, an axle. will ford not fix it?
i think you know the toyota rearend hasn't been recalled cuz your toyota doesn't have any amount
of torque equal to ranger's.
i think you're wondering why rangers still outsell tacomas by the hundreds of thousands.
i think you're pissed cuz for the money you spent on your 2x2 toyota, you could have got a loaded 4x4 ranger with more power and torque and more standard features.
i think you are getting almost as bad as pluto on your repeated postings about nothing (stuff you just posted about the prior post), and i think you're trying to stir up trouble.
i do hope ford offers its new ranger in a crew cab with the FX4, i will personally arrange a get together with you and any other toyota owner for a little rendezvous to find out whose truck is better. like someone said, we'll hook one truck up to the other and have a pull-off. thats the only way. you game?
in the meantime, yep the FX4 ranger has an axle problem. let's talk about it nonstop. how about your tacoma's brake linkage that needs replaced? how about your new re-designed camry that already has two recalls? how about all the rangers that don't have axle problems? how about the ones that have lockers installed in them for cheaper than your tacoma cost with a wimpy factory one in it. you gonna harp on this thing forever? we concede a problem. big woop.
Keep telling yourself Ford=Quality and maybe someday it will come true.
Too much torque, hahahahahahahahahhahaha!
We can afford an FX4. We just chose not to buy a truck that breaks axles. What does that say again about the Ford quality?
About Camry? What are those recalls? I don't know, and maybe you can fill us in.
"Ford Ranger FX4 is so powerful, it breaks the axle in the parking lot".
First of all, I cannot afford 4x4 cuz of insurance and college, being a male under 25. Once out of college, I will probably have the job of my dreams, because I have busted my [non-permissible content removed] for the past years of school. You might flame me cuz my parents bought my truck. They did, after I secured more money in scholarships than the truck was worth. I take better care of it than they take of their vehicles so everything is cool. That was the deal. However, they would not let me have a 4x4. I could have paid the difference but did not. Everyday I’m thankful for what my parents have done for me, they know it, and I take care of my stuff.
The only FX4 owner I have talked to got an auto for $23k. I could just about afford those payments now, but again insurance is an issue. In fact my 2x2 was about that much. If I did have enough money to buy one, Id spend it on a boat anyway.
I could've got a loaded 4x4 ranger, huh. Maybe so, but the insurance thing again. I got what I wanted, rest assured. When cost is an issue is purchasing a 4x4, I will definitely look at the rangers, promise.
Some rangers may have lockers installed in them for cheaper than the Toyota locker. I'll explain. Remember how you said the Torsen was made explicitly for the Ford Ranger. Well similarly, the Tacoma locker comes only in a certain axle. To get the locker, you must buy the axle. Normal axles are 8.4", the locked one is 8".
The part about the pull off - I am game, man. Just as soon as I say that I have a truck that can hang with yours. LOL. Actually, me and my truck are gonna go see the country one day, and if you'll promise me a steak, we might stop in and see ya.
I guess it sounds like I was stirring up trouble. Sorry. But would you have not done the same thing. Im finished with harping on this subject - promise.
My truck does have a torque amount fairly equal to that of the Ranger. Also remember one thing: our locked rearends are 8 inches. The ones that are falling off of the Rangers are 8.8. Does that account for some credit?
I am very proud of my truck because it is something I have wanted forever but never been able to have until now. I know I have a great truck rivaled only by the Ranger. That sound OK to you. Its just a little argument/debate man. Chill out. What would you think of me if I had just let this go? "What an idiot who's too cowardly to confront us on this." I mean seriously, can you blame me? Sorry if all the posts annoyed you and I'm sorry if this one did, too. Its all in good fun and until now I thought you understood that.
-That's the dead giveaway when someone has lost an arguement. going with the old, "mine's better 'cause you can't afford it..." routine.
Also Tbunder, I really don't think you want to play the recall game as you will lose quite handily.
Hmmm, sounds similair to the McDonalds or Walmart comparison to Ranger trucks.
I still don't really care about the FX4 thing. My next ranger is gonna be a 4x2(With Limited Slip), v6 in a Regular cab.
Still offering 2000 cash back or 0.0% financing in my area...
Either he didn't sell it and was lying as usual, or he did sell it and got "taken to the cleaners."
BTW, did you advertise your truck as having a rear locker on it, like you thought it had when you bought it? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
sad- i wholeheartedly apologize dude. i must admit i was getting a bit pissed hearing you bash the FX4 so often, when it really isn't a ford part that is ruining it, its the torsen rear-end. it is a minor thing that ford will take care of. the torsen was a new part that obviously wasn't tested enough before installation. i still don't think the locker is best for everyone. the lsd works out for both drivers on road and off. the locker would be nice, but if one so chooses, one can be bolted in a ranger in an hour and under $350. i am and will always be a ford man and kawasaki man, but i am buying a harley and do like toyotas. i just dont believe that they are the best trucks. i pretty much put the ZR2, TRD, and ranger 4.0 off-road in an equal class in off-road capability (with equal tires). however, i believe the ranger offers more stout (sans the torsen) build quality in everything. bigger engines ('cept for the 4.3, but the 4.0 still has more power), better safety, more power, better standard features, more towing, bigger and deeper bed, larger axles, stuff like that. i like the toyota and chevy, but the toyota seems thin and hollow, and the ZR2 (i had two) heavy and numb.
ps. i still think you should have sprang for the 4x4. also, are you sure on your rear axle thingy? i mean, that means pluto didn't know what he was talking about when he said his axle was only .4 smaller than ranger's 8.8. but hey, he doesn't know his #$%% from a hole in the ground so im not surprised. it was probably news to him too.
Now why would somebody pay more money for a used truck than a new one? Sorry, tbundy, but do you really expect us to believe your truck is a classic whose value goes up in time? Especially a "pampered" one that's been "jumped?"
OH, I forgot, your truck has a locker and a bed that's welded to the frame!
Seriously, at this point I'm reading your creative nonsense out of morbid curiosity, "my man!"
You should have been in San Antonio yesterday when me and other 3 TTORA guys were putting a bodylift on one of the Tacos.
See.....you are making "I believe" things but already providing exceptions to everything you say. Thats not good, is it? With equal tires? Solid build quality except for the axles?
Give us a break. If Ford engineers can't get the torque measurements done on the axles at the prototype time, whats to expect from them?
I'm glad the general public isn't as judgemental as you. Like the Explorer owners and buyers who still keep the Explorer the #1 SUV despite all the bad press.
Putting out FX4 as it is shows either lack of engineering effort, or seriuos misunderstanding between engineering and marketing as far as due dates go.
The message this was quoted from was about a blown tranny on 1 DC Tacoma. Sounds like a mechanical problem at the assembly: the robot arm didnt tighten something properly.
The FX4 problem IS a design defect. The whole thing was not designed properly. Speaking in db terms, 1 user entering invalid data vs. db admin not designing the entire database properly.
"The whole thing was not designed properly" may be true if looking at the Differential. If that comment is made for the Ranger FX4 in general, well good luck with your gross generalization.
Speaking in "db terms", you wouldn't rewrite the whole database topology and code, you would simply change the input code on a module to handle the torque.
I guess I'm just a glass is half full guy, and you see it as half empty. Sort of like the difference between a cluch and a torque converter.
scorpio- you're saying a whole truck is problematic just for a lsd problem? again, you need to be careful as to what you call the problem. its not the axle, it is the lsd inside the axle. it is made by torsen, maybe the whole batch was bad. who knows....but one thing is clear, ford will fix it and FX4 owners will go on about their lives. just like tacoma owners do when they break their transmissions or have their brake linkages replaced. nothing is perfect. you are blowing this up more than it should be. its one problem, not the whole truck.
#269 of 272 1 month 2002 Tacoma with Burned Transmission--HELP!!! by mosespac Feb 04, 2002 (07:07 am)
We purchased a brand new 4 cylinder automatic 2002 Tacoma extra cab 4x2 exactly one month ago. Saturday night (2/2/02) the Truck started spewing white smoke and losing power. The oil level is full. When we checked under the hood there was a loose hose and what appears to be (purple?) transmission fluid sprayed all over the place. It seems like the transmission burned. What can we do in a situation like this? I know we're covered under warranty, but who wants to keep a brand new truck with such serious problems one month after the purchase? Any advice on what our options are?????? We purchased our truck at Keyes Toyota of Van Nuys California. Thanks!
like i said- nothing is perfect.
And with all seriousness, what do you think should be done and will be done with the auto fx4s? Not trying to be an [non-permissible content removed], just a real question for a simple conversation. It seems to me that it would have the same durability issues as the manuals, just not as soon. What do you think?
L8r man.
the burned tranny is an assembly problem. Other DC Tacos arent having failed transmissions. It's called manufacturing defect.
Producing FX4 Rangers that have axles that can't handle torque from the engine is NOT manufacturing defect. It's a design defect, meaning that designers failed to properly design the product by using weak axles. The FX4 was assembled properly, according to the specs.
I can't explain it any easier than this.
If Torsen axle doesnt have the specs to handle torque, then engineers should not have used it. It seems that Ford has adopted the "Lets release it first, and work out bugs later when they show up" philosophy.
I tend to be pretty skeptical of anything on an internet message board. Doesn't mean there isn't a legitimate problem, but it's pretty hard to gauge the scope of the problem and then draw conclusions from it.
I think this is what convinced everyone that it wasn't a hoax.
I would be careful not only in case of Ford, but in case of a Toyota as well....after all, thats a pretty good milage.
In general, you will have some problems with a vehicle that old. Maybe not $500 or $600, but you'll have some problems.
I'd go for a '99 one, or look for a newer one, thats still under warranty.
scorpio- a defect is a defect. you make me laugh when you downplay so much when it's on a toyota, but if it's a ford problem, oooooh, its huge. swallow a little pride and admit that toyota doesn't build the quality you think they do. the toyota tranny is a toyota tranny, the ford lsd is NOT a ford product. why aren't you criticizing torsen. after all, if toyota's TRD's bilstein shocks suddenly started exploding, you wouldn't blame toyota would you; you'd place all the blame on to bilstein. don't even tell me you wouldn't.
nothing is perfect.
everfreddy- that person that the mis-informed sc0rpio is talking about "jumping" their ranger is me. jumping to me and jumping to others is evidently two different things. sure i used my ranger for some fun, but never did i jump it like he wants you to believe. i traversed some ditches a few times when the wheels left the ground, but nowhere near the point as to be considered abuse. whatever....most of the toyota owners here don't actually use their 4x4's, they just drive them around. however, when i pay for a transfer case, i plan on using it. trucks are fun.
to answer you specific question....i don't think you could go wrong either way. ranger's are known to last a good long time. my dad currently has an '88 4x4 with nearly 200K (which he uses for wood cutting, and crap home use jobs) on it, and he has not done one thing to it. you have to find out how it has been cared for to deduct how long it will last. a warranty is nice, but i wouldn't be scared to buy the '98. '98 and '99 rangers are identical in everything, nothing was changed until '01. i might get the one with lower mileage if it is only the amount more that you said. good luck.
The only reason that we aren't making fun of Torsen is that this is a taco/ranger argument. Thats just the way it goes. Neither side is doing anything the other would not. As far as I can tell, rules of engagement are being followed here.
I agree, though, what really matters is how trucks are cared for as far as their longevity goes. Do any of you guys use synthetic oil? I am thinking of switching to Mobil 1 at my next oil change.
http://www.freep.com/money/business/irep1_20020201.htm
http://www.offroadrangers.com/forum/showthread.php?s=ebaa72d803fb2da70a6b872b549ec340&threadid=1840
that toyota tranny is a manufacturing defect. Some robot arm failed to tighten something at the factory. You've used that line yourself.
When several Rangers fail to the same problem within 1 week, and are recalled, it's not a manufacturing defect. It's poor design. Chances of Rangers getting 2500 bad Torsens are null, thats why quality controls are in place. Don't try to say that manufacturing defect is the same as design defect. It's not, and you are coming off looking stupider and stupider every time you say it. Design defect applies to all products built off those specs, and in fact those vehicles are built properly at the factory. Manufacturing defect is when they are not built properly at the factory.
You sound like you work for Ford. "Its never our fault! Its everyone else, not us". Hey, if my Bilsteins blow up under me I'll think "Well, what a bummer. I guess I'll just go and get myself that suspension lift that I've been planning to get, since now I need new shocks anyway." Yes, I will take it to a Toyota dealer and complain, so they give me new set of shocks, that I can sell later. Yes, I will hold Toyota responsible for putting defective shocks on my truck. If all of the Bilstein shocks start exploding in all of the Toy trucks out there, it'll definitely be Toyotas fault for holding a partnership with a company that is supplying bad quality products. Toyota in turn will turn to Bilstein and make them replace everything. But there'll still be a bad taste left, because it happened to Toyota.
Sure, nothing is perfect, but can you tell me when Toyota had to halt sales and demonstrations of a brand new model like Ford just had to do?
Pluto, care to repost the jumping messages? I wanna read them again.
Seat belts hold up very well. Brake linkage? Whats that? Blows trannies? Yeah, we had a guy replace it under warranty after he bought the truck from someone else with 30K or so, whats your point? At least Tacos arent blowing trannies 1 weekend after they are bought, in many different places. Again, I ask you, tell me of at least one occurence when Toyota has halted sales and showings of new model.
Also, what were those 2 recalls on Camry? I'd like to see whats happening there.