Engine shutter.

[Mark Lally]

I'm thinking I have a bad injector. When I first picked this truck up from the dealer this Tuesday I notices a pronounced engine shutter when accelerating lightly and while coasting back down. I immediately mentioned it to my salesman who had followed me home in my car to drop the truck off at my house.
After getting back home I drove the truck again, it was physically making me ill from the shuttering. I took the truck back to the dealer the next day and talked to the sales manager (my sales guy was not in that day), I told the manager about the shutter and he asked me if I wanted to drive another ranger with a similar set up 2WD, XLT; I knew just as soon as I hit the gas on this other Ranger that this other truck was smooth and had no shutter like my truck. I had the manager drive mine at the same time, he confirmed he felt the shutter and set up for a mechanic to look at it the same day.
I pick the truck up later in the day and I was very disappointed to find that the mechanic had done nothing and I was told that the truck needed to be driven 500 to a 1000 miles for the transmission to adapt. While I agree that the transmission was shifting weird also, I knew that was not the only problem, I asked the service manager to explain the shutter, and to why the other ranger I drove did not do it. He said this is what Ford said I should do.
I should also mention that I am a serious gear head and an ex Ford mechanic (drivability specialist), so I do recognize a problem when I see one.
From most of what I have read on this forum, most speak about how smooth this drive-train is. The transmission shifts have for the most part sorted themselves out, but the shutter remains, even more so when the engine is cold.
I know there is a TSB or two concerning this problem on earlier build dates, my fear is this same mechanic will say they do not apply to my build date an yet do absolutely nothing again. I had problems with this same mechanic at a different dealership about 18 years ago concerning my Snap-On Box truck (he caused the truck to be down a week longer than it should have).
My question to the group is, does anyone have any advice as how to get this problem fixed ASAP without causing much drama at the dealership? I sooo miss my 2011 ranger I sold a day earlier.

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[THLONE]

This is a problem with first year first run new vehicles. It will take a while to train mechanics and also find solutions to the problems that will occur.

 

[Ric]

I'm thinking I have a bad injector. When I first picked this truck up from the dealer this Tuesday I notices a pronounced engine shutter when accelerating lightly and while coasting back down. I immediately mentioned it to my salesman who had followed me home in my car to drop the truck off at my house.
After getting back home I drove the truck again, it was physically making me ill from the shuttering. I took the truck back to the dealer the next day and talked to the sales manager (my sales guy was not in that day), I told the manager about the shutter and he asked me if I wanted to drive another ranger with a similar set up 2WD, XLT; I knew just as soon as I hit the gas on this other Ranger that this other truck was smooth and had no shutter like my truck. I had the manager drive mine at the same time, he confirmed he felt the shutter and set up for a mechanic to look at it the same day.
I pick the truck up later in the day and I was very disappointed to find that the mechanic had done nothing and I was told that the truck needed to be driven 500 to a 1000 miles for the transmission to adapt. While I agree that the transmission was shifting weird also, I knew that was not the only problem, I asked the service manager to explain the shutter, and to why the other ranger I drove did not do it. He said this is what Ford said I should do.
I should also mention that I am a serious gear head and an ex Ford mechanic (drivability specialist), so I do recognize a problem when I see one.
From most of what I have read on this forum, most speak about how smooth this drive-train is. The transmission shifts have for the most part sorted themselves out, but the shutter remains, even more so when the engine is cold.
I know there is a TSB or two concerning this problem on earlier build dates, my fear is this same mechanic will say they do not apply to my build date an yet do absolutely nothing again. I had problems with this same mechanic at a different dealership about 18 years ago concerning my Snap-On Box truck (he caused the truck to be down a week longer than it should have).
My question to the group is, does anyone have any advice as how to get this problem fixed ASAP without causing much drama at the dealership? I sooo miss my 2011 ranger I sold a day earlier.

My truck acted the exact same way as you described. It was a bad injector which was replaced. Now my truck is running much smoother.

 

[Mark Lally]

My truck acted the exact same way as you described. It was a bad injector which was replaced. Now my truck is running much smoother.

Thanks for the reply and just as I thought, I'm hoping to have mine fixed before the CEL comes on, but that will require a mechanic who gives a damn.

 

[Rick - Saber]

Sorry to hear this is happening to your truck. Not sure if the person that followed you home also drove the truck at that time too. If the manager drove your truck the next day. The mechanic also should have test driven it when you took it back. Between the two or three of them they should have been able to tell if it was the engine or transmission acting up.

I was really hoping Ford had this injector problem sorted out already. My truck should have been built any day now. Had my fingers crossed that the bad batch of injectors or whatever is causing these problems were isolated and no longer being installed. Will keep an eye out for any of these symptoms on mine.

I'm guessing the mechanic was busy and did not look at your truck - did you notice the mileage? Just used the cop-out that the truck needs to adapt. Had they driven it they should know an engine shutter / bad injector versus an over eager trans shift. I would request for a different mechanic to look at your vehicle since you have had problems with that one in the past. Once this is sorted with the dealer you bought it from can you go to a different dealer to avoid them?

Out of curiosity did you buy from off the lot or place an order? Just trying to figure out build dates.

Suggest a ride along with manager, salesperson and or mechanic with you. That way you can be sure they are experiencing what you are.

 

[Mark Lally]

I ordered the truck, as the only trucks on dealer lots for the next few months where all going to be crew cabs with 4WD, I wanted a super cab and 2WD.
I took delivery 3 months to the day. I was very satisfied with the sales staff, I got a fair deal with no BS. The sales manager even offered to just exchange the truck I test drove for comparison for the one I bought the day before, I said thanks, but I don't want a crew cab with a five foot bed.
I put this squarely on the mechanic and to a lesser degree on the service manager. I did not record the mileage difference before dropping it off and picking it up, but the center display was changed to show the transmission gear indicator, so I assume it was driven. Like I said before, I know from experience that this particular mechanic is a POS (not his abilities, his attitude). This is a small dealership, I'm not sure if they have another drive-train mechanic, but I will insist on one on the next trip, otherwise I'm going somewhere else, and I know they don't want that either.

 

[Mark Lally]

RE: Service Managers.

I really believe that Ford sends these guys on a special course as soon as they receive the title of Service Manager.
it's gotta be day one of training and it's hammered into them for 5 days straight until they murmur the script perfectly without hesitation no matter who is badgering them or for what. If they fail this training, they remove the brain and try shock therapy.

Quite simply the script is deny everything.

I'm going to try reverse psychology and go in complaining that this is the best damn transmission I have ever had and there must be nothing damn well wrong with it at all.

This should confuse them enough to have it on the hoist replacing the whole drive train and top up my blinker fluid for free before they know what hit them.

I agree, it would seem to be the case sometimes, but I must say from my experience (as a former dealership mechanic) , I have known some to be just as you describe, but I have know some great ones also. I had one service manager who was a full blown sociopath.

 

[kieefer]

I had a similar problem with a shutter, a miss is what it felt like more to me, around 1500rpm and 4500rpm.
I noticed it did run better with premium fuel and would run one reg tank then a premium tank to see if it improved. It did.

I often felt the fuel was poor or had some water in the tank....? And I thought it ran better with the auto-start off...?

2500 miles now and it’s much improved but I did ask the service manager last week about this miss I felt. He said if the engine detects a miss fire you will get a CEL, he offered no assistance until I got a CEL.

My tranny has operated flawlessly and I seldom notice it shifting. I have been intentionally driving my truck throughout the rpm and shifting range since I heard about this learn feature.

 

[Jeffrey]

I'm thinking I have a bad injector. When I first picked this truck up from the dealer this Tuesday I notices a pronounced engine shutter when accelerating lightly and while coasting back down. I immediately mentioned it to my salesman who had followed me home in my car to drop the truck off at my house.
After getting back home I drove the truck again, it was physically making me ill from the shuttering. I took the truck back to the dealer the next day and talked to the sales manager (my sales guy was not in that day), I told the manager about the shutter and he asked me if I wanted to drive another ranger with a similar set up 2WD, XLT; I knew just as soon as I hit the gas on this other Ranger that this other truck was smooth and had no shutter like my truck. I had the manager drive mine at the same time, he confirmed he felt the shutter and set up for a mechanic to look at it the same day.
I pick the truck up later in the day and I was very disappointed to find that the mechanic had done nothing and I was told that the truck needed to be driven 500 to a 1000 miles for the transmission to adapt. While I agree that the transmission was shifting weird also, I knew that was not the only problem, I asked the service manager to explain the shutter, and to why the other ranger I drove did not do it. He said this is what Ford said I should do.
I should also mention that I am a serious gear head and an ex Ford mechanic (drivability specialist), so I do recognize a problem when I see one.
From most of what I have read on this forum, most speak about how smooth this drive-train is. The transmission shifts have for the most part sorted themselves out, but the shutter remains, even more so when the engine is cold.
I know there is a TSB or two concerning this problem on earlier build dates, my fear is this same mechanic will say they do not apply to my build date an yet do absolutely nothing again. I had problems with this same mechanic at a different dealership about 18 years ago concerning my Snap-On Box truck (he caused the truck to be down a week longer than it should have).
My question to the group is, does anyone have any advice as how to get this problem fixed ASAP without causing much drama at the dealership? I sooo miss my 2011 ranger I sold a day earlier.

I'm thinking I have a bad injector. When I first picked this truck up from the dealer this Tuesday I notices a pronounced engine shutter when accelerating lightly and while coasting back down. I immediately mentioned it to my salesman who had followed me home in my car to drop the truck off at my house.
After getting back home I drove the truck again, it was physically making me ill from the shuttering. I took the truck back to the dealer the next day and talked to the sales manager (my sales guy was not in that day), I told the manager about the shutter and he asked me if I wanted to drive another ranger with a similar set up 2WD, XLT; I knew just as soon as I hit the gas on this other Ranger that this other truck was smooth and had no shutter like my truck. I had the manager drive mine at the same time, he confirmed he felt the shutter and set up for a mechanic to look at it the same day.
I pick the truck up later in the day and I was very disappointed to find that the mechanic had done nothing and I was told that the truck needed to be driven 500 to a 1000 miles for the transmission to adapt. While I agree that the transmission was shifting weird also, I knew that was not the only problem, I asked the service manager to explain the shutter, and to why the other ranger I drove did not do it. He said this is what Ford said I should do.
I should also mention that I am a serious gear head and an ex Ford mechanic (drivability specialist), so I do recognize a problem when I see one.
From most of what I have read on this forum, most speak about how smooth this drive-train is. The transmission shifts have for the most part sorted themselves out, but the shutter remains, even more so when the engine is cold.
I know there is a TSB or two concerning this problem on earlier build dates, my fear is this same mechanic will say they do not apply to my build date an yet do absolutely nothing again. I had problems with this same mechanic at a different dealership about 18 years ago concerning my Snap-On Box truck (he caused the truck to be down a week longer than it should have).
My question to the group is, does anyone have any advice as how to get this problem fixed ASAP without causing much drama at the dealership? I sooo miss my 2011 ranger I sold a day earlier.

Took my Ranger to dealer a couple weeks back because the only thing on screen was the rear view camera, I also told them collision avoidance was not working. Ford said they couldn’t find any issues and recalls are all vin related. I think they just did a master reset because all presets for radio were cleared. Seemed to work, don’t think it’s related to your problem but might be worth a try.

Jeff

 

[DakotaGuy]

RE: Service Managers.

I really believe that Ford sends these guys on a special course as soon as they receive the title of Service Manager.
it's gotta be day one of training and it's hammered into them for 5 days straight until they murmur the script perfectly without hesitation no matter who is badgering them or for what. If they fail this training, they remove the brain and try shock therapy.

Quite simply the script is deny everything.

I'm going to try reverse psychology and go in complaining that this is the best damn transmission I have ever had and there must be nothing damn well wrong with it at all.

This should confuse them enough to have it on the hoist replacing the whole drive train and top up my blinker fluid for free before they know what hit them.

One reason I stay with my current dealership is the service manager I go through is excellent and has been at the dealership as a service manager for 30+ years. I told him he can never retire!

 

[Mark Lally]

Took my Ranger to dealer a couple weeks back because the only thing on screen was the rear view camera, I also told them collision avoidance was not working. Ford said they couldn’t find any issues and recalls are all vin related. I think they just did a master reset because all presets for radio were cleared. Seemed to work, don’t think it’s related to your problem but might be worth a try.

Jeff

Yes, you had an unrelated problem to mine. On the bright side, at least they tried to do something about your problem.

 

[Mark Lally]

I had a similar problem with a shutter, a miss is what it felt like more to me, around 1500rpm and 4500rpm.
I noticed it did run better with premium fuel and would run one reg tank then a premium tank to see if it improved. It did.

I often felt the fuel was poor or had some water in the tank....? And I thought it ran better with the auto-start off...?

2500 miles now and it’s much improved but I did ask the service manager last week about this miss I felt. He said if the engine detects a miss fire you will get a CEL, he offered no assistance until I got a CEL.

My tranny has operated flawlessly and I seldom notice it shifting. I have been intentionally driving my truck throughout the rpm and shifting range since I heard about this learn feature.

I did fill the gas tank before I even used half of the first tank to see if improved anything (it did not) I filled up at the shell station I have primarily used for the last 15 years. When the engine is first started cold, it's often a dead miss for the first 10 or 15 seconds, but the engine is probably in open loop during this time, otherwise I believe it would turn on the CEL. After then engine warms up a bit, it's not a dead miss anymore, if feel more like a week cylinder. When I give give it a lot of throttle, the problem goes away, I feel this is because at high power the engine will be feed an over rich mixture. To be honest, I'm very surprised that the CEL light has not come on yet.

 

[Jasper White]

I'm thinking I have a bad injector. When I first picked this truck up from the dealer this Tuesday I notices a pronounced engine shutter when accelerating lightly and while coasting back down. I immediately mentioned it to my salesman who had followed me home in my car to drop the truck off at my house.
After getting back home I drove the truck again, it was physically making me ill from the shuttering. I took the truck back to the dealer the next day and talked to the sales manager (my sales guy was not in that day), I told the manager about the shutter and he asked me if I wanted to drive another ranger with a similar set up 2WD, XLT; I knew just as soon as I hit the gas on this other Ranger that this other truck was smooth and had no shutter like my truck. I had the manager drive mine at the same time, he confirmed he felt the shutter and set up for a mechanic to look at it the same day.
I pick the truck up later in the day and I was very disappointed to find that the mechanic had done nothing and I was told that the truck needed to be driven 500 to a 1000 miles for the transmission to adapt. While I agree that the transmission was shifting weird also, I knew that was not the only problem, I asked the service manager to explain the shutter, and to why the other ranger I drove did not do it. He said this is what Ford said I should do.
I should also mention that I am a serious gear head and an ex Ford mechanic (drivability specialist), so I do recognize a problem when I see one.
From most of what I have read on this forum, most speak about how smooth this drive-train is. The transmission shifts have for the most part sorted themselves out, but the shutter remains, even more so when the engine is cold.
I know there is a TSB or two concerning this problem on earlier build dates, my fear is this same mechanic will say they do not apply to my build date an yet do absolutely nothing again. I had problems with this same mechanic at a different dealership about 18 years ago concerning my Snap-On Box truck (he caused the truck to be down a week longer than it should have).
My question to the group is, does anyone have any advice as how to get this problem fixed ASAP without causing much drama at the dealership? I sooo miss my 2011 ranger I sold a day earlier.

 

[Julian]

I have noticed a similar issue with my Ranger which I have had about 5 weeks now. I notice the "shudder" under light acceleration, especially starting on an incline. I thought it might have been limited to 1st and maybe second gear until I felt it once more on an incline in 6th again on an incline. For me, it does not happen cold, but once warmed up. Had not thought of an injector since there are no codes and if there were a misfire, it would throw a code. at first I thought it was just me since this is the first 4 cylinder I have owned in many many years. I also went back and test drove another Ranger set up like mine and took it to the same hill I noticed the issue the most......and no shudder. Similarly, since there are no codes, there is "nothing wrong" and both the service manager and master mechanic did not feel the issue. They did write it up to keep a record of my complaint which was at least something. With 1100 miles on the truck now, it seems to have not changed and I am purposely not trying premium fuel until I get the issue acknowledged (I have to go back in the next week or so to get a bed cover and extender added which was part of the overall deal) at which time I will restate the issue and the fact the other truck on the lot did not have it.

I am just curious how severe a shudder others have experienced? Mine is slight but still aggravating every time I feel it.

 

[Cape Cruiser]

Mine does it when cold, after 2 minute warm up it goes away. I did get CEL at 30 miles and dealer did TSB.I now have this shutter at 1000 miles.

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