Off Topic Quiz, Guess the Problem

I know this is off topic, but you'll get a kick out of it. Its a little quiz and I'll post the answer tomorrow unless someone guesses it before then. Here's the background. I'm in the state of Maine, USA. My company needed another truck for odds and ends, so last month we bought a used 1994 Ford F150 4X4 with 69,000 miles on it. The truck had been in an accident, but was all redone and repainted. It looks great inside and out. On our test drive it went great. It doesn't get a lot of use. Also remember its cold in Maine this time of year. I took it out one cold morning after it had sat for a couple days. At about 40 mph the steering wheel shook ***ly. I thought the left, front wheel was coming off. I stopped and checked it out, but all was well. After a few miles the shaking was less, and eventually went away almost completely even at 60 mph. The tires are Goodrich steel belted radials with no cupping or other signs of uneven wear. The next morning I took it out again, and it shook again, but not so badly and it went away sooner. The truck sat for a couple days without use. 2 mornings later I took it out again, and sure enough I thought the wheel was gonna fall off. *** shaking. But again, after10 miles or so the shaking lessened and eventually stopped. We checked the tires in the morning for flat spots (not likely on steel belted radials) and there were none. The conclusion was that the truck does this only when it's real cold and comes out of it when it warms up. Usually its worse when it sits for 2 days than if it just sits for one day. If it sits for a day, but you don't take it out until after 1 or 2 PM, its not bad at all. It always comes out of the problem after being run for a few miles. Sitting for more than 2 days doesn't make it worse than just sitting for 2 days. Okay gents. What do you think was wrong with it? Slot

Isn't that obvious: You don't have friends? >;-) -- Matthias Flatt

The tires may look great and have few miles but are probably pretty old.... the cold and the sitting made it hard, and not as flexible as it normally would be so when you first start rolling it, it's not quite round due to the part that sits on the ground... once it's been spinning a while and gets some heat back in it, it softens up and goes back to it's correct shape....... If that's wrong I have another guess, but I'll wait.... I had an old pick'em up that did the same thing, but it's tires were just junk and it didn't matter what the temperature was.....

Okay, what's your second guess? When you guys hear the answer you'll laugh and say 'Of course!!' Slot

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>The tires may look great and have few miles but are probably pretty >old.... the cold and the sitting made it hard, and not as flexible as >it normally would be so when you first start rolling it, it's not >quite round due to the part that sits on the ground... once it's been >spinning a while and gets some heat back in it, it softens up and goes >back to it's correct shape....... >If that's wrong I have another guess, but I'll wait.... I had an old >pick'em up that did the same thing, but it's tires were just junk and >it didn't matter what the temperature was..... >>I know this is off topic, but you'll get a kick out of it. Its a little

quiz

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>>and I'll post the answer tomorrow unless someone guesses it before then. >>Here's the background. I'm in the state of Maine, USA. My company needed >>another truck for odds and ends, so last month we bought a used 1994 Ford >>F150 4X4 with 69,000 miles on it. The truck had been in an accident, but >>was all redone and repainted. It looks great inside and out. On our test >>drive it went great. It doesn't get a lot of use. Also remember its cold

in >>Maine this time of year. I took it out one cold morning after it had sat for >>a couple days. At about 40 mph the steering wheel shook ***ly. I >>thought the left, front wheel was coming off. I stopped and checked it out,

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>>but all was well. After a few miles the shaking was less, and eventually >>went away almost completely even at 60 mph. The tires are Goodrich steel >>belted radials with no cupping or other signs of uneven wear. The next >>morning I took it out again, and it shook again, but not so badly and it >>went away sooner. The truck sat for a couple days without use. 2 mornings >>later I took it out again, and sure enough I thought the wheel was gonna >>fall off. *** shaking. But again, after10 miles or so the shaking >>lessened and eventually stopped. >>We checked the tires in the morning for flat spots (not likely on steel >>belted radials) and there were none. The conclusion was that the truck

does >>this only when it's real cold and comes out of it when it warms up. Usually >>its worse when it sits for 2 days than if it just sits for one day. If it >>sits for a day, but you don't take it out until after 1 or 2 PM, its not bad >>at all. It always comes out of the problem after being run for a few miles. >>Sitting for more than 2 days doesn't make it worse than just sitting for 2 >>days. >>Okay gents. What do you think was wrong with it? >>Slot

Obviously its your fault! You seem to have this sort of effect on steering wheels. I think the problem is that the force feedback effects from the 1994 truck are not using the latest drivers. Try downloading them from www.ford.com or alternatively you could take the dashboard off and turn the adjustment*** until everything is OK. Cheers Phil -- [link lost in import]

Hehe. Okay, I didn't make the choice to buy it. That came from the boss. Slot

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>>a used 1994 Ford >>Okay gents. What do you think was wrong with it? >Isn't that obvious: You don't have friends? >;-) >-- >Matthias Flatt

Water freezing inside one of the wheels. /petern /

I used to put water in my tractor tires for weight. I would add calcium to the water so it would not freeze. Al Stiff > >I know this is off topic, but you'll get a kick out of it. Its a little quiz

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> >and I'll post the answer tomorrow unless someone guesses it before then. > >Here's the background. I'm in the state of Maine, USA. My company needed > >another truck for odds and ends, so last month we bought a used 1994 Ford > >F150 4X4 with 69,000 miles on it. The truck had been in an accident, but > >was all redone and repainted. It looks great inside and out. On our test > >drive it went great. It doesn't get a lot of use. Also remember its cold

in > >Maine this time of year. I took it out one cold morning after it had sat for > >a couple days. At about 40 mph the steering wheel shook ***ly. I > >thought the left, front wheel was coming off. I stopped and checked it out,

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> >but all was well. After a few miles the shaking was less, and eventually > >went away almost completely even at 60 mph. The tires are Goodrich steel > >belted radials with no cupping or other signs of uneven wear. The next > >morning I took it out again, and it shook again, but not so badly and it > >went away sooner. The truck sat for a couple days without use. 2 mornings > >later I took it out again, and sure enough I thought the wheel was gonna > >fall off. *** shaking. But again, after10 miles or so the shaking > >lessened and eventually stopped. > >We checked the tires in the morning for flat spots (not likely on steel > >belted radials) and there were none. The conclusion was that the truck

does > >this only when it's real cold and comes out of it when it warms up. Usually > >its worse when it sits for 2 days than if it just sits for one day. If it > >sits for a day, but you don't take it out until after 1 or 2 PM, its not bad > >at all. It always comes out of the problem after being run for a few miles. > >Sitting for more than 2 days doesn't make it worse than just sitting for 2

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> >days. > >Okay gents. What do you think was wrong with it? > >Slot > Water freezing inside one of the wheels. > /petern > /

They repaired one of the tires with some 'instant tire repair/sealer' and it would expand when it sat for 2 days? Scott PA-Scott PowerSims.com -- Scott B. Husted ICQ# 4395450

It could be related to something else than your tyres, FYI. There is a possibility that your suspension gives you a different feeling under a different temperature, having problems with the springs not absorbing the road as good as in normal temps, with the components having torso problems when stressed under low temps.. That's what I read about some Ford cars a couple of months ago I think, but my memory could fail. Maybe call Ford Co. and ask them if there was any reports of such a problem with your specific model? -- -- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard> -- May the Downforce be with you... "People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."

My guess to. Stefan

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> >I know this is off topic, but you'll get a kick out of it. Its a little quiz > >and I'll post the answer tomorrow unless someone guesses it before then. > >Here's the background. I'm in the state of Maine, USA. My company needed > >another truck for odds and ends, so last month we bought a used 1994 Ford > >F150 4X4 with 69,000 miles on it. The truck had been in an accident, but > >was all redone and repainted. It looks great inside and out. On our test > >drive it went great. It doesn't get a lot of use. Also remember its cold in > >Maine this time of year. I took it out one cold morning after it had sat for > >a couple days. At about 40 mph the steering wheel shook ***ly. I > >thought the left, front wheel was coming off. I stopped and checked it out, > >but all was well. After a few miles the shaking was less, and eventually > >went away almost completely even at 60 mph. The tires are Goodrich steel > >belted radials with no cupping or other signs of uneven wear. The next > >morning I took it out again, and it shook again, but not so badly and it > >went away sooner. The truck sat for a couple days without use. 2 mornings > >later I took it out again, and sure enough I thought the wheel was gonna > >fall off. *** shaking. But again, after10 miles or so the shaking > >lessened and eventually stopped. > >We checked the tires in the morning for flat spots (not likely on steel > >belted radials) and there were none. The conclusion was that the truck does > >this only when it's real cold and comes out of it when it warms up. Usually > >its worse when it sits for 2 days than if it just sits for one day. If it > >sits for a day, but you don't take it out until after 1 or 2 PM, its not bad > >at all. It always comes out of the problem after being run for a few miles. > >Sitting for more than 2 days doesn't make it worse than just sitting for 2 > >days. > >Okay gents. What do you think was wrong with it? > >Slot > Water freezing inside one of the wheels. > /petern > /

[snip] Perhaps the suspect tire has been afflicted with a can of "Fix-A-Flat"?

You're really cracking me up. Maybe I need more damping ;) Slot

Look in the glovebox for the service book. On the last page you should find entries where you can put your own core.ini settings. Try any number from 5 to 4000 until you get one that suits your driving style. Cheers Phil -- http://www.youpies.co.uk

Then again, it could be the nut behind the wheel :) -- Richard "ZZ" Busch Official member: Screamers Racing League Sim Racing Mag Honda Challenge NASROC ---------------- Busch Motorsports: Remember racecar is racecar spelled backward ----------------- Busch Carpentry: Plans?, Oh, you mean that napkin sketch?

I've had the same problem. In my case it was cold tires. They do flat spot, when they freeze, the bottom stays flat until it heats up. I could hear it on somedays. -- Richard "ZZ" Busch Official member: Screamers Racing League Sim Racing Mag Honda Challenge NASROC ---------------- Busch Motorsports: Remember racecar is racecar spelled backward ----------------- Busch Carpentry: Plans?, Oh, you mean that napkin sketch?

Water inside tire... Regards, Brett C. Cammack That's Racing! Motorsports Pompano Beach, FL

Congrats to Peter Nilsson and other who had the right answer, and thanks to others for the humorous posts. I was temped not to give the answer right away because I wanted to hear more of the jokes. The guy that fixed up the truck wasn't happy with the wheels, so he got some nice chrome ones in perfect shape off a totalled truck in a junk yard. The tires were bad on the new rims, but the guy at the junk yard had some almost new ones outside leaning against the building that were just the right size. He offered to mount them. It must have rained during the day, and frozen at night. When we finally took the tire off the wheel to check it out, over 2 quarts of water poured out of it. Total charge at Paul's Alignment Center, $29 for road test, balance and rotation of tires. Slot

The wheel/tyre was temporarily out-of-balance for some reason. A snake trying to keep warm had wrapped itself around the brake drum/disk?! -- Regards, Bruce Kennewell, Canberra, Australia. --------------------------- > Okay, what's your second guess? > When you guys hear the answer you'll laugh and say 'Of course!!' > Slot > >The tires may look great and have few miles but are probably pretty > >old.... the cold and the sitting made it hard, and not as flexible as > >it normally would be so when you first start rolling it, it's not > >quite round due to the part that sits on the ground... once it's been > >spinning a while and gets some heat back in it, it softens up and goes > >back to it's correct shape....... > >If that's wrong I have another guess, but I'll wait.... I had an old > >pick'em up that did the same thing, but it's tires were just junk and > >it didn't matter what the temperature was..... > >>I know this is off topic, but you'll get a kick out of it. Its a little > quiz > >>and I'll post the answer tomorrow unless someone guesses it before then. > >>Here's the background. I'm in the state of Maine, USA. My company needed > >>another truck for odds and ends, so last month we bought a used 1994 Ford > >>F150 4X4 with 69,000 miles on it. The truck had been in an accident, but > >>was all redone and repainted. It looks great inside and out. On our test > >>drive it went great. It doesn't get a lot of use. Also remember its cold > in > >>Maine this time of year. I took it out one cold morning after it had sat > for > >>a couple days. At about 40 mph the steering wheel shook ***ly. I > >>thought the left, front wheel was coming off. I stopped and checked it > out, > >>but all was well. After a few miles the shaking was less, and eventually > >>went away almost completely even at 60 mph. The tires are Goodrich steel > >>belted radials with no cupping or other signs of uneven wear. The next > >>morning I took it out again, and it shook again, but not so badly and it > >>went away sooner. The truck sat for a couple days without use. 2 mornings > >>later I took it out again, and sure enough I thought the wheel was gonna > >>fall off. *** shaking. But again, after10 miles or so the shaking > >>lessened and eventually stopped. > >>We checked the tires in the morning for flat spots (not likely on steel > >>belted radials) and there were none. The conclusion was that the truck > does > >>this only when it's real cold and comes out of it when it warms up. > Usually > >>its worse when it sits for 2 days than if it just sits for one day. If it > >>sits for a day, but you don't take it out until after 1 or 2 PM, its not > bad > >>at all. It always comes out of the problem after being run for a few > miles. > >>Sitting for more than 2 days doesn't make it worse than just sitting for 2 > >>days. > >>Okay gents. What do you think was wrong with it? > >>Slot -----------== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News ==---------- http://www.newsfeeds.com The Largest Usenet Servers in the World! ------== Over 73,000 Newsgroups - Including Dedicated Binaries Servers ==-----

The line "remember its cold in Maine this time of year" was a giveaway. What did I win? :-) A ride in that Ford? /petern

Shock fluid frozen or very cold and as think as molasses.

An old, bald, frozen tyre! -- Regards, Bruce Kennewell, Canberra, Australia. --------------------------- -----------== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News ==---------- http://www.newsfeeds.com The Largest Usenet Servers in the World! ------== Over 73,000 Newsgroups - Including Dedicated Binaries Servers ==-----

> I used to put water in my tractor tires for weight. I would add calcium to > the water so it would not freeze. Why do you want extra weight in your tractor tires? -- [asbjxrn] [lLd25z*%ds1-100/sLlSdI%ds2-O/sSl1l2*PlL0<l]sl 21172310731916131628237117 3237142523312SSSLllxq

I see that I'm late, but without looking at the answer, I'm going to say that it either has bad shocks, or bad ball joints... Now I'll see if I'm right... ;] B4 taking this job with the USAF, I used to be an auto mechanic.... ...and a truck driver...and a forklift operater...and a house gutter installer...and... ;] Cheers! Jan Kohl The Pits - http://www.theuspits.com

Well, I'm late on this one too, but I'll try before looking at the answer as well. I'm a Ford Technician, although that probably doesn't matter much with this senario. One thing is true......A vibration always is the result of some form of spinning mass (Wheels, tires, driveshaft, etc.). So you can rule out any suspension or steering parts. Does it happen at all speeds before going away? And get worse with higher speeds? If so, I would suspect it's tire/wheel related. Do you get much snow up there? Is it snow getting into the inner part of the wheel? Or possibly, like others have indicated, water inside the tires that is freezing. Well, let's see what it was................... Todd