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5 BIG Issues With My Lightning - & They're ALL Related!

proprepper

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Best description of the pile of thrown together crap that ford sold us. Most at a premium price. Even new replacement parts are defective when installed. (If you can even get the part you need, I couldnt)​
 

Grumpy2

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I unsubscribed from him a year ago because it became boring, at that time he was high on the Lightning. I guess he thinks he will gain back subscribers trying the opposite approach ...

Our Lightning is the best 1/2 ton pickup I have ever driven, after 50 years of driving various company provided 1/2 tons.
 

NW Ontario Ford Lightning

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yeah same. it was too 'over the top'.
I have been driving since 1978...had a lot of experiences both good and bad.
The Lightning is not just the best truck I have ever had, it is the best vehicle of any kind. Full stop.

Power, performance, torque, brute pulling power from a total stand-still, quiet, comfortable, charges up while I sleep and ready to go in the morning pre-heated (or cooled) ready when I am.
Out pulls (short distance) my 2500 Ram hauling everything from a flat deck to a dump trailer.
0-60 is freaking fast, even in snow and ice.
Put a good set of winter tires on it and leave everything else behind you all day long, all winter long.

Love my truck so much, I did over 50,000 km in first 12 months (30,000 miles) mostly because I just love to drive it all over the place.
It is nearly free to fuel it here overnight; and with summer coming - solar will do about 50% of my charging ...note to self: need more PV.

My wife is saying maybe we try out a BYD Seal when these land here in September - and she was never the one that wanted a full EV (she dirves Escape hybrid). Gas prices sure do tilt the thinking.
 

Randys Lightning

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Love mine, and now that the fuel prices are temporarily high, even more so. 36 Gallons @ 4.10 $147 or my 2 charges at $11.00 Ea $ $22.00 to go the same 600+ miles
 

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Robocop

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what is this nonsense driving around and ranting, looking like you haven't yet showered for the day? it is just dangerous, irresponsible behaviour.

posting up here asking us for ideas? posting unprofessional whiny rants about getting ignored by multiple successful reputable international corporations?

Why does this guy get so much free air space here?

Why are the mods allowing this self-promotion driving traffic to his channel? is this guy a sponsor here? what is this?

I'm an owner and this guy does not speak for me. I'm not ever going to watch any of this garbage content either but I would hope he's keeping this forum out of his mouth when making this garbage content.
 
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Trucked Up EVs

Trucked Up EVs

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Maybe an electric truck or timber roads aren't for you.
I love my Lightning. However, the right to repair is being undermined via the move by OEMs to create components that are not serviceable by the owner. This is not about whether the Lightning is a great truck or not. This is about the move to software-driven control over DIY maintenance.
As I made perfectly clear in the video, this is not about EV trucks specifically, or the Ford Lightning exclusively, although I point out the experiences from a Lightning owner's perspective. This is about ALL modern vehicles, and the risks faced with the experiment auto makers are carrying out at our potential detriment.
 
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ClevelandBeemer

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I love my Lightning. However, the right to repair is being undermined via the move by OEMs to create components that are not serviceable by the owner. This si not about the Lightning as a great truck. This is a bout the move to software-driven control over DIY maintenance.
As I made perfectly clear in the video, this is not about EV trucks specifically, or the Ford Lightning exclusively, although, I point out the experiences from a Lightning owner's perspective. This is about ALL modern vehicles, and the risks faced with the experiment auto makers are carrying out at our potential detriment.
Even if Ford approached the Lightning like they should have and consolidated the dozens of modules into one or two centralized hubs, you still would not be able to service them…….
 
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Trucked Up EVs

Trucked Up EVs

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what is this nonsense driving around and ranting, looking like you haven't yet showered for the day? it is just dangerous, irresponsible behaviour.

posting up here asking us for ideas? posting unprofessional whiny rants about getting ignored by multiple successful reputable international corporations?

Why does this guy get so much free air space here?

Why are the mods allowing this self-promotion driving traffic to his channel? is this guy a sponsor here? what is this?

I'm an owner and this guy does not speak for me. I'm not ever going to watch any of this garbage content either but I would hope he's keeping this forum out of his mouth when making this garbage content.
Who's whining and ranting?
Sure sounds like you're not being that respectful of an opinion about a real threat every owner of a modern vehicle faces, not just Lightning and EV owners specifically, the very thing this video focuses on - but you wouldn't know that because, like you said, you didn't watch it (but you obviously did for a while, since you freaked out over me driving and recording).
But it's also obvious you'll just comment on things without comprehending the content, and cast some fact-bereft vitriol, because, well, that's what you do.
I'll keep posting, as a three-time, proud Lightning owner, and realistic about the challenges we faced as modern vehicle owners.
Expect more posts in the future. It's called a forum for a reason, sport.
 

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Trucked Up EVs

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Even if Ford approached the Lightning like they should have and consolidated the dozens of modules into one or two centralized hubs, you still would not be able to service them…….
It's true, and that's a major concern we as consumers should be addressing.
Modern vehicle manufacturing processes are not in any way geared to the consumer or the local mechanic. Quite the opposite. The focus of every part and design is on manufacturing efficiency and cost savings. In fact, in the fine print of most new vehicles, you don't even own or have the right to modify, access, or directly update the modules, their software , or firmware. I am concerned that as this process accelerates, what is the outcome? Will all vehicles become throwaways after their warranty?
I love my Lightning, and in the upcoming "The Ultimate Lightning Build" series, one thing we'll be celebrating is how much of the F150 Lightning is still open to modifications and DIY repair and maintenance. It's one of the primary reasons I and so many others love them and buy them.
As I said in the video, I worry about that fully vanishing in the next generation of pickups, not just EV trucks.
 

ClevelandBeemer

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It's true, and that's a major concern we as consumers should be addressing.
Modern vehicle manufacturing processes are not in any way geared to the consumer or the local mechanic. Quite the opposite. The focus of every part and design is on manufacturing efficiency and cost savings. In fact, in the fine print of most new vehicles, you don't even own or have the right to modify, access, or directly update the modules, their software , or firmware. I am concerned that as this process accelerates, what is the outcome? Will all vehicles become throwaways after their warranty?
I love my Lightning, and in the upcoming "The Ultimate Lightning Build" series, one thing we'll be celebrating is how much of the F150 Lightning is still open to modifications and DIY repair and maintenance. It's one of the primary reasons I and so many others love them and buy them.
As I said in the video, I worry about that fully vanishing in the next generation of pickups, not just EV trucks.
I hear you. But let’s say the Lightning was made with one centralized compute unit, that way OTA’s and upgrades would be super easy from a manufacturer perspective. You still need electronics know how to service said unit if there’s a failure. Mechanics also need to up their game in the electrified world.

Also from a right to repair perspective, is Ford preventing you from doing anything? Ford is certainly not Tesla in 2020. Manuals, parts, and diagnostics/programming are readily available. Hell there are even aftermarket tunes for some EV’s like the Porsche Taycan, so I can’t say that right to repair is an issue across the board.

Btw in your homemade sentry mode video. Instead of using the trucks 12v system, you could have powered the system on its own battery. Black view has multiple battery options for their cameras.
 
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Trucked Up EVs

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I hear you. But let’s say the Lightning was made with one centralized compute unit, that way OTA’s and upgrades would be super easy from a manufacturer perspective. You still need electronics know how to service said unit if there’s a failure. Mechanics also need to up their game in the electrified world.

Also from a right to repair perspective, is Ford preventing you from doing anything? Ford is certainly not Tesla in 2020. Manuals, parts, and diagnostics/programming are readily available. Hell there are even aftermarket tunes for some EV’s like the Porsche Taycan, so I can’t say that right to repair is an issue across the board.

Btw in your homemade sentry mode video. Instead of using the trucks 12v system, you could have powered the system on its own battery. Black view has multiple battery options for their cameras.
All great points.
With the Lightning cancelled and what Ford is replacing it with is the supposed future, however. Out of all the EV trucks to-date, the Lightning is certainly the most serviceable, but like I said, it's every modern vehicle out there now, not just our EVs.
There was a great post recently on the forum about a tail light and its cost of replacement, much like my side mirror. It's one modular piece, with parts of the ADAS system in it, etc. Replace both and you'll need deep pockets.

Yes, I thought about a separate power source. There's a few out there.
 

ClevelandBeemer

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All great points.
With the Lightning cancelled and what Ford is replacing it with is the supposed future, however. Out of all the EV trucks to-date, the Lightning is certainly the most serviceable, but like I said, it's every modern vehicle out there now, not just our EVs.
There was a great post recently on the forum about a tail light and its cost of replacement, much like my side mirror. It's one modular piece, with parts of the ADAS system in it, etc. Replace both and you'll need deep pockets.

Yes, I thought about a separate power source. There's a few out there.
Now I’m confused. Is it a right to repair or cost of parts issue? As we ask for more complex features, blind spot detection, cross traffic detection, cameras, complex lightning, and more, these parts themselves will become more expensive as the complexity increases. Just the cost of modern features.

Our F150 taillights are cheap when compared to Porsche’s matrix headlights which can be as much as $8,000 on some models. That said, you can replace and program yourself with the right equipment. If I recall the taillight post, I think the bigger issue was water intrusion due to Fords poor quality control.
 
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TwentyTwentyThree

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I didn’t watch the video, and this truck has some issues; however, if you point me in the direction of a trouble free 1/2T, I will trade this thing immediately and buy it.

Go ahead. I’ll wait.
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