Recent content by Gary Cotton

If its a chirping noise, my guess is that it is a universal joint. They do that when they are out of grease and worn, chirping from metal to metal contact. I'll bet you hear it when you just take off from a stop, or going very slow. This from past experience. Gary:)

Before your warranty is up, maybe you should consider buying the extended service plan, depending on how many miles you have on your ST. I bought one from Rusty just before mine expired, extending warranty to 6 yrs. Right after my orig warranty expired, my 6 CD changer quit ejecting CD's, and...

Get your Ford ESP from Spartan Ford, a sponsor of this website. You will save a bunch of money versus buying from your local Ford dealer. By all means, get it. I did and my transmission has been completely rebuilt two times since being out of warranty. Only cost me the $50 deductible. I...

Thanks for the info guys. I have 3 tunes in my Xcal2, an 87 octane performance tune, an 87 octane towing tune, and an 87 octane mileage tune. I actually get better mpg with the performance tune. I took a 462 mile highway trip and put in the mileage tune, and lost about 4 mpg here in Eastern...

For you XCAL2 owner's who have the 87 octane mileage tune from Wayne Foy, may I ask what kind of highway mileage you are getting? Also, what mileage were you getting with the 87 octane performance tune, if you have used that also? Does the mileage increase from the 87 octane performance tune...

Are you experiencing any flare between the 2-3 tranny shifts? Is your transmission working ok, but you only have the blinking OD light? Before you drive it much further, get a diagnostic trouble code read so you know what the trouble is. You could also drop the pan and see if there is any...

Not me! I received my XCAL2 from HIA last June. Came with 3 tunes, mileage, performance, and towing for my travel trailer, all 87 octane tunes. Absolutely love it, and the tunes are all they are supposed to be, and do. Didn't have any problem getting it, maybe just a little slow, but not...

Thanks for the input everyone. Tom, I will try that, and thanks for the info. I would take it to another dealer, but that would be far away in another town. I'm just going to take it back for the new MAF sensor, and when it still slips, then I will go from there. The Tech that is working on...

Yes, Mercon ATF..... IS Automatic Transmission Fluid. That is what the transfer case uses. Gary:D

My 02 Trac overdrive light started to flash and I got the 2-3 trans flare so common in the 5R55E. This occured after I had to take my Trac in for a warranty service item, and used my XCAL2 to reprogram back to the stock program. Ford service found the usual 2-3 flare code of no 3rd gear, and...

I was the owner of a Mandarin Gold ST. I bought it used in '01, never really liked the color, but finally got used to it, and really started to like it. But it was an '01 job 1, and lots of problems. Liked the Trac so much, I traded it for an 03 Silver Birch color, and love it. I live in MT...

Paul, Todd is exactly right. To eliminate a high speed whine in driveline, front and rear differentials have very slightly different gear ratios. The front may be 4.11 and the rear may be 4.10, for instance. When the wheels turn, and you are locked in four wheel drive, something has to slip...

Andrew, you can't buy an Apten chip anymore. The owner of the company went to work for Superchips. When I bought my Apten chip which was the single program chip with stock position switch, it cost me $260. delivered. Gary

Since 12/31/2003, I have been running an Apten chip with the two position switch, one for the stock position, and one for the 87 octane performance tune, specifically for towing my 18 ft. travel trailer with my late model 02 Trac which is really the 03 trac with everything but the rear wheel...

I also put on the Monroe Sensa-Tracs immediately after buying my 02 Trac. I run LT235/85R16 tires that only come in an E rating. Being 10 ply tires, I run 34 psi in the front and 35 psi in the rear. The sensa-Tracs make the ride very nice. I also do a lot of off road 4x4 driving here in MT...