1978 Ford L9000 problems
The Ford L-series is a range of commercial trucks that were assembled and marketed by Ford between 1970 and 1998. They are also known as Ford Louisville or, for the 1990s aerodynamic models, Ford Aeromax. The first dedicated Class 8 truck produced by the company, although Ford had been producing "Heavy Duty" trucks since 1948 and their "Super Duty" lineup since 1958. The L-Series was the successor of the F-900/F-1000 Super Duty and the Ford N-Series (both derived from the Ford F-Series). The line encompassed a wide range of models in GVWR Classes 6 through 8, as either straight trucks or as semi-tractors, with vehicles developed for medium-duty, on-highway, severe-service, and vocational applications.
The L-Series was produced by Ford at its Kentucky Truck Plant near Louisville, Kentucky, alongside medium-duty F-Series trucks, and C-Series COE truck. The truck line accordingly adopted the Ford "Louisville Line" nickname; for its second generation introduced in 1996, the line officially adopted the Ford Louisville nameplate. Both generations featured the Ford Aeromax aerodynamically-enhanced truck, sold primarily as a semitractor.
After the 1996 sale of the Ford heavy-truck line to Freightliner, production of the L-series was ended by Ford in 1998. Freightliner had taken over L-series production and went on to reintroduce the line as the Sterling A-line (Aeromax) and L-line (Louisville) during 1998. It continued to be built alongside the medium-duty Acterra until the end of 2009, when Freightliner closed operations of Sterling Trucks.
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Common 1978 Ford L9000 problems
The Ford L9000 1978 has several common problems that have been reported by owners, including issues with the driveline angles, front-end vibration, and electrical problems.
One of the most significant issues with the Ford L9000 1978 is the driveline angles, which were never properly addressed by Ford between 1978 and 1997. This problem causes the front end of the truck to jump, buck, and shake at speeds between 35-45 mph, making it difficult to drive day after day. This issue has been reported by multiple owners of LTL9000 dumps, and despite trying different brands of steer tires, drive tires, kingpins, springs, and suspensions, the problem has not been resolved. The problem is suspected to be a deep design flaw, as it affects trucks from 1985 to 1994, and no parts have failed due to the vibration and shaking.
Another common problem with the Ford L9000 1978 is electrical issues, particularly with the tail light, parking light, running light, and dash light circuits. These circuits run all over the truck on a dark brown wire, making it difficult to isolate the problem. The most common reason for this circuit to get against metal and blow the fuse is hacked-up wiring at the rear for a trailer plug. Other common areas for electrical problems include running boards with added lights, plow lights up front, and anywhere wiring has been added and has been damaged.
The Ford L9000 1978 also has issues with changing engines, particularly the 3208 Cat in a Louisville Ford 8000 truck. The engine pan hits the front engine mount support before there is clearance enough to get the correct tilt on the engine to come up out of the truck. This makes it difficult to replace the engine and transmission in one chunk, and it is recommended to pull the engine and transmission separately.
In summary, the Ford L9000 1978 has several common problems, including issues with the driveline angles, front-end vibration, and electrical problems. These issues have been reported by multiple owners and have not been resolved, despite attempts to fix them. It is essential to be aware of these problems when owning or operating a Ford L9000 1978.
What engine did the Ford l9000 have?
The 9000 series had a Cummins NH230 standard, Cummins N-series with up to 350 hp (261 kW) and Caterpillar 3406 series up to 375 hp (280 kW) were optional.
What year was the Ford 9000 made?
At the time, it was Ford's largest model and obviously symbolic of the longevity of the company. The 9000 production was somewhat short lived. Built from 1969-72, it was replaced by the 9600 for the 1973 model year.
How much does a Ford l9000 weight?
SPECIFICATIONS
| Make | Ford |
|---|---|
| Weight (lbs) | 21362 |
| Air conditioner | Yes |
| Engine make | Detroit |
| Motor (hp) | 425 |
How much horsepower does a Ford 9000 truck have?
Specifications
| Fuel | Diesel |
|---|---|
| Axles | 6x4, 2 |
| Power | 250 - 475 hp |
| Transmission | manual, 10 speed, 9 speed |
What engine did the Ford l9000 have?
The 9000 series had a Cummins NH230 standard, Cummins N-series with up to 350 hp (261 kW) and Caterpillar 3406 series up to 375 hp (280 kW) were optional.
What year was the Ford 9000 made?
At the time, it was Ford's largest model and obviously symbolic of the longevity of the company. The 9000 production was somewhat short lived. Built from 1969-72, it was replaced by the 9600 for the 1973 model year.
How much does a Ford l9000 weight?
SPECIFICATIONS
| Make | Ford |
|---|---|
| Weight (lbs) | 21362 |
| Air conditioner | Yes |
| Engine make | Detroit |
| Motor (hp) | 425 |
Is Ford a German engine?
Ford Motor Company (commonly known as Ford) is an American multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903.
1978 Ford L9000 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford L9000 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Electrical system problems
- Tires problems
- Equipment problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1978 Ford L9000 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1978 Ford L9000 complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1978 Ford L9000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,TIRES,EQUIPMENT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-09-23
- VIN: 11111111111
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,TIRES,EQUIPMENT
- Summary: HAHN READY MIX TRUCK .I'M A DRIVER IN TRUCK #32.THE FUEL TANK STRAPS ARE LOOSE,TIRES ARE GOING BALD,TRUCK DOESN'T TURN SHARP TO THE RIGHT,THE WINDOW WINGS ARE HELD SHUT WITH DUCT TAPE,THE TIE ROD END IS POSSIBLY BENT,WATER TANK IS RUSTED,THE SHUETS ARE TWISTED,SOME LIGHTS ARE OUT ON THIS TRUCK AND OTHERS,NUMERIOUS PROBLEMS NEED TO BE FIXED WITH OTHER TRUCKS TOO,TOO NUMERIOUS TO MENTION. JUST THOUGHT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INFORMED ON THESE DETAILS.AND IF ANY ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN.I WISH FOR MY NAME TO REMAIN ANNONYMOUS SO I DON'T EXPERIENCE ANY REPROCUTIONS ( LIKE GETTING FIRED ) .I JUST THOUGHT SOME ONE SHOULD KNOW JUST IN CASE SOME ONE WOULD GET INJURED, ALL THIS WOULD BE ON FILE.THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
1978 Ford L9000 recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1978 Ford L9000.
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
- Summary: THE SEAT BELTS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION", AND 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES". THE NON-CONFORMITY EXISTS BECAUSE WHEN THE DRIVER"S SEAT IS ADJUSTED TO THE FULL FORWARD POSITION, THE SEAT CUSHION IS ADJUSTED TO MAXIMUM ELEVATION, AND THE SEAT BACK IS TILTED TO THE FULLY UPRIGHT POSITION, THE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT LONG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE SOME DRIVERS.
- Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE ANY SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY THAT IS DETERMINED TO BE INSUFFICIENT, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1978 Ford L9000 problems:
More weird problems Ford L9000 | Heavy Equipment Forums
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Dec 11, 2008 ... Detroit Diesel also had its 2-cycle engines available for the 1978 CL(T)-9000, including the 8V-71N (the "318"), 8V-71T, 8V-71TT and the larger ...
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