1997 Ford F-150 Engine

I HAVE A 1997 F150 4.2 V6 THAT I PURCHASED NEW FROM FORD. I NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOSING COOLANT, BUT COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. IN 2005, WITH ONLY 89000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I STARTED IT UP ONE AFTERNOON WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH. I DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT AND WENT OUT APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR LATER AND STARTED IT UP AND IT HAD A VERY LOUD ROD KNOCK. I WAS JUST RESEARCHING REBUILD KITS AND REBUILT ENGINES WHEN I CAME ACROSS ALL THE POSTS ABOUT HYDROLOCK. I NOW KNOW THAT THIS WAS A SITUATION THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF, BUT DID NOTHING TO CORRECT AND LEFT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WITH A VEHICLE THAT WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND DID NOT LAST. UNFORTUNATELY, I DID NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO REPAIR AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING ALL THIS TIME. I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THEY FOUND OUT AND PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WOULD HAVE HAD PROTECTION ON OUR INVESTMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, HE HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE WHERE A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE INTAKE GASKET INTO THE CYLINDER IN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD START KNOCKING AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE MOTOR AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

1997 FORD F150 4.2 LITER ENGINE LEAKED WATER INTO THE ENGINE FROM A FAULTY BOTTOM INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKET. THE REPAIRS COST 1486.00. NOTICED THAT MANY PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AND BECAME AWARE THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS SAME MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. *TR

1997 FORD 4.2L F150 - 91,000 MILES VEHICLE PROPERLY MAINTAINED, "BABIED" IT. IT NEVER HAD OIL, COOLANT, OR ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS. STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD AN ENGINE SOUND "POP", AND NOTICED WHITE SMOKE EMITTING FROM TAILPIPE. THE GAUGES WERE READING ALL NORMAL, AS WELL AS OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVELS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY SHOP, THEY SAID WITHOUT TAKING ENGINE APART IT SOUNDS LIKE A ROD OR BENT CRANKSHAFT. THEY MENTIONED THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD 4.2 ENGINES. IT IS NOW AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALER - THEY HAVE NOT EXPLAINED HOW THIS HAPPENED BUT THAT I NEED AN ENGINE REBUILT. REALLY. THANK YOU FORD FOR STANDING BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT. CHEAPER TO BUY A REBUILT ENGINE? DOES IT HAVE THE ORIGINAL ENGINE GASKETS? THEN I CAN EXPECT TO SPEND ANOTHER $4000,00 IN THREE YEARS OR JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. IF YOU HAVE AN ENGINE PROBLEM WITH THE FORD F150 4.2L JUST DO AN INTERNET SEARCH! WHERE IS THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN A FIRE BEGAN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150 XLT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR OVER 18 HOURS AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS DESTROYED. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

MY 1997 FORD F-150 STARTED TO LEAK COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDER. I DECIDED TO BUY A BRAND NEW MOTOR FROM FORD BACK IN 2005 BECAUSE REPAIR THE LEAKING GASKET WAS NOT WORTH IT. THERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE OR INDEED HAVE RECALLED THESE MOTORS AND I NEVER NEW ABOUT IT. I WAS NEVER INFORMED WHEN I TOOK TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. I PAID $2500 FOR A MOTOR FORD SHOULD HAVE PAID AS I AM UNDERSTANDING FROM WHAT I READ ONLINE. *TR

A 1997 FORD F 150 PARKED IN A PARKING LOT FOR SEVERAL HOURS CAUGHT ON FIRE ON IT'S OWN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL CAUSE. *TR

I PARKED MY CAR IN A PARKING STRUCTURE AT A LUXURY APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR ALMOST 4 HOURS. WHEN I CAME BACK TO GET MY LUNCH MY CO-WORKER YELLED "DUDE YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE" I IMMEDIATELY TRY GETTING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND FINALLY FOUND ONE 2 MINUTES AFTER I FOUND MY F-150 ON FIRE. THANKFULLY THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER PUT OUT THE FIRE. SOME PARTS UNDER THE HOOD IS ALL BURNT UP. I CONTACTED FORD TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT HAPPENED,BECAUSE BY DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE RECALLS ON THE SAME YEAR AS MY TRUCK. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK MY TRUCK AND HE TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING THE RECALL IS DESCRIBING,HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK. FORD SAID SOMEONE WILL CONTACT ME WITHIN 15 BUSINESS DAYS, UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE FOR ME,DUE TO THE FACT I USE MY TRUCK FOR WORK AN DID NOW HAVE TO USE MY WIFE CAR THAT ISN'T REALLY RELIABLE WHEN IT COME TO MY JOB. NOTE THAT VERY SAME DAY I FILLED UP MY TANK WITH 23 GALLONS WORTH OF GAS AND THIS INCIDENT COULD OF BEEN WORST IF I DISCOVERED THE FIRE AT A LATER TIME. I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THIS ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED,BECAUSE I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY TRUCK AT ALL. *TR

97 F150 WITH 130K ENGINE GASKET BLEW. THIS ENGINE HAD A RECALL ON ENGINE AND TIMING COVER GASKETS, AND WHEN I TYPED MY VIN NUMBER IN ON THE FORD SITE, THEY SAID I HAD NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS. I ASKED FORD FOR THE NAME OF THE DEALER WHO LIED AND SAID THEY DID THE WORK AND ONLY GOT PAID FOR IT, AND FORD SAID THEY HAD NO INFO. I GOT THE SHAFT, AND IT COST 5K TO GET ENGINE REBUILT MYSELF. *TR

1997 FORD F-150 4.2L V6. ENGINE COOLANT FILLED ENGINE CYLINDER RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. REPLACE ENGINE WITH USED ONE AT A COST OF $3500.00. THIS ENGINE SHOWS SIGNS OF SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE DRIVEN FORDS FOR 30 YEARS, THIS IS THE LAST ONE I'LL OWN. *TR

1997 FORD F150 TRUCK. SPARK PLUG EJECTION PROBLEM. 3RD TIME. EVERY TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, NO WARNING, DRIVING REGULAR, THEN IT BLOWS OUT. POPPING CRACKLING HORRIBLE. 2 TIMES SAME ONE, THIS 3RD TIME SAME SIDE BUT DIFFERENT SPARK PLUG. BEEN HELICOILED BY A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL, PAID DEARLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. HE STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD, UNUSUAL NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND STRIPPED THE THREADS HOLDING THE SPARK PLUGS IN PLACE. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE CAUSED THE SPARK PLUG WIRES TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A COIL SPARK PLUG KIT. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

PURCHASED A USED 1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK FROM A PRIVATE ONE OWNER PERSON, THE TRUCK HAD LESS THAN 58,000 ORIGINAL MILES, THIS TRUCK HAS A 4.2 LITER V-6 ENGINE, WHICH WAS WELL MAINTAINED. AFTER DRIVING THE TRUCK FOR LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OF OWNING IT THE ENGINE SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A DEFECT IN ENGINE GASKET, TORQUE SEQUENCE AND OTHER SPECIFIC SPECS, HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM FROM FORD MOTOR CO. AS OF YET. THE ENGINE SUFFERED WHAT IS CALLED HYDRAULIC-LOCK AND WHEN THE ENGINE CRANKED UP IT BENT PISTON RODS IN THE MOTOR AND THE PISTON SKIRTS ARE NOW HITTING THE CRANKSHAFT, REQUIRES A TOTAL ENGINE REBUILD OR NEW ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *TR

ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL KEEPS RUNNING LOW .TRUCK STARTING TO SKIP OR MISFIRE ON CYLINDER. NO VISIBLE LEAKAGE ON THE OUT SIDE OF MOTOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS AT WORK SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT END OF HER VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, INTERIOR, AND BOTH FRONT END TIRES WERE BURNED AND DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP OR THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 270000. THE VIN NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AND HEARD A LOUD POP, AS IF A TIRE HAD BLOWN OR DRIVE COMPONENT BROKE. MY TRUCK BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND SHAKE AFTER THE NOISE AND CONTINUED WHEN I CAME TO A STOP VERY SHORTLY AFTER THE SOUND. IT ALSO CONTINUED AFTER I CAME TO A STOP AND PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK. ALSO, IT INCREASED IN SEVERITY BUT LESSENED IN TIME INTERVAL, OF AN OBVIOUS KNOCK. I LEARNED I HAD BLOWN A SPARK PLUG OUT OF MY HEAD, TAKING THE THREADS IN THE HEAD WITH IT. THE TWO OPTIONS ARE TO REMOVE THE HEAD FROM THE MOTOR, WHICH COSTS ABOUT WHAT THE TRUCK IS WORTH, OR TO FIX IT WITH THE HEAD ON THE MOTOR AND TAKE CHANCES THAT NO METAL SHAVINGS ENTER THE CYLINDERS. BOTH OPTIONS REQUIRE A HELI-COIL FOR THE HEAD. I HAD TO HELI-COIL MY HEAD TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG SINCE THERE WERE NO THREADS FOR THE SPARK PLUG TO ATTACH TO. *TR

SPARKPLUG BLOWING OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE FRONTAL HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. ALSO HE HEARS KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE CONNECTION ROD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HE WAS REFUSED SERVICE BECAUSE HE PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM A DIFFERENT DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THE FAILURE. HE WAS THEN ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 219,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

1997 FORD F150 WITH 4.2L ENGINE. STARTED CAR IN THE MORNING. MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND STOPPED IT. RESTARTED THE MOTOR AND IT RATTLING LOUDLY AND STOPPED IT AGAIN. THE NUMBER ONE PISTON BENT THE CONNECTING ROD. *TR

I HAVE A 1997 F-150 4.6 V8 WITH APPROX 270,XXX MILES ON IT. AROUND THREE YEARS AGO I REPLACED THE ORIGINAL RADIATOR AT AROUND 190,XXX MILES, SEEMED FAIR THAT'S A DECENT LIFE I THOUGHT FOR A RADIATOR. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. SINCE THEN I AM NOW NEED OF MY FOURTH RADIATOR, THE LAST RADIATOR WAS REPLACED IN JAN 2008. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND FORD CUSTOMER CARE FOLKS ARE SAYING THAT THE PART IS OUT OF THEIR 12 MONTH/12,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. ALL REPAIRS FOR THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AT THIS DEALER FOR THE PAST FIVE OR SO YEARS. MY CONTENTION IS THAT CLEARLY THESE PARTS ARE SUSPECT AND THE REPAIR AND FAILURE HISTORY SEEMS TO SUPPORT THIS. *TR

TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. *TR

MY F-150 WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND HAD A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THEY REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, PLUG WIRES, AND IGNITION COIL FOR A COST OF OVER $500. THEY STATED THAT THE #5 PLUG HAD BEEN FOULED WITH ANTIFREEZE. IT RAN FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, THEN UPON STARTING MY TRUCK, A LOUD BANGING OR RATTLING NOISE COULD BE HEARD AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. UPON DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO CLAIM THAT A FAULTY GASKET DESIGN CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO ONE OF THE CYLINDERS INSPECTION OF THE CYLINDERS SHOWED COOLANT TO BE POOLED IN THE FRONT, PASSENGER-SIDE CYLINDER. CERTIFIED MECHANICS ATTRIBUTE COOLANT IN THE CYLINDER TO BE DUE TO A PREMATURE GASKET FAILURE. IF NOT CORRECTED, THE PROBLEM LEADS TO MAJOR ENGINE DESTRUCTION. DOCUMENTED EFFECTS OF THE COOLANT LEAK ARE WORN OUT BEARINGS AND SURFACES, AND BROKEN OR BENT CONNECTING RODS, NECESSITATING AN ENGINE REBUILD. FORD SENT A TSB TO SOME OWNERS OF THESE ENGINES TO REPLACE THE FAULTY GASKET BUT NOT TO OTHER OWNERS. THE KNOWLEDGE OF A FAULTY GASKET DESIGN WAS WITHHELD FROM SOME 1997 4.2L F150 OWNERS. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION, AND LIKE MANY PEOPLE, HAVE SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. AVERAGE REPAIR COSTS ARE AROUND $4500 DOLLARS. FORD DID NOT NOTIFY OWNERS OF KNOWN DEFECTS AND FORD TECHNICIANS WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE, DID NOT NOTIFY ME. *TR

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 2 MILES AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE STARTED ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE. *TR