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OT- 97' Ford F-150

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colekicker

01-06-2005 12:36:11

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Got a 97 F-150, and it has been a lemon. At 70,000 miles, one of the intake manifold gaskets went away and it dropped coolant in a cylinder and bent a rod. Since then its A/C went out, costing about $500, and now the heater core has gone out. Estimated job time is 6 1/2 hrs with a cost of about $540. Just wondering if its just me or am I the only one that is never going to own another Ford.

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ntmcj

01-07-2005 19:59:59

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

If you got 70,000 without a major problem, I would say you probably broke even. You might want to put a turtle wax shine on it and make someone a great deal on a truck. I stopped buying Ford's years ago when they wouldn't stand behind their product during the warranty period. I put a post here a couple of days ago about my father's Ranger with only 7000 miles which blew an engine. I don't necessarily have anything against Fords, but I numerous people I know whom have recently bought new Fords have had major problems and haven't gotten much satisfaction from Fords service depts. I personally couldn't care less what brand name a vehicle/tractor has on it; or for that matter, where it is made.

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Dan

01-07-2005 12:52:33

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

I have a 1997 Ford F-150 6 cylinder with 106,000 miles on it and it has not been to the dealer once. I did have to fix a bent shift fork a few thousand miles ago - but that was my fault...

Dan

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Ryan

01-07-2005 08:12:33

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

I drive a 97 f150 extended cab everday, just rolled 100,000 and have had not mechanical problems. The truck was totaled at 15000 miles and we had it rebuilt. My windshield washer pump quit getting power but I ran my own switch and it still works. Early on we had conditioner put in the transmission b/c they had weak converters but had had no problems. It is the 4.6 liter and 4 wd drive. It will still do 97mph if not in the wind!

Ryan

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Mike M

01-07-2005 07:20:58

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

If I was able to get by with a lighter truck, like those 1/2 tons I'd be driving nothing but a TOYOTA. But Toyota still hasn't seen fit built a truck big enough to compete with the 3/4 and 1 tons.

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hay

01-07-2005 05:27:51

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

it's not Ford, Chevy, Dodge...etc. it's all auto and pickups have problems now. i think when the manufacturers started using more computers to design and more computers to control engine and driving function, that's where they screwed up. back in the "old days" when they were designed and tested without computers, there were less recalls and less major hazardous problems. it's the sign of the times, i guess, that we let the computers do everything, but it still ain't right. maybe they need to go back to solid basic manual engineering and forget them computer designs. just my .02 cents worth. ok, off my soapbox now.

hay... who remembers autos without recalls

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BobMo

01-07-2005 07:57:25

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to hay, 01-07-2005 05:27:51

I do and then you were just stuck with what they gave you. I suppose you'd like to carry home a block of ice for the icebox every couple days, no tv or computer that you're using now. Aaaah for the good old days. Cars, trucks, and tires are built better today than they have ever been..... .

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01-07-2005 04:53:04

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

I think you just got unlucky. I had a '97 F150 with 144000+ miles and never had a repair of any kind. Before that I had an '87 Ford Bronco. Traded it off at 208,000+ miles after having spent less than a $1000 total for repairs over a 10 yr period. Admittedly I did those few repairs myself such as brakes, a water pump, a heater core, and a u-joint. Now have a 2004 F250 SD. Used to be hardcore Chevy man, but won't have anything but a Ford now.

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Joe (IN)

01-06-2005 22:10:43

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

Never own another Ford?? Ha! Never own anything else. I had a '97 F-150 4x4. At 90K, I lost it in a storm and parked it on its roof in a ditch. Had her towed home and with nothing more than remounting a tire and dumping the oil out of the air cleaner, she lit up and drove live nothing had ever happened. I lucked into a new cab, doors and bed for the right price in the original color and rebuilt her. Never even bothered getting an alignment. Now that's a tough truck. Still regret trading her in, but the little woman has too many rugrats to stuff in a standard cab truck. Wish I'd kept the truck and traded her in instead.

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John A.

01-06-2005 20:59:31

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

colekicker, My "New Style" 97 F-150. Techniclly she is a 96 & half model, Built in June of 96. Bought her in june of 97. When I bought the truck it had 12K on the odometer. Supercab,4x4, 4.6 V8, auto/OD, 3.55 gears. Current she has 260,000 miles on her, "Knock on Wood" she goes like a house on fire , gets 16 MPG on fuel all day long! Uses NO oil out of the ordinary 1 qt inbetween oil changes.
She is my 5th Ford in a row, 2nd Black truck in a row of the 5. MY next pickup WILL be a crewcab Ford SD, 4x4 PS DSL.
I think you have gotten a lemon truck, All makes of vehicles make lemons now and again.
My kid sis is a rural US. Postal mail carrier. She has had 2 surenough Lemons! 1 90 Ford Ranger 4x4, 1 95,Kia Sportage 4x4. Both should have been crushed and melted down. She is back on a Ford Ranger again. Remember 1 bad apple in a bushel doesn't spoil the whole bunch.
Later,
John A.

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David B

01-06-2005 20:28:44

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

I drive a 95 F150 with 88,000 on it. It's perfect except where MoDOT is getting part of my box with their salt. Runs great
Grandpa bought a 97 F150 new and it was a good truck. He traded it for a new 2000 ton powerstroke, and it's awesome.
FORD'S RULE!!

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TomTX

01-06-2005 20:28:42

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

Little more info please:
Did you buy it new?
Which engine do you have?
Uses of the truck?
Your expereince with other trucks?
Thanks

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jkp

01-06-2005 20:13:52

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

The 4.2 V-6 has a known problem with the intake gasket at the right front piston letting coolant leak into the cyl. and bending rod. If you had know this info. and nailed the Ford dealer to the wall they would have admitted it and fixed it under warranty. Ford is aware of the problem but will not make it public. Problem starts about 75-80 thousand. Good luck

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Dan

01-07-2005 12:56:10

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to jkp, 01-06-2005 20:13:52

Is that the #4 pison? I have been smelling coolant lately but cannot find the leak. And, I have been getting error codes from a #4 misfire lately... Can you just replace the gasket to fix?

Dan

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BobMo

01-06-2005 18:58:31

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

The problem is when you ask something like this we have no idea how you have treated your vehicle. I have a 97-F150 with 132,000 on it and recently put in upper ball joints and rear u joints. I have no complaints but then I don't mistreat any machine. I'm not saying you do either but its a question that may not be relative to different owners. I'm not married to Ford, GM or Dodge, I try to buy the best deal as I think they are all good..... ..

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dr.sportster

01-06-2005 18:46:47

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

I dont beleive theres any such thing as a lemon.Parts go bad long enough and you have a brand new everything eventually.Ford or Chevy,GMC all good.Dodge turned German.That stinks.

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jd-tractor

01-06-2005 18:38:02

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

Just thought I would add my two cents.never had a vehicle that didn't get 200,00 mi.of reliable service currently driving a 91 GMC w/175,00 miles on it still dosen't use oil and can haul my JD all over the country.a lot of people make a crisis out of every little problem,my theory always has been drive it till it won't go no more,has worked out well.get over 200,000 on all the family cars.

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Redmud

01-06-2005 18:02:02

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

The last core I replaced on a Ford was a 95-96. and they are easy, 20 minutes max if you jack around. Don't know how hard or easy they are after the body change, 97 I think it was, but I would check it out myself before I paid 4-5 hundred to have someone else do it.

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wdTom

01-06-2005 17:29:42

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

$500 for a heater core!!! I hear stuff like this all the time. People who bought new from the dealer, and others with such repairs, need to jump up and down and holler at the dealer. Not enough people do. They just bend over and take it. If enough people were upset, maybe they would design to be more "repair frindly". No reason a heater couldn't be disigned to be replaced in an hour or so. Look at older trucks, heater was right there in the cab, take the whole thing out and take it apart, put it back in easy. Now you can't even find it, never mind get it out, and "improvement". What about fuel pumps, in the tank, got to take out the tank to change one now. What assho@# with too many degrees did that one? Put the fuel pump where it can be changed with two bolts, one elec. plug and two hose clamps. I would scream at the dealer if I had to take out or pay to take out a fuel tank to change a fuel pump. But not enough peopel do. What about a gauge, used to be able to take out the gage panel in a truck, even a car, replace a gage and put it back in with a few screws, now how do you do it? But people love how it looks or some such with never a thought to repair...until it is repair, then as I said, they just bend over. Don't understand it.

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Ryan

01-07-2005 08:18:40

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to wdTom, 01-06-2005 17:29:42

My fiancee drives me nuts with stuff like that. They grew up in the city so they always took their cars to be worked on. She had a Toyota with 120,00 on it and took it to firestone. They quoted her 850.00 or more to do some piddling around. I took the quote, bought the parts and her and I did it together, took 1.5 but we didn't mess around with flushing the cooling system and bs like that. The car never hardly ran in the normal anyway (ran cool).

Now she has a Hyundai, 60,000 mile look over cost her 600.00, new belts, timing belt, windshield wiper blades, oil change, etc. Over 400.00 in labor, that is where you really get it. I always work on my own stuff..... .

Ryan

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bryan in iowa

01-06-2005 17:26:58

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

They All break !!! lol sooner or later something goes wrong with any brand . As owner of independant repair shop, I see problems with every brand out there. Gm fuel pumps, injectors , fuel rails . Ford intakes , valve train , lock outs . Dodge trannys , brakes , front ends , a/c ..etc .list goes on .Lot of it comes down to maintinance ,,,some of it just bad luck ..

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rotten robert

01-06-2005 17:18:18

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

Sounds like you have a coolant quality problem what with gasket and heater core problems. Do you flush and refill at recomended intervals. Or are you using the cheap chit stuff from Wallys.

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D.L.

01-06-2005 17:02:12

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

recently read where Dodge trucks (Durango & Dakota, if memory serves) are being recalled... some minor problem that will cause the WHEELS TO FALL OFF!!! gimmie a Ford any day!
regards, D.L.

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Davis In SC

01-06-2005 20:09:37

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to D.L., 01-06-2005 17:02:12

Dodge/Cummins combo is hard to beat..... Got 2 Repair bill on old 92 model.... 150,000 miles , all I ever spent on it was 75 dollars for a new water pump..... .

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01-06-2005 16:31:07

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

The last 2 I had, an 89 Bronco and 92 F150 both had the 5.0 in them, both had over 200,000 on the odometer when I got rid of them. Now got a 2000 F250 PS, it has 90,000 on it now, has cost Ford over 3500.00 since I got it, engine warranty is about gone, that has me concerned. Other than that I like my Ford products, been driving them since 1973, when I got my license.

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01-06-2005 16:32:26

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to JT, 01-06-2005 16:31:07

Brother has a '97 with the big V-8, close to 200K on it, no troubles.

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Martin Miller

01-06-2005 16:24:48

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

I own a 1998 Ford F-150 with a 4.6 V-8. It has 79,000 miles on it and is going strong! I haul my Allis Chalmers around everywhere with it and don't have 1 ounce of problems with it. BUILT FORD TOUGH!

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Specter

01-06-2005 15:59:04

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

I don't actually have any experience with Fords. My dad used to have a Ford in his younger years. From what I've heard, the engine literally blew up. Later on, he bought a '79 GMC High Sierra 15 Heavy Half-Ton, nearly new. From what I've heard, the only major repair put into it was a new timing chain. It's a tired old truck, but still runs quite well. Not bad for about 250,000 miles. Dad also owns a '94 GMC 3500 1-ton crewcab (bought it in '96). A great truck. This is just my opinion, but GMCs and Chevys are my prefered trucks.

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Cosmo

01-06-2005 15:24:59

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

I've never owned a Ford but I drive a city owned F 150 with a 5.0. Had it since new (1996). All city driving. Accelerator to floor then stand on the brakes. Repeat at next traffic light. I have 134,000 miles on it and it is in great shape and uses no oil. I think now I'm a Ford man. Cosmo

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NC Wayne

01-06-2005 15:18:35

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

I don't think the brand makes much difference nowdays when it comes to reliability or cost to repair. In years past they found something good and stuck with it, nowdays they change 90% of the vehicle from one year to the next to meet emmision requirements, or whatever and never have sufficient time to test all the changes before they sell the vehicles. Until it got totalled by an idiot driver I owned a '88 F-150 that had well over 300,000 miles on it. Except for changing the intake manifold gasket at around 290,000 miles and going through 2 exhaust systems the old girl never gave any problems...heck it didn't even use any oil like you'd expect out of one with that many miles....Now though, I've got an old '78 Jeep J-10 that's still reliable as heck. If and when it does break down though I can fix it myself without alot of special tools, and the cost of the parts isn't through the roof either.

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dhermesc

01-06-2005 14:56:36

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

Just guessing, but do you have the V6? If thats the case it doesn't surprise me too much, especially since that was the first year of the then new model. The 4.2 was notorious for blowing head gaskets, just like its little brother the 3.8. If you have a 4.6 I'm surprised you having engine problems- they are pretty much bullet proof mechanically - just not a whole lot of power.

As for the AC and heater core, it is an 8 year old vehicle, its something to be expected. We have a pair of 2000 Chevy one tons, both have had the fuel pumps replaced (one is on its third unit), both have blown the intake manifold gaskets and one has blown the transmission.

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nwb

01-06-2005 14:42:44

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

I've always driven Fords and I think they have been reliable. My only comment to you is that it is hard to take a vehicle to a shop for less than $500.00. I've shopped for good lower priced mechanics and I have not found one. I have found several good mechanics. I guess the problem is I'm too cheap. I think the last time I changed a heater core it cost $90.00. It took a day to take the dash out and put it back in. Is it worth $450.00 in labor? Depends on your patience.
LOL

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Frank (N.Mi.)

01-06-2005 13:41:27

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Re: OT- 97' Ford F-150 in reply to colekicker, 01-06-2005 12:36:11

Well, I am currently driving one with 150,000 miles on the clock and it has been one very sweet truck with NO problems but then so have all my other past Fords.....

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