1997 FORD F-150 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

FORD RECALL 99B29. FRONT COVER GASK UNABLE TO HOLD COOLANT. *TR

TRUCK HAS A 4.2 LITER, V-6 ENGINE. A WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN THEN PARKED IN A MY GARAGE. ON THE INCIDENT DAY I TRIED TO START THE TRUCK BUT HEARD ONLY A LOUD, HARD KNOCK WHEN THE STARTER ENGAGED. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE BATTERY VOLTAGE CHECKED OUT OK. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE STARTER WAS REMOVED AND CHECKED OUT OK ELECTRICALLY. THE MECHANIC MANUALLY ROTATED THE ENGINE BACKWARD 1-1/2 TURNS (HE COULD NOT ROTATE IT FORWARD) THEN TRIED TO START IT BUT THE ENGINE AGAIN MADE A LOUD, HARD KNOCK SOUND. THE MECHANIC THOUGH THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED OR A PUSH ROD WAS BENT. HOWEVER, SINCE THE TRUCK RAN FINE THE LAST TIME IT WAS USED I FELT THE PROBLEM DEVELOPED DURING ITS LAST USE AND LAST COOLDOWN. I CONCLUDED A GASKET FAILED (OR A HEAD CRACKED)...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD THE HORN SOUNDING OFF. THE VEHICLE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES SOON THEREAFTER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE FIRE CHIEF STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AREA ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 161,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: MOUNTING) THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL STRAPS WERE CORRODED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REMEDY DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE CORROSION ON THE FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RECALL REPAIR AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER THE FUEL TANK MOUNT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRAME BRACKET HAD ROTTED AND THE RECALL COULD NOT BE PERFORMED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A SLIGHT HESITATION, THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE, THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY, THE BRAKE LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. NO ONE WAS INJURED FROM THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND TOOK A COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 207,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 211,000.

ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK BUILT 1997 IN RECALL CAMPAIGN INDICATING THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS BEEN INADEQUATE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND A SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE LOCAL MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE BLOWN SPARK PLUG AS WELL AS A COIL, AND ADVISED REPLACING THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO ORDER THE NECESSARY PARTS FOR REPAIRS AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO ENGINE HEADS AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTRY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I LAST DROVE MY TRUCK ON 06/20/2011. WHEN I WOKE UP TO FEED MY ANIMALS I HEARD A SOUND LIKE A BIRD CAUGHT UNDER MY TRUCK. I LOOKED UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE FENDER AND SAW FLAMES. I POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS ON FIRE. I GRABBED MY FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM MY BARN AND PUT THE FIRE OUT.

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.

JUST DRIVING MY 1997 FORD F-150 AND HAVE HAD 2 SPARK PLUGS FLY OUT THE TRUCK. MOTOR THEN RUNS ROUGH AND CONTINUES TO OPERATE FOR SOME TIME BEFORE YOU GET ANY ENGINE LIGHT. AFRAID TO LET WIFE USE TRUCK CAUSE IT COULD CATCH FIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILES WERE 147,008. UPDATED 06/17/11 *BF THE MECHANIC STATED THE GAS TANK HAD RUSTED WHERE THE FUEL STRAPS BROKE. THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF DUE TO CABLE FAILURE. ALSO THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INTO IT.

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.

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

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

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.

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...

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

1997 F150 BRAKES LOCKING UP AND ENGINE COOLANT LEAK INTO MOTOR. *TR

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

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

MY 1997 FORD F150 4X4 ON THE RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD THE REAR SPARK PLUG CAME OUT WHILE DRIVING LOSS OF POWER NOW I CAN NOT DRIVE IT MAKES WEIRD NOISES IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS SPARK PLUG NO LONGER FITS IN THE HEAD WAS THIS A BAD FLAW TO THE 4.6 DUEL OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE .DO I HAVE A CLAIM WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY THANK YOU! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER CALLED BACK AND STATED THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT DID NOT APPROVE THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THEY SENT THE CONTACT A RECALL NOTICE, BUT HE CLAIMED THAT IT WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY SENT THE NOTICE TO A DIFFERENT MAILING ADDRESS, WHICH IS WHY IT WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 175,000.

DEFECTIVE ENGINE THAT CAUSES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET TO LEAK COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE OIL. I HAVE HAD THIS REPLACED TWICE AND AM NOW IN NEED OF IT AGAIN. *TR

VEHICLE RUNNING ROUGH AND SMOKING AT START UP. MECHANIC SAID #4 CYCLE GETTING COOLANT ON SPARK PLUGS FOWLING OUT PLUGS. MECHANIC REPAIRED HEADS AND REPLACED BLOWN HEAD GASKET/TUNED UP ENGINE/ REPLACED FUEL AND AIR FILTER/ SERVICED FUEL SYSTEM / RESURFACED HEADS. *TR

FRONT ENGINE COVER GASKET FAILURE. CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED, AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1,400 DOLLARS. *TR

NOTICED LOW OIL PRESSURE NOTICE ANTI-FREEZE ALWAYS LOW WITH NO LEAK TO BE FOUND STARTED UP ONE MORNING LOUD CLICKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ENGINE TURNED OVER TWICE, BUT DID NOT START. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A PIECE OF METAL ON THE GROUND ALONG WITH AN OIL LEAK. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,843. UPDATED 04/29/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO A FUALTY HEAD GASKET. UPDATED

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKET FAILURE. ALLOWS ANTI-FREEZE INTO NUMBER ONE CYLINDER. *TR

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2 L ENGINE THAT JUST TURNED 100,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT SECOND HAND FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP JUNE 1999 WITH ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT. THIS TRUCK WAS METICULOUSLY CARED FOR OVER THE YEARS. AFTER NOTICING THAT THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS DOWN AFTER A A RECENT REFILL I REFILLED IT AGAIN. I DIDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT TEN DAYS BUT WHEN I WENT TO START IT THE ENGINE MADE A CLUNK AND WOULDN'T CRANK. I SUSPECTED THE BATTERY AFTER A CHARGE YIELDED THE SAME RESULTS. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT STILL THE SAME RESULT AND ALSO AFTER REFINISHING LEAD TERMINALS AND STARTER REPLACEMENT. I CHECKED THE OIL FILLER CAP AND THERE WAS A THICK LIGHT BROWN SUBSTANCE I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE ON IT AND ALL THE WAY DOWN AROUND THE INSIDE WALL OF THE FILLER TUBE. I SUSPECTED A LEAK...

ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

WATER DISCOVERED IN THE OIL OF 4.2L F-150 MOTOR. *TR

97 F150 4.2 V6. STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AT START UP BUT STOPPED AFTER WARM UP. COUPLE DAYS LATER , I STARTED TRUCK AND ROD BLEW. TOWED IN AND WAS TOLD I NEED ANOTHER MOTOR. HAD REMANUFACTURED MOTOR PUT IN $3500. *TR

97 F-150 4.2 INTAKE GASKET LEAKING RESULTING IN DAMAGED ENGINE. *TR

ON OR ABOUT DEC 2006, I BEGAN NOTICING THE ENGINE IN MY TRUCK BEHAVING STRANGELY. IT HAD AROUND 85,000 MILES AT THE TIME. I WASN'T ABLE TO HAVE THE TRUCK REPAIRED DUE TO FINANCIAL REASONS, AND I RARELY DRIVE IT ANYWAY, SO THE TRUCK SAT IN MY GARAGE UNTIL I WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO FACE THE PROBLEM. I KNEW BY THE WAY IT WAS ACTING THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ALOT. LAST FALL, AUG 2007, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE 4.2L ENGINE THAT HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN MY TRUCK WAS FAULTY BUT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO BUT PAY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

1997 F-150 XL SB (TRUCK) TWO DAYS AGO, I STARTED THE TRUCK AND NOTICED THAT A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST AND THERE WAS A BANGING ON THE ENGINE. I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVELS..ALL WERE WITHIN THE CORRECT LEVELS..TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE MECHANICS..TOLD ME THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL OF THESE TRUCKS...HE SAID THAT THE FRONT COVER GASKET HAD BEEN COMPROMISED AND THAT THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE..I FOUND A WEBSITE WHERE THERE WERE 100'S OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS V-6 ENGINE (4.2 L). I AM APPALLED THAT FORD WOULD ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN...OH, YES.... I NEVER RECEIVED A TSB REGARDING THIS MATTER..I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 1997 AND I HAVE ONLY 38,891 MILES ON THIS ENGINE....I AM LIVID THAT I HAVE BEEN ROYALLY SCREWED!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

COOLANT LEAKING INTO CYLINDERS CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK UP AT STARTUP. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN MECHANIC SERVICE VEHICLE HE INFORMED ME THAT COOLANT HAS LEAKED INTO THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER AND THAT THIS ENGINE HAS A HISTORY OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES. HE CAN REPLACE GASKET BUT BELIEVES THAT THIS WOULD ONLY BE A TEMPORARY FIX. HE WOULD BE WILLING TO REPLACE GASKET FOR $1600 BUT HE CAN NOT GUARANTEE RESULTS, A REPLACEMENT ENGINE WOULD COST APPROX. $4800. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON THE WEB IT HAS BECOME APPARENT TO ME THAT FORD HAS LONG KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS FAILED TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. *JB

1997 F150 4.2L ENGINE FAILURE. *JB. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ THE ENGINE MAIN BEARINGS, LOWER ENGINE GASKET AND TIMING BELT GASKET COVER WERE REPLACED. UPDATED *JB

I HAD MY SPARK PLUGS REPLACED TWICE AT $541 DOLLARS AT A FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY WERE "CORRODED". UPON TAKING IT SOME PLACE ELSE GOODYEAR TO BE SPECIFIC THEY PULLED UP A FACTORY RECALL ON FORD F150 FROM 97 BECAUSE A GASKET LEAKS COOLANT ONTO THE SPARK PLUGS CAUSING CORROSION. EMPIRE FORD NEVER EVEN GAVE ME A REASON FOR THIS, JUST KEPT CASHING THE CHECKS, NOW THEY ARE SAYING MY VIN NUMBER WAS NEVER INCLUDED, BUT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THOSE RECALLED, COINCIDENCE, IMPOSSIBLE. *JB

AT 1:50A.M. ON 8/1/2007 OUR 1997 FORD F150, WHICH WAS UNDER RECALL, BURNED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. DAMAGE WAS ALSO DONE TO 2 OTHER VEHICLES, OUR HOME, DRIVEWAY, AND BASKETBALL GOAL. *TR

PURCHASED A 1997 FORD F-150 IN EARLY SPRING OF 2006. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN OR CLOSE TO 100,000 MILES. DROVE THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 1,000 AND 2,000 MILES OVER THE NEXT YEAR. IN LATE MARCH OR EARLY APRIL OF THIS YEAR THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE, A 4.2 L 6 CYLINDER MOTOR SELF DESTRUCTS. ON THE MORNING IN QUESTION, I WENT OUT AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE MOTOR TURNED OVER VERY SLUGGISHLY AS IF THE BATTERY WAS LOW. WHEN THE MOTOR STARTED, IT MADE A TERRIBLE RACKET AND BLEW A CHUNK OF THE ENGINE BLOCK OUT APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF MY THUMB. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET ONLY TO FIND THAT 1997 4.2 L FORD MOTORS HAVE A DEFECTIVE GASKET WHICH ALLOWS WATER TO FLOW INTO THE CYLINDERS. THE GASKET HAD FAILED AND ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER(S) OVERNIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HYDROLOCK...

ENGINE THREW ROD, JUST LIKE THE FEW THOUSAND OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET. TREATED THIS TRUCK LIKE A BABY, HEARD FROM A FORD MASTER MECHANIC THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ALREADY ,AND HE ACTUALLY LAUGHED AS HE TOLD ME I WAS SCREWED. HAPPENED ONE MORNING WHEN TO START IT AND BAM BLEW ROD. WAS FULL OF OIL, FULL COOLANT, WET SPARK PLUG AMAZING I COME FROM A 4 GENERATION FORD FAMILY AND BECAUSE OF THIS I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. *AK

I JUST GOT MY 1997 FORD F150 XLT WITH THE 4.2L ENGINE BACK YESTERDAY, AFTER PAYING $1430 FOR ENGINE REPAIRS. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 47,700 MILES ON IT. I WENT OUT TO THE TRUCK ONE DAY AND TURNED THE KEY, AND - NOTHING. TURNS OUT TO BE HYDRO LOCK BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME. I FINALLY GOT IT STARTED, & GOT IT INTO THE DEALER, AND THE TECHNICIAN THOUGHT IT NEEDED TO BE TUNED UP, PLUS I WAS HAVING THE HEAT FADE AT STOPS SO HE FLUSHED & REFILLED THE COOLANT. I MENTIONED THAT I WAS HAVING TO TOP OFF THE COOLANT ABOUT ONCE A MONTH, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE COOLANT WAS GOING, AND IT WASN'T SHOWING UP IN THE OIL. I GOT IT BACK, AND IT WAS STILL RUNNING REALLY BAD, SO I DROPPED IT OFF AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER. THIS TIME HE THOUGHT...

HYDRO LOCK 1997 FORD 4.2 V6 44,000 MILES. *NM

THIS WEEK THE ENGINE IN MY 1997 F-150 BLEW. THE PLUGS WERE WET. COOLANT LEAKED. I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO SEE ABOUT PURCHASING AN ENGINE AND I FOUND A WEBSITE CALLED FIGHT BACK WITH DAVID HORIWITZ. THERE ARE 27 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS THAT ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE. HTTP:WWW.FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHPT=224 YOU NEED TO SEE FOR YOURSELF. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE. *JB