1997 FORD F-150 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

I OWN A 1997 FORD F150 AND JUST HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT THE HEAD. I HAVE DONE A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH AND IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS 5.4 WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *JB

FORD F 150 SAFETY ISSUE. *BF THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED ON 08/14/03 AND DIED BY 03/01/04. TWO MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE ODOMETER STOPPED AT 69K MILES, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP, THE BRAKES WENT OUT DUE TO CALIPER PIN FALLING OUT AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. SIX MONTHS LATER THE FLY WHEEL CONSUMED THREE STARTERS AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AGAIN. *SC *JB

THE TRUCK HAS A ROD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT COVER GASKET AND MANIFOLD SIDE GASKET FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER. AT COLD START, THE COOLANT IN THE CYLINDER CAUSED THE PISTON ROD TO BREAK. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $5000. *NM

WHILE AT FORD DEALER HAVING STATE INSPECTION DONE, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAUSGHT ON FIRE.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS WHEN A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT

UNDER HOOD FIRE AFTER VEHICLE PARKED FOR 6.5 HOURS. CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING ON 11/27/03 AND WAS NOT REPAIRED.

UNDER HOOD FIRE AFTER SITTING FOR 3 HOURS WITH THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE FIRE STARTED AT MIDNIGHT. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAYS THE ORIGIN WAS AT THE MASTER CYLINDER.

I HAVE A 1997 FORD 150 4.2 L V6 TRUCK . DO TO FORD USING A FALTY GASKETS TO BUILD THE ENGINE I HAVE EXPERIANCED ENGINE FAILURE. FORD IS NOT WILING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH THEY RECALLED THE ENGINE FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. ALSO, ENGINE STEAMED A WHITE MIST. DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE PICK UP ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF BEING PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE PICK UP WAS TOTALED. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WILL INSPECT THE PICK UP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.*AK THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM

WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER DRAINED THE OIL PAN AND FOUND A HALF A CUP OF WATER BEFORE THE OIL CAME OUT. THE CONSUMER FOUND ON A WEB SIGHT THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM WITH TWO GASKETS ON THE ENGINE. THE DEALER IS NOT CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *LA

I OWN A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH A V6 4.2 LITER MOTOR. LAST WEEK TO MY SURPRISE MY TRUCK STARTED KNOCKING. I FOUND THE REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET DESIGN BY FORD. I HAD CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON MY TRUCK MANY TIMES BEFORE, AND AS EARLY AS JANUARY, 2000 (WHEN I STILL HAD MY WARRANTY) I CHECKED FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL, BUT I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS PROBLEM LIKE MANY OTHER 1997-1998 4.2 LITER OWNERS. TODAY THIS LEAVES ME WITH A USELESS TRUCK THAT NEEDS AND $4000 ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I JUST FEEL THAT I SHOULD OF BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS DESIGN FLAW BEFORE IT HAPPENED, AND MY TRUCK SHOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS WITH UNDER 100,000 MILES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *LA

I HAVE A FORD F150 TRUCK WITH THE 4.2L ENGINE. VIN # FTDX1725VKA71538 MY LEFT LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKET FAILED. THIS ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO A CYLINDER AND DAMAGE THE ENGINE. THE DAMAGE IS DESCRIBED IN FORD'S TSB ARTICLE # 99-20-7.*AK

UPON LEAVING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG COOLANT ODOR. CONSUMER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TO TRACE FROM WHERE THE ODOR WAS COMING. CONSUMER, WHO WAS A MECHANIC, DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR VEHICLE WITHOUT A RECALL OR PAYMENT.*AK

FRONT ENGINE GASKET LEAKING CALLED DEALERSHIP ANY TELL ME THAT MY TRUCK WASNT A RECALL . BUT SEEMS TO ME THAT OTHER FORD TRUCK OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHIT THE FRONT ENGINE GASKET LEAKING. IT WILL COST ME ABOUT $700.00 TO REPAIR. HOPE THE FORD COMPANY DOES SOMETING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK

ON A COLD START MY FORD F-150 BROKE A ROD DUE TO ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE. THIS IS A KNOWN FORD DEFECT IN WHICH FORD SENT OUT A TECHNICAL BULLETIN BUT WHO WILL NOT COVER THE $4,000 DOLLAR REPAIR.*AK

CYLINDER #2 PISTON OF 97 F150 TRUCK BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF ALUMINIUM HEAD. THIS HAS APPARENTLY BEEN A PROBLEM OF FORD VEH. NOW ON 2004 FORD TRUCKS THEY USE CAST IRON HEADS. I REPAIRED MY TRUCK MYSELF WITH A HELI COIL BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FORDS RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE PUT THIS IN THE PILE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE........ I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD AGAIN.........THIS INCIDENT OCCURED IN DEC 2000 WITH ONLY 54,000 MILES. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE ON THERE WAY BACK HOME TO DALLAS FROM AMARILLO, TX. (CHANGED CONSUMER INFO PER 10/25/05 CONSUMER CALL - C. ROSE)

ENGINE FAILURE, TRANSMISSION FAILURE

THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A COOLANT LEAK. THE PIPE WHICH LEAD TO THE RADIATOR RUSTED AND CAUSED THE COOLANT TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE 1998. *NLM *CB

COOLANT LEAKING AT FRONT COVER GASKET AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. 1997 FORD F-150 4WD. VIN#[XXX]. I PURCHASED VEHICLE USED. HAVE RECALLS AND SERVICE BULLETINS BEEN MAINTAINED ON THIS VEHICLE? I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO JACOB GEORGE FORD, HOUTZDALE, PA FOR FULL INSPECTION TOMORROW. ANY INFORMATION ON THE MAINTENANCE WOULD BE USEFUL FOR US TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 99B29 INDICATING THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS BEEN INADEQUATE. LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKETS FAILED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE OIL. ISSUE IS ADDRESSED BY FORD WITH TSB ARTICLE NO 99-20-7. DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS--------770763. *AK *NLM

THE TRUCK HAD A KNOCKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT COVER GASKET AND MANIFOLD SIDE GASKET FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER. AT COLD START, THE COOLANT IN THE CYLINDER CAUSED THE PISTON ROD TO BREAK. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD COST $4000. TO REPLACE. *NLM *TT

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW TWICE AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK. THIS PROBLEM WAS RECALLED FOR SOME 1997 F150'S BUT NOT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *NLM *NLM

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WITHOUT WARNING.THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. TS

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES' TURN KEY HEARD A LOUD BANGING COMING FROM ENGINE, TURN OFF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER LOOKED AT MOTOR REMOVED ENGINE COVER, IT CHECKED OUT FINE. MECHANIC STATED COOLANT IS GETTING INTO ENGINE FLUID THIS WILL DESTROY ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE SYSTEM

COOLANT LEAKED DUE TO WORN OUT GASKET ON WATER PUMP FRONT CYLINDER. YH

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES. YH