Anyone familiar with the F-150?

[loud2004marquis]

Looking at picking up a 1997 F-150 (4.6) 160,000 miles tomorrow and was wondering if any of you could give me some tips on what to look for in these trucks.

Saw one today that was appealing and thinking about buying it.

A machinist owns it and in the last year replaced the tie rods, ball joints, coolant flush, new entire brake system.

Is there anything you guys could specifically recommend I look at with the truck?

[Granddaddy Marq]

Leaky back window. Water getting in though the third brake light. Door switches, they'er in the latches and sometimes get stuck and don't let the doom light go off. Spray lub will help that. That's all I can think of right know.

[Jimimac43]

If it has a sun roof and shows signs of leaks in the cab, check the drain tubes for the sun roof, It took the dealer 4 attempts to find and remedy mine, (2009 F 150 Lariat crew cab).

[J.bo]

Leaky back window. Water getting in though the third brake light. Door switches, they'er in the latches and sometimes get stuck and don't let the doom light go off. Spray lub will help that. That's all I can think of right know.

Yes leaky back window, digital speedometer going out, ac clutch, and all that other things that has already been replaced. So you are almost finished with the problems and keep the oil changed. I'm at 264K miles strong and going.

[boatmangc]

Go a year earlier, Ford's best IMHO
I have had 7 F150s from 92-96
Awesome trucks, sold several with over 170K on the clock with literally no issues.
I have a 96 right now, short bed standard cab 5.0 original trans, original timing chain, 225K miles, bought it new, I would drive it anywhere, right now.

[mrjones]

Check the heater core to make sure it's not leaking. Major beeyotch to replace on this truck. If it appears to be leaking it can sometimes be the goofy connectors Ford uses to connect the heater hoses to the heater core at the firewall.

EGR passage can also clog up with carbon and be a pain to clean, and it will set a code.

As others have mentioned, leaky back window. If it is leaking, it needs to be cut out and reglued to be fixed properly.

[RoyLPita]

If it is an up north vehicle, check the rockers. Also check the doors. They have been known to crack above the door handle at the window.

[Bruce Wayne]

These are great vehicles, the 4.6 has plenty of power and is good on gas, for a truck. The 5.4 L is a better engine with more power and almost the same gas mielage. You can't lose with a Built Ford Tough F150

[71cyclone]

These are great vehicles, the 4.6 has plenty of power and is good on gas, for a truck. The 5.4 L is a better engine with more power and almost the same gas mielage. You can't lose with a Built Ford Tough F150
ditto go with the 5.4 // recycle yards cannot keep 4.6's in stock in my area 20772 zip :beer:

[Guittard22]

Be sure to beaware of any damage or records if any to the vehicle and get estimates on how much it will cost to fix parts that need to be fixed. That way you can negotiate a better deal based on the extra work that needs to be done .

[Ken]

Just got rid of my 99 F150, that I bought new. 125K, body in great shape, just a touch of rust starting to bubble at the bottom of the drivers door, but the undercarriage was rotting out. Spare tire cable literally seperated from the piece holding the tire up, dropped tire in the parking lot. Luckily truck was lowered, so I felt it dragging on the bumper, because I was barely moving. Just imagine what could have happened on a highway, at speed, with an un-lowered truck. The frame above the spare tire had a huge hole rusted through. Yes, the frame! The left rear shackle had been replaced after I found a lump under the Bed Rug, looked under it and found the spring peeking through. The right rear shock mount broke and had to be repaired. Seeing that you are from MI, I would definitely crawl around underneath first thing.

ABS module did not work, and a replacement could not be found and aftermarket companies would NOT repair that model. This on the country's best selling vehicle! I was told that this was a one year model, something about first year 4 wheel ABS, with rear drums and front rotors. Finally had to unplug the module to have working brakes, although no ABS. Cruise control hadn't worked for years. Heater core had been changed about 5 years ago. The slave cylinder on the clutch developed a leak. The AC died just before I traded it in. I put more money into the truck in its last five months than I got on the trade in. And was looking to spend a lot more.

[MERCMAN]

If it has standard tranny, check the slave cylinder. I have an '02 4WD and to replace it they had to drop the tranny. about 1500 bucks, most of which was labor. Great truck other than that with 145K on the clock

[loud2004marquis]

Thanks for the help guys, great info.

One other question:

Looking at buying a 1999 4.6 2wd ext. cab with 145K tomorrow.
The truck is very clean for the age.
Very minimal rust and wear especially compaired to the others I've looked at in my price range.

However, it does need headers as the current stock manifolds are very rusted with small holes in them.

Figured if it's not too much more then OEM replacement, I should get a performance upgrade while the work has to be done.

Any recommendations on headers?

[ImpalaSlayer]

Thanks for the help guys, great info.

One other question:

Looking at buying a 1999 4.6 2wd ext. cab with 145K tomorrow.
The truck is very clean for the age.
Very minimal rust and wear especially compaired to the others I've looked at in my price range.

However, it does need headers as the current stock manifolds are very rusted with small holes in them.

Figured if it's not too much more then OEM replacement, I should get a performance upgrade while the work has to be done.

Any recommendations on headers?

if the stock logs are rusted out id be looking VERY HARD for hidden rust about too poke its nasty head out. the stock manifolds are quite thick and if they are rusting id be looking at the body very carefully.

i had a 98 excab with the 4.6 and it was great truck. i put about 40k on it while i had it (bought it with 75k and sold it with about 125). i only had one spark plug go bad and my egr went bad also. it was my first vehicle so i wasnt exactly the nicest too it either but it didnt seem to mind at all.

[robertmee]

Check the heater core to make sure it's not leaking. Major beeyotch to replace on this truck. If it appears to be leaking it can sometimes be the goofy connectors Ford uses to connect the heater hoses to the heater core at the firewall.

EGR passage can also clog up with carbon and be a pain to clean, and it will set a code.

As others have mentioned, leaky back window. If it is leaking, it needs to be cut out and reglued to be fixed properly.

+2 on the heater core and EGR...I have a 2000 with 190K miles...Lost the heater core this past winter and had the EGR problems a few years ago. Also lost the A/C so now the truck mostly sits as a utility vehicle and no longer my daily. But she was a good one and never left me stranded.