My 1997 ford f150 with a 4.2l v-6 engine began giving me problems a few months ago. It began having an erratic starting problem. It then began to blow out white smoke out of the exhaust. I checked the coolant system with pressure gauges, and everything showed to be fine. I did this several times, because white smoke continued to come out of the exhaust. Then I went to start it the other morning and it turned over the rod in the #4 cylinder is bent due to coolant in the cylinder. I have heard this happening to many people, and think that ford should step up and take responsibility! . The tech then explained that the f-150s have had a trend problem with these engines for years; coolant would leak into a cylinder causing too much compression resulting in a bent or broken rod. It cost me over $2000 for something ford knew was defective. I sent a letter (attached) to ford and received a call from customer service basically telling me it was the owner's responsibility. This vehicle was meticulously cared for according to the owner's manual but, because of an engineering problem with the manufacturer, the engine failed. I researched and found hundreds of stories like mine at http://forums.treemedia.com/fb/showthread.php?t=224&page=1&pp=15 . I fined it extremely unfair that I and hundreds if not thousands of others have to bear the financial burden of replacing a defective engine. These vehicles should have been recalled years ago.
1997 Ford F-150 engine complaints
Page 7 of 19: complaints 161 to 190 of 544, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Gasket failed on 4.2 liter ford engine, causing a rod to break. I was never notified of the gasket recall in 1999. It's going to cost me $3000 to fix. Ford should be liable for this. There are thousands of others just like mine out there.
I'll have a 1997 ford f150 for no reason my motor blew a rod I'll read in the internet about a lot of people having the same problem the motor are defect, isn't ford dealer during anything about it. This is not right I'll went to work in my truck came home from work, 3-hours later started my truck the engine knock continues to bang, I turn it off I was told that the truck blew a rod. This is very on fair I can't afford a another car. Please advise. Thanks you.
Lower intake manifold in 4.2l v6 (ford f150) failed (melted) allowing coolant to leak into a cylinder resulting in hydro-lock. The piston and connecting rod in that cylinder were damaged (piston skirt broken, rod bent). Since then I have learned that ford has been aware of this problem almost since the truck was new ('97) and refused to provide any support to owners except where the gasket failed during the regular warranty period. As I understand it failure is inevitable, and even so ford did not make an attempt to contact owners regarding this problem. In my case ford's refusal to provide a warning of this problem turned a relatively inexpensive repair (replacement of the gasket) into over $1300 in parts and labor.
My 1997 ford f150 with a 4.2l v-6 engine began giving me problems a few months ago. It began having an erratic starting problem. It then began to blow out white smoke out of the exhaust. I checked the coolant system with pressure gauges, and everything showed to be fine. I did this several times, because white smoke continued to come out of the exhaust. Then I went to start it the other morning and it turned over and fired once. Then it made a real loud banging noise, and would not crank again. I continued to work with it, and finally got it to crank again, and it was knocking. The knocking sound was coming from the oil pan. I pulled the engine out, and took it apart. The rod in the #4 cylinder is bent due to coolant in the cylinder. I have heard this happening to many people, and think that ford should step up and take responsibility!
I had purchased a used for f-150 for the dealer it went through inspection and was working very well. However after about six months of use it started to loose coolant, but dot visibly. It would run hot , I would add coolant and continue. Then in april of 2005 the engine locked up and had to be replaced. The mechanic said that the engine had hydrolocked and would need to be rebuilt.
Leaking coolant internally due to known manufacturer defect in gaskets. There was no external leaks, just disappearing coolant levels and car overheating. After the coolant was topped off, I tried starting the car the next morning, the car wouldn't start due to hydrolock. When it did finally start, the engine produced a loud pinging sound (such as a rod knock). I am in the process of going further into the engine to assess damage. This is a know defect to the manufacturer as they have released a tsb to address the problem. Of course this is only shared with the public after damage is done. Please help!
1997 f-150 4.2 engine failure due to known (by ford) defect that allows coolant to leak in to engine and damage the engine. The vehicle ([xxx] failed at my son's school over 100 miles from home. This particular problem is well documented on the internet. Unfortunately, we did not realize this until the engine failed. There are many ford customers anxious for government support to require a recall to help finance this very expensive (~$4,000) problem. *nm updated 07/17/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
Leaking front gasket and/or intake gasket caused engine failure on a 1997 ford pickup v6 4.2 . I was not advise at no time of this potential problem and paid for the gasket repairs myself. Only now after a major failure have I learned about the ford tsb 99-20-7 and/or on p99b29 and the dealer is leaving me stranded. I'm disabled, and nearly broke. Also later in this form I don't know what oem is.
Recall on ford truck that I did not recieve, which my have saved me from getting a new engine. Recall#99b29.
I purchased a 1997 ford f-150 from a jacksonville resident in december of 2004 about three weeks ago, I went out to start it and heard loud banging from the engine compartment accompanied by bellows of smoke from the exhaust, I had the vehicle towed to a repair shop and, after the tech checked it out, was in formed the engine was shot. He then explained that the f-150s have had a trend problem with these engines for years; coolant would leak into a cylinder causing too much compression resulting in a bent or broken rod. It cost me $4220.00 to replace an engine ford knew was defective. I sent a letter (attached) to ford and received a call from customer service basically telling me it was the owner's responsibility. This vehicle was meticulously cared for according to the owner's manual but, because of an engineering problem with the manufacturer, the engine failed. I researched and found hundreds of stories like mine at http://forums.treemedia.com/fb/showthread.php?t=224&page=1&pp=15 . I fined it extremely unfair that I and hundreds if not thousands of others have to bear the financial burden of replacing a defective engine. These vehicles should have been recalled years ago.
Failure of spark plug on f150 1997 4.6l. No extra consequences except cost of repair of a feature that never should have failed.
Coolant leaking from a faulty head gasket into the motor causing major damage. Resulting in ford motor company replacing the entire motor for well over $4,000. This is not only a problem with my vehicle but many more. Just do a web search for faulty gaskets in 97 4.2l engines. Go to http://forums.treemedia.com/fb/showthread.php?t=224&page=10&pp=15 for more info.
Engine failure 4.2 f150 1997. 110,000 miles front gasket replaced recall. No lost of coolant until now. Morning engine missed for 15-20 seconds for several days prior to failure. Day of failure engine turned a small amount and would not move by starter. Allowed to set and started later and when started it sounded like it was coming apart. All lubricants changed regular with synthetics. Apparently a rod broke when coolant ran into cylinder and starting cause the rod to bend and starting later caused the bend to break.
Intake gasket went out causing antifreeze to leak into piston and when truck was cranked up it bent rod broke piston repair bill was $1685.00 something needs to be down about this. Many others have had the same problem just look up 1997 f150 intake forum thanks.
I have a 1997 ford f-150 with a v-6 4.2l engine. This engine ran rough after being driven at highway speeds and was then slowed to normal city speeds. This was investigated at least three times while under the warranty period with no trouble found each time. At about 70,000 miles this truck began to run rough and the shop which serviced it told me that there was insufficient spark in the right half of the engine, but came up with no satisfactory resolutions. I notice that I was loosing coolant and the check engine light would come on and blink occasionally. This continued for several months until one day when I turned on the engine there was a loud bang and an obnoxious clattering. The truck was towed into a dealer at which point I was told I needed a new engine which cost $4200. After 55,000 more miles I started losing fluid again and experiencing similar problems and took the truck into a dealer which found no trouble. The symptoms were a fluctuating temperature gauge and no heat when the heater was turned on. Also, loosing fluid with white smoke from the exhaust. From other postings on various online forums I found out this was a classic failure for the 4.2l v6 with a blown head gasket. I seem to be on the verge of another blown engine. When I called a dealer to schedule a return visit I was informed that this the same engine as the taurus 3.8l with a long stroke hence making the displacement 4.2 liters. Also, I was informed that engine had the same trouble and many have to be replaced.
1997 ford f-150 4.2l v-6 truck starting knocking this morning when I went to start the motor. 60,000 miles and the engine has lost all oil pressure and is knocking terribly. I used it 2 days ago and this morning it's broken. Happened while sitting under the carport over night. Probably the all familiar leaking gaskets that has plagued every 4.2l v-6 ford owner.
Fire started in engine compartment of 1997 ford f150. *ts
97 ford f150 4.2 l engine, no gasket recall notification, thrown rod during startup just like the large number of other people complaining about the same failure on http://forums.treemedia.com
Spark plug has blown out of my 1997 ford f150 for the second time. First fix was using a helicoil. Second fix will have to be the same. According to information gathered from the www, this is a common problem fixed only by replacing the entire cylinder head ($3,000+) this is poor quality manufacturing and corporate america turning its back, once again, on the consumers that keep them going.
Dt: the contact stated vehicle was making a loud noise. He took it to a local mechanic, who informed him that all 1997 ford f150 engines had to be replaced. He contacted ford, and they told him there was no recall involving noise. The mechanic stated the water pump was defective which resulted in water leaking into the engine. The mechanic predicted that the engine might function for three more miles.
1997 ford f-150 pickup with 4.2 liter v6. Over the last couple of years I have noticed that I have to continually add coolant to the radiator. After researching the problem on the internet I came across ford onp 99b29 which states ford will replace the engine front cover gasket to prevent serious damage to the engine. (hydrolock leading to broken or bent connecting rods). I never received this notice as I understand it was only sent to corporate customers. I now have oily residue throughout the engine coolant, hard starting, etc. All consistent with defective intake manifold/front cover gasket leading to internal engine coolant leakage. The ford dealer refuses to fix the problem because he said I had to report it to him prior to march 31, 2001. I now have 70,600 miles on the truck. I would like ford to fix this problem before I have a catostrophic engine failure from a broken rod on cylinder #1.
There was no significant event that lead up to the failure. The failure is that the spark plugs are popping out of the heads. This happened on a 1997 ford f150 5.4 supercab pickup, it has also happened to a few other of our pickups and to a couple of our service vans. We had to have the spark plug holes tapped and re-drilled and install a new plug. It is quite and expensive procedure not only for the repairs but the down time of our vehicles. This seems to be happening a lot. Could you please get back to me if you have had similar complaints. Or let me know if I am complaining to the wrong place. Thank you.
Blown gasket-
Vehicle started rough and ran poorly. Parked overnight, next morning engine was locked up. Would not turn over and felt like it was jammed. Finally got it to start, running poorly and white smoke poured out of the exhaust. Had vehicle taken to mechanic, who found out that the head gasket was the problem when he found the plugs were gunked up and white like vanilla pudding. Engine had to be sent out and rebuilt.
I have a 97 ford 150 with a 4.2 v6 that has hydro locked. I am still making payments on this truck. I have not yet fixed it I am trying to find a good price on a new motor.
Defective engine. 1997 f150 v6 4.2 l, 73000 miles and a rod is knocking. This is a known defect at ford.
I have the same complaint about my 97 f150 a lot of people do. I have 4.2 v6 that locked up on me a few months ago. I heard there was a recall on the motor for a coolant gasket but I never received one. From what I understand even the ones that got change went bad anyway. Please help make ford own up to this engineering defect and replace these motors. Thank you.
1997 ford f150 4.2 l v-6 leaking lower intake manifold gasket destroys engine!
I have a 97 ford f150. They are known to have gasket failure. I am on my 3rd motor in it. They dont make it 100,000 mile. You just start them @ they will blow.
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