1997 Ford F-150: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Apr 11, 2024 · Transmission · 245,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 1997 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the transmission hesitated while shifting gears. The contact stated that when the gear changed, the vehicle would jerk. The contact replaced the control sensor however, the failure recurred. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 245,000.

Filed Mar 23, 2012 · Brakes, Engine · 150,000 miles · RI

Tl* the contact owns 1997 ford f-150. The contact stated that after receiving notification of the federal safety agency 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 the brakes, calipers and hoses. Updated 04/17/12 updated 04/25/12*lj updated 05/02/12

Filed Nov 5, 2006 · Engine · 178,000 miles · FL

On occasion, truck would hesitate, taking a bit of tlc on the gas pedal to clear it up. One occasion, in traffic, attempting to avoid a near miss, I accelerated through this. White smoke began pouring out the tail pipe. Head gasket failure. Limped home. Engine hydro-locked. Diagnosis = replace head gaskets ($2,100) in this same 'weak' 4.2 v-6 or replace motor ($2,500) with newer 4.2 v-6. Replacement will be done tomorrow. Ford faulty engine / gaskets - not my fault. My problem though.

Filed Apr 29, 2006 · Engine · 129,600 miles · CA

11/16/2005 ~ go in for a routine oil and lube. Attendant gives me details, I have air filter replaced and coolant added because it was low. 2/23/2006 ~ go in for my routine oil and lube. I ask the attendant to look at the coolant, I tell him that it keeps getting low. Sure enough he comes back and lets me know its very low, did I want to put coolant in it. 4/28/2006 ~ I go to my 97 f-150 to head out to an interview, shirt and tie, cup of coffee and paperwork in hand. Put the key in the ignition and it wont turn over. It isn't the "battery is dead" won't turn over, its a "I want turn over but I can't" over and I call my mechanic. He arrives and gets out his jumpers to see if it is a dead battery. We look at the starter, electrical everything and can't seem to figure it out. He says to me, "you don't have very low or little coolant, put some in the resevoir" he asks me if I noticed anything odd, any hesitation the previous day, I tell him no, I literally drove 3 miles to go to the market and that was it for driving that day. He asks me to put it in reverse and we try and push it backwards to turn the motor over. It won't budge, at this point he says there has to be something in the cylinder(s), gas, water, oil, something and we'll pull the plugs and see what comes out. We pulled the plugs and coolant came pouring out of cylinder #2. I have pictures etc of the coolant and plugs. I found there are many people having issues identical to this within the same timbering of mileage and even the same cylinder. Http://forums.treemedia.com/fb/showthread.php?t=224 http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=473230 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ford_essex_v6_engine_(canadian)#4.2 my mechanic is now pricing a complete gasket kit and will need to take the motor apart to fix the problem. The motor sounds as if it is ok and we are going to try to remedy the gasket situation and see if we can't get it to run normally.

Filed Mar 19, 2005 · Engine · 79,900 miles · NC

Truck would sutter at stops and hesitate when accelerating with loss of coolant.

Filed Aug 19, 2002 · Steering · MA

On both occasions while taking turns at low speed tie rods snapped where threaded rod attaches to main housing of tie rod. In both cases I was able to stop vehicle before striking either oncoming traffic or other objects. When I brought my vehicle in for repairs I asked the dealer if this was a common occurence he hesitated then said no. Then while walking to service area to fill out forms I passed two other trucks with same problems of snapped tie rods. While relating this story to several environmental police officers who drive similar vehicles, they reported that they were on theri third and forth sets of tie rods for their vehicles.

Filed Jun 12, 2002 · Transmission · NC

Vehicle was bought in 2/01 and had approx one week when it stalled everytime it decelerated. Dealership (e-z way auto sales) took vehicle back and replaced PCM at no charge to us. In 01/02 it started hesitating as if it were slipping out of gear. Does not do all the time-just unexpectedly.had transmission flushed (80$-01/31/01). Still sputtering--replaced fuel filter and air filter over the course of 2 months--problem was not major and did not happen all the time-just when you least expected it. Then in march it just stalled while my girlfriend was driving it and daughter was in the backseat at 60mph! Took to local mechanic and they could not receive a diagnostic code-finally after two weeks of driving it to see if they could make it sputter or stall it happened and they receive a code for a egr valve which was fuel related--did not fix, cost 105$--took back to them and they kept an additional 2 weeks and said they gave up--could not diagnose. Took to local ford dealer(tri-county ford 05/02) and they had 3 days before it happened again. Replaced pfe sensor (192$-p0401) which I am told is the one which controls the valve that was replaced. Did not fix-returned to ford dealer(05/02) and they had a few more days and received another code(p0605) and was told my PCM needed replacing. When I told the tech it was just done a little over a year ago he said it was probably a junked part. E-z way will not fix. They said that the warranty was expired and it was up to ford. Ford will not replace part, have already been that route. Said if it had been repaired at a certified ford dealer the whole time maybe they could help and all parts have 12mth warranty. E-z way offered 200$ toward the part but only if we take it to the place that originally replaced the part(which happens to be operated by the owner of e-z ways brother). But no one will guarantee that this will fix our problem. Also, vehicle was sold to us without 2 major safety recalls being repaired.

Filed Aug 14, 2001 · Electrical · MI

Consumer made a stop while on road. When consumer tried to restart vehicle, it hesitated and didn't start back up. Consumer was able to get vehicle to an independent mechanic. Mechanic stated that battery cable was one unit that was connected to starter. Battery cable had corroded and broken off. Although, battery cable was one unit, mechanic was able to repair just cable, saving consumer from t expensive repair.

Filed May 17, 2001 · Engine · LA

Timing gasket failure followed by engine failure. Good running truck brought to firestone shop for diagnosis & repair of water leak. Timing gasket and water pump replaced. Water pump was not leaking, but had 100k miles. After leak repair severe hesitation noted on acceleration from stop. While returning to firestone oil pressure drop at red light after passing other vehicle. Cam shaft sensor now bad and changed; hesitation fixed, pressure ok. Drove < 5 miles; accelerated onto interstate & drove 4 mi. At 1st stop after exiting interstate oil pressure drop. Returned to firestone. Now I need a new engine--$3000!

Filed Jan 26, 2001 · Electrical, Engine · PA

This vehicle was purchased new in june, 1997. Beginning in november, 2000 I have experienced numerous problems, mainly with the engine and electrical system. The vehicle has been out of my possession for almost 3 months now and I am out of pocket over $3,000 in repair work. I have contacted ford motor co. Both in writing and calling their customer service department, and they have offered no assistance and basically have told me the problems are not their concern. I have had a front timing cover gasket replaced, major engine repair work, spark plugs changed, electrical wires replaced, and now a "computer brain" was bad in the vehicle. The truck's check engine light remains on and the truck still hesitates, stalls and lurches while driving, which is not safe. I have no where to turn and obviously no money left to put in to this vehicle. I don't understand how a 3 year old truck, purchased brand new can have so many problems, I can't seem to get an answer from anybody, including ford.

Filed Sep 1, 2000 · Engine · CA

First noticed that the truck was hesitating and could not accelerate easily. Took to a friend of ours who opened up a new auto shop and he changed the oil and noticed that it was contaminated with coolant. He then pulled up tsb from the internet regarding engine contamination, article no. 99-20-7. He encouraged us to take it to a ford dealer where they could further diagnose and hook up to their diagnostic machines, as our check engine light was on and he wasn't set up to read the computer. We drove the truck, with brand new oil, 4 miles to our house, parked and called a tow truck to come and take it to the dealer where we had purched the vehicle. We also saved a sample of the contaminated oil in an old windex bottle and sent it to the dealer. It sat for three days with no one looking at it until I finally drove there myself and asked what the heck was going on. I was informed that the person that was supposed to look at the car did not come into work and he had someone else looking into the problem. I then had to call back when I got home, 5 hours later, and was told that the whole engine had to be replaced or taken apart to see just how much damage had been done. They said it was excessively driven with the contaminated oil. We never even knew that the oil was contaminated, nor were we ever notified of the recall notice. We have the oil changed every 3,000 miles, always! Then he proceeds to tell me that our vehicle is not part of the recall. That is all we know for now and am waiting for more information from the dealer after he talks with his manager and ford. Hoping for the best.

Filed Jan 7, 2000 · Fuel system, Lights · IA

1st, transmission, when at the speeds of 40 and 45, hesitates and wants to upshift and downshift, the behaivor is not normal at all, and I am making an appt. To get it fixed. 2nd, the high beam/ low beam switch must be faulty, at times the lights will totally shut off. 3rd when refeuling, usually on a quarter tank and less when taking off the gas cap there is alot of pressure built up in the tank. 4th the interior lights will sometimes come on when either door is opened, I have to shut the door and reopen it.