Five problems related to crankcase (pcv) have been reported for the 1997 Ford F-150. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Head gasket failed on my 1997 Ford F-150 with 4. 2 liter (v6) engine. It leaked into crankcase and the engine locked up. It is a total loss of the engine and I can't afford to buy another engine. I have found out that this has happened to many other people.
Gasket leaked water into crankcase of my 97 Ford f150 with a 4. 2 engine. Had to replace the engine for a little more than $4000. 00. Ford knows of problem but will not compensate cost. There are a lot of angry Ford owners out there with the same problem. My Ford truck had only 68000 miles on it.
I have a 1997 Ford F-150, with a 4. 2 liter engine, and 82,000 miles on the vehicle. For the past few years I noticed a gradual decrease in the coolant level, however, I could not determine where the leak was occurring. Also, for the last three weeks leading up to the occurrence, I noticed the engine would knock when I would start it up. In October of 2004, after starting the truck, I saw white exhaust smoke and heard the #1 piston rattling. I have since found out that this is a common occurrence with owners of '96 thru '98 model Ford cars and trucks, with 3. 8l and 4. 2l engines. I have also seen Ford TSB's that prove they have known for about six years, that the front cover gaskets have a high incidence of failure, causing coolant to leak into the crankcase. Also, that the intake manifold gaskets can fail, which causes coolant to leak into the #1 cylinder. When an engine is started with water in the cylinder, the piston rod is likely to bed or break. The manifold gasket failure is responsible for my problem, as well as that of many other Ford owners. The remedy for the problem is an engine replacement, costing about $4,000. Ford motor company is not taking responsibility for this engineering defect, leaving many unsatisfied customers to pay for their faulty engines. I have not had my engine replaced yet.
I own a 1997 Ford F-150 truck, 4. 2l v-6. My wife was driving the truck and with no warning the engine started knocking very badly, she was frightened and drove the truck home very slowly, which almost got her into an accident. After doing research with Ford mechanics and private mechanics, I found out the engine is a defective engine the years were 1997 and 1998. I contacted Ford and they will not stand behind their product. There customer service in detroit was no help at all. I bought the truck with 36,000 miles on it, took very good care of it, and it now has 64,000 miles on it and cannot be driven. I recently received a recall for the cruise control saying it could catch on fire. Unfortunately the truck can't be moved until I replace the engine, and it is in my garage. If this truck catches on fire and burns my house down Ford will be sued. There was no warning when the engine went, failure was total loss of engine, again Ford has done nothing.
Incident = in 2000 Ford motor company extended the warranty on Ford F-150 pickups to cover a known design problem involving a gasket that kept coolant fluids from leaking into the crankcase and destroying the engine. They only offered to replace the existing gasket to make sure it wasn't leaking and then extend the warranty for another 12 months. Just as they knew it would, approximately three years later (April 27) their replacement gasket cracked and coolant fluid leaked into the engine through the crankcase, and my engine seized up. Damage resulting = my engine began to clatter, and I drove straight to a dealership. I am now having to replace the engine ($3,600. 00 plus tax). In talking with the authorized repair dealer in clarksville, TN where the truck broke down and my usual authorized repair dealer here in nashville, apparently this is happening to many of the F-150's that received a new gasket and an extended 12 month warranty. Again, Ford knew there was a design problem (which by the way both places told me Ford corrected in subsequent years) and only offered a band-aid approach to dealing with it. In talking with the Ford motor company consumer affairs, I have request that the cost, or at least a portion of the costs, of my new engine be paid by Ford. The repairs will be made tomorrow, April 29. Needless to say, Ford has not responded or offered to pay for my new engine.