mickeypowa

Hello everybody,

I found a ford f150 1997 4.2 v6 for sale at a very good price. We've been on a ride with the owner to see how it works :
the truck starts well but aproximatively 15 seconds after starting in idle, it stops. If you restart it, it will do the same again after 15 seconds. it seems that you have to press a little bit the accelerator pedal to keep it working in idle.

When you drive, there are lots of misfires, it's rough and shudder. But all the speeds can be passed, and the truck can go until maybe 60 mph maximum speed only, there is a lack of power.. this problem always happens : if the engine is cold or hot doesnt change anything.

I don't know if the engine heat up because the temp gauge doesn't work. But we had a 45 minutes rides and it didn't seem to be too hot.



it's lifted up as you can see on the photo that's why I'm already in love with it !!
The transmission and all the speeds seems to work well.

So do you think the problem of misfires and lack of power can be easily fixed up ?
It looks like an ignition problem but the owner tolds me he's already changed the plug wires, the plugs, the coil... so what could it be ?

thanks

PS : sorry for my bad english, i'm french and I live in french polynesia. I don't have lot of technical vocabulary in english...

akdoggie

It could be a hell of a lot of different things. You should take a Code Reader with you and check the OBD port for codes. This will tell you more than we can possibly give you with the lack of information. Misfires can be numerous things. Plugs, wires, coils, bad valves, faulty sensors, EGR, etc. The list goes on and on. Without the codes, you are sort of peeing into the wind.

Best bet scenario is to run the codes. Post them, and then maybe we can give you an educated guess. Otherwise, it is like I stated. Useless info because of the electronics and such. Read the codes.

KaseyGuthrie

try the fuel filter i had this happen to my 2000 f150 also had the same on my brother in laws f150. our trucks did everything you described and it ended up being the fuel filter. also running code will put you on a wild goose chase. as i have replaced everything from the code read outs just to find out that it was a fuel filter.

jstockert

Pass on the 4.2. Save yourself a hrdrolock problem. Spend more money on a 4.6 or 5.4.

white89gt

Exactly this. The 4.2 is a heap of dog dung. No offense 4.2 owners.

kd4gij

My 4two auto does fine for the street queen that it is. Stock tires and no lift.

mickeypowa

thanks for your answers !
I live on an island in french polynesia and there is not a lot of F150 for sale... At the moment, there is only this 4.2 and one v8 but 4 times the price...
I can avoid an hydrolock problem if I change the lower intake manifold gasket as soon as I get the truck, right ?

and how to be sure that there is not already this hydrolock problem ? there is no smoke for the exhaust... only lots of misfires and lack of power..

w0lvez

Ignition timing depends on coolant temp. 4.2 needs a stable coolant temp to run properly. The engine will rev around 1.2-1.5k rpm when the coolant is cold.

4.2 V6 is the most reliable engine in the 10 Gen. but consumes more fuel than 5.4 especially on stop and go. The only problem with 4.2 is the faulty intake manifold and timing cover gaskets from the factory on earlier model causing internal coolant leak.

I let my 4.2 do the hard work instead of my 4.6 to prevent destroying the tranny. OHV V6 is also more fun to drive than SOHC V8 because of the low end torque.

w0lvez

YES but you also need to replace the timing cover gaskert to prevent hydrolock on 4.2. The bestway to determine the engine's condition is by using a Vacuum Gauge. A good engine will pull a steady vacuum between 22-18 inch of mercury at sea level. Subract 1 inch Hg. Per 1,000 feet.


I both have V6 and V8. V6 is more reliable V8 is more fuel efficient.