Hey guys, i'm wanting to get a Lightning in about a week or so, and coming from a 2001 Screw to an 01 Lightning, I wasn't sure about some of the quirks of the truck. Does it have any issues that are standard to all lightnings? (like the 04-08's have the plug issue) What is the maintenance like, and as i'm looking at them on dealer lots or peoples houses, is there something i should be looking for that is a deal breaker on these trucks? Thanks guys.

Oh, here is a few i'm looking at.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/ctd/2974781120.html


http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/ctd/2975314314.html


http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/2965945377.html

So far, i'm leaning towards the white one. Ya'lls opinion?

 

Don't know anything about what's wrong with Lightnings.. But I've always been infatuated with them and Mustangs for as long as I can remember. For me, I'd regret not getting the Sonic Blue one for as long as I live.. But it's obviously all up to you. I'd say the white or blue. The red one is nice but the other two seem to be in better shape as well.

 

I take that back the red one is in good shape lol but the white also has the lowest miles.. If I were you I wouldn't be able to decide!

 

I cant!!!! Thats the problem!!!lol

 

My brother has one and it is a money pit. It is basically stock and he has constant issues running bad, lean, etc. Ford dealers + specialty shops either can't fix it or find the magic fix that doesn't work after all. He has already dealt with most the lightning quirks but is still not right.

I tried to convince him to sell it but can't be talked out of it. He's in the military and doesn't have the money to keep dumping in to it. Unfortunately I am not near him or know all the details.

 

Yikes, thats a little disheartening.... I definitely dont want another money pit, otherwise id just buy my wrecked truck back and fix it lol Sounds like a computer issue?

Tell your brother thank you for his service!

 

You'd think. For a variety of problems I know he's at least replaced
- Fuel pump
- Injectors
- Coil packs
- Cats
- Engine rebuilt
- Supercharger

Likely the guy that had it before him was rough on it. I know it spent time driving around Europe before it was brought back stateside when my Brother bought it.

 

I would stay away from the Red 2000. Nothing really looks out of place other than it being dirty. To me that speaks for how it was treated, if you won't clean it up to try to sell it there's no telling what it's been through. Also the 99-00 had a smaller intercooler (# of rows) and also leaked in some, so that may or may not have been changed. The 99-00 also had a smaller mass air which was 80mm compared to the 01-04 which was 90mm, so that would need to be changed as it will max out quite a bit sooner. All from 99-02 will blow plugs out easier than the 03-04 because there are less threads for the plugs in the heads. They will also benefit from the cooling mod like the 03-04 Cobras.

I've never had any of the problems kulak is talking about. The only major problem I had was with a local(ish) tuner here in Bama. He had a hard on for Denso Iridium plugs and talked me into trying some. Well, he provided them and put them in. Big mistake as they were two stages too hot and melted on the dyno. Luckily it didn't cost me anything for the plugs or tune, and I never noticed any power loss or other problems. I bought my 2000 with 49k in 2004 and it was stock. Now I have 103k and all the mods in my sig have been on the truck since 50k with no problems at all.

The best advice I can give is just look it over very well, and when you buy find a reputable and competent tuner local to you. I lived somewhat close to you for a couple years, I was in White Settlement just west of Ft. Worth. I used Dallas Mustang and they were always nice and professional, and their tunes seemed spot on A/F wise.

If I were you, I'd be looking for an 03-04. Nothing against the other years, as I love mine, but you have a better platform already there to work with.

 

jb, I owned an '04 until I bought the '11 F150. Never had a minutes trouble with the truck. However I bought it one owner with 16K miles. My suggestion is to buy one that is completely stock. Some have been modded, and drove to death. These are your money pits. A very high mileage (100K +)one probably needs new supercharger oil, and belts. When you look at brakes, they ain't cheap. Brembo never are. Good luck. They are fun trucks that will pass everything but a gas station.



Only sold the truck because it really isn't a good daily driver.

 

Thanks for the help guys, swayze, i had actually planned on taking it to DM, theyre one of the few modular motor specialists in dfw that i know of. I at least wanted to get it tuned.

Im kinda looking at getting a harley edition, i can get my supercrew back and still have a lightning..... plus, i cant find a lightning within my price range that doesnt have 100k or more... best deal is the white one with 97k, and i found a harley for the same price, but with 47k on it!! Although i still have this itch that has me wanting a lightning...lol