I'm a newbie here. This is my first post. The above truck is for sale regionally by a private individual for $4500. It's the Super Crew Cab model with 5.4 liter Triton and AT and has 188k miles. The current owner says it's in very good condition and runs great. Any opinions on this model/drivetrain with this much mileage? Also what might I look for as far as likely trouble spots/issues. I've been a Toyota Tacoma guy for the last 20 years and never owned a Ford truck. My current 2004 Tacoma 4x4 is a worn out and well abused rat and I'm ready to move on from it. Thanks in advance for any guidance you can give before I make the trip to check it out.

 

Number one, and the biggest. If you are serious about this purchase then take the truck to a trusted mechanic who has the resources like professional scan tools and the experience to give it a full checkout. It should cost you an hour's labor. This is well worth its weight in gold. Just recently someone posted about a truck they just got, they were driving and it quit, and showed all the timing codes saying it was all broken. Don't be that guy.

That said, here's my list:
1. Get a scan tool and scan for codes and look at live data. You can do this for under $50 with a bluetooth OBD2 adapter and Torque Pro for your android phone.
2. Look closely underneath at the entire frame for rust. Look at all the metal tubing lines used for power steering and transmission cooler. All of this is notorius for rusting to dust.
3. Look at the oil level and color and taste. Look at the transmission oil level also color and taste. Ask when it was last changed. Ask when the differential oil was changed.
4. Look at the engine for any maintenance done that left the engine in a less than OEM state.
5. Get all maintenance records.
6. Note if a timing job has been done. If it has, ask for all the receipts for the parts if done diy or ask for the invoice from the pro shop. Verify all parts were OEM.
7. Make sure everything works on the inside like all windows, headlights, cruise control, etc. Just go through all the functions making sure they work.
8. I could go on and on but these are the major ones.

Dave of Dave's Auto Center recently created a guide. Here's the YouTube short version of it: Dave made a downloadable guide here: https://guide.davesautorepairutah.com/

I wish you the best of luck. You are buying an almost 20 year old vehicle with mileage for right at the time everything breaks. There's a reason they are selling it. You need to be the sleuth to find out exactly what is wrong with the truck. Don't get scammed.

 

What he said.

Even when I bought my ‘08 SCrew (4.6, of course) back in 2013, almost everything out there for sale was 5.4-equipped.

Don’t get fooled into thinking this may be a great buy. Odds are it’s being let go for cheap for a good reason. I’d imagine anyone who has done either a legit timing job or swapped in a remanned engine isn’t letting that investment go to waste if at all possible.

Assume nothing as far as what the seller says. It doesn’t matter because it’s not in writing and you aren’t getting a warranty or “do over” since you’re buying “as is”, anyway.

 

Great guide ! I just got a 2006 f150 from a dealer 2 weeks ago and did most of the things on your list (did not take to mechanic). Hoping to go a while without any issues. 120k miles

 

You can skip the oil taste test.

 

if it's a older build date run.. if the motor has a build date of 10/09/07 or later your good.

 

How do I find the motor build date? Is it part of the VIN?

 

door tag on inner driver side door

 

Should I assume that a 4.6 is more reliable?

 

it is waaaaaay more reliable. Arguably one of the best ever.