I am new to the forum. Looking to buy a used F-150. Found a prospective 97. 4WD, ext cab, 4.6L, 5 speed, just over 100K. I can pick it pretty cheap. The problem is it has a hold in the passenger side exhaust manifold. Heard this is pretty commom. The other problem is, the check engine light is on. I have heard that the manifold leak doesn't usually cause check engine. I want to verify if this is true. If it is, what would a worst case scenario to cause it. Truck runs great and doesn't exhibit any problems. Looking for a worst case scenario before I make a purchase.
Thanks.

 

Borrow a code reader or get the guy to let you take it to Autozone to get code read. Then make an educated decision.
If it's a manifold hole/leak....PITA project, but very doable.

 

For the manifold, if taken to a shop expect to pay a good bit of $$$, for my studs it was $480. For the engine light take to autozone to get the code and look that up on google. mine has code 1405,(that i found today) and that is a tops $150 fix, whatever the code it could be something small of something serious, just get it checked

Oh and my manifold leak did not throw any codes

 

I bought the truck, and took it to Autozone right away. The only stored code, was an intermittant misfire on cylinder 4. Happened that the hole in the manifold was on the number 4 cylinder right near the head. Found a pinhole starting on number 3 as well. Took and dremel sanded up both holes, and applied some Thermal steel to them. Cleared my code, been driving it about a week and a half, Thermal Steel holding up good, and light hasn't come back yet.

 

Before you get a leak again and I'm sure you will. Get a manifold on ebay. You can save 30 or 40 bucks. Studs and a gasket set from autozone and you'll have about a $100 total in the project if you only do one side. I just did both on my 97 and the passenger side is the easiest to work on because theres no egr tube which is a big pain in the ***. If you bolts are not rusted bad warm the motor up so the aluminum head expands a bit and makes it a little easier for the studs come out. If there rusted cut them off "If you break them off they will probally break flush with the head then you screwed" Once the manifold is off you'll have a inch of bolt to work with. A stud puller or a few different size vise grips and a torch comes in real handy. I hope you do'nt have to cut them off cuz you'll question why you ever bought your truck. I replaced my passenger side in under a hour. It took 7 hours for the driver side.