97 F150
 

I finally bought a truck today. My first FORD of any kind. I bought a 1997 F150 XLT SuperCab with a 4.6 V8 engine with 69,800 miles on it. I have NO experience at all with these trucks but I got a good deal on it so I bought it. What are the most problematic areas with the 97 models? The man we bought it off of said the truck was recalled a while back due to Cruise Control Issues and he took it back and had it fixed.


On a second note, What customizations are popular out there with the F150s..Its 2 wheel drive btw. What kind of custom grille is nice? What tonnuea cover is popular? and last but not least what exhaust does everyone reccomend?

I have the same truck (97), it has 161,00 on it. No real problems other than the normal stuff that wears out. Enjoy you truck.
Dale

for exhaust, go true duals with no mufflers, you won't be dissapointed.

this is on my truck by the way

Idle http://www.supload.com/listen?s=VDP30RZD89ZJ

Rev http://www.supload.com/listen?s=DI6OEHFOOW0O

Personally I don't like the straight pipe sound.. I put Magnaflow race series mufflers on mine. Quieter at idle than straight pipe but almost as loud at WOT. http://videos.streetfire.net/video/1...ac00c7e498.htm There is mine.

Mechanically no problems, i ran my 97 for 225,000 miles, only problem i had was an alternator, and then basic wear and tear(brakes, shocks, tires). And the cruise control is quite common

Awesome, I hope I get 225,000 miles out of mine. The gentleman I bought it off of said he had to replace the shocks at 48,000 miles and he had just installed a new alternator a week before I bought it. He also had records of all the oil changes and I dont think there was one time that he let it go more than 3500 miles without changing it. Plus the guy threw in 6 extra brand new tires and rims for free. The check engine light is on but we took it to a garage and they found no problems, the man said the light had been on since 1999 and he just never took it back and had it reset. Any do it your self way to reset the Check Engine light?

pull the negitive battery cable, and let it sit for a while, then put it back on.

Auto Zone auto parts store can check it, and reset it for free, if you have one in your area. Maybe if you disconnect the battery it might reset. I'm sure you will get allot ideas on the engine light from the guys.

Dale

The biggest thing is changing the oil. I bought my truck with the engine light on , and i know some people so i always got a sticker, it said i needed a mass air flow sensor, but the truck ran perfect, never had a problem. even with the miles it had, if i could afford the gas id drive it cross country without thinking twice. Auto Zone will check your light, and if not the battery thing does, its only on for something STUPID lol, the 4.6 is known to run for 200+

Well today was my first day of putting any real miles on the truck. I put about 250 miles on it today..I got in it this morning and the Check Engine Light was on and then after driving about 20 miles it suddenly went off and hasn't been back on since. Does that sound fishy at all? The truck runs like a race horse so unless I start having trouble Im going to leave it be. A new oil change is coming tomorrow, Its not due for another 700 miles but I figure what the hell right..LoL.