I bought my 4th F-150 yesterday. I've been looking for a reliable cheap truck for awhile now and happened to find one on CL over lunch break. By 3pm I was driving her home as she clicked over just 74,000 miles.

What kind of things should I watch out for or check on this year of truck? I have a whole list of things I want to do as I have the cash. I'm thinking Falken AT's, clean up the wheel that is all brown from the tail pipe, 2.5" or 3" single exhaust, Remote starter/keyless entry(?), CD player....

 

Maintance is key. I would change all fluids, check brakes ect.. Congrats on the find BTW, thats real low miles for that yr!

 

10-4 redneck! PM the truck first then look at upgrades. Be carful while r&ring the plugs. Npi cylinder heads are Known for having spark plug thread issues.


Super low miles for a 97. Did you get it off an older couple?

 

It was an older guys truck for the first 50k then his grand daughter bought it 2 years ago. Her husband put the rest of the miles on it. So far so good it runs great and the transmission up shifts really nice. Once in awhile it shifts hard but my 04 did that too. Trans fluid is nice and red I think it was done at 50k. There's a little more engine noise than I had on my 04, maybe a really light tick, but I'm guessing that I can hear it because the trans case shifter is on the floor rather than being push button.

 

The ticking MIGHT be a loose spark plug - I'd change them sooner rather than later. Motorcraft, no antiseize, 28 ft/lb torque.

 

The tick is coming from the passenger side. I think I'm going to replace the plugs, would it be a good time to replace the wires as well? The truck seems to run pretty good but I haven't had a chance to check fuel mileage yet. Once in awhile at idle (in park) the rpms drop a bit and it vibrates a little.

 

If the wires are original, it wouldn't hurt to replace them. Motorcraft wires recommended.

 

OK plugs and air filter are changed. The light ticking I thought I heard isn't coming from the engine because it varies with speed not rpm. I feel like maybe a U joint is bad or something, it's kind of a scratching sound but very light. If the radio is on at all I don't hear it and it's only at speeds maybe 25 and higher. Any suggestions? I hope it isn't the transfer case or something expensive.

 

Probably a dry u-joint. Not surprising after 17 years.

 

Maybe I'll hit it with some penetrating oil. It had a squeak up front when you turn so I greased the pitman and idler arms with needle zerk and squeak is gone.

 

I think I'd replace both u-joints on general principle. They aren't that expensive.