Well after a few years away I am looking for a used F150. The 04 I had was far and away the best truck I ever had and close to the best vehicle I ever owned. So much to momma's chagrin she has approved yet another vehicle purchase!! She cant really complain, I paid her car and my harley so it is only fair that I get something outta the deal

I'm pretty sure that I want to get a 2004-2008 Supercrew Lariat 4x4 or FX4 as long as the deal is right. I looked at an 05 w/70k miles and they wanted way too much. I will prb have a broker that I know find me the truck I want but I just wanted to get in some to see if anything struck me as gotta have/gotta avoid.

The point of this long diatribe other than to cure insomnia is to ask: I am familiar with used vehicle shopping but any thing I should look out for as far as model year issues, etc? I know about the plug ordeal ... I think there is a tool I can buy, right? I've heard about the cam phaser thing but not sure if that is a dealer only fix or can be done in my garage.

Anyway, thanks in advance for the help I'm sure to receive on this site! BTW, I found a way to get better gas mileage ... ride the motorcycle more often

 

Yep theres a tool you can buy for the plugs and cam phasers can be done in your garage if you have the tools and want to pop the valve covers and spend some time.

 

04-07 had the sprak plug problem. In late '07 they changed the cop's to brown those are the updated heads. Yes there is a tool you can buy for this. Look for rear sliding window leaking or sticking. If it sticks you can apply a thin coat of white lithium grease. Window regulators like to go now and then, yes there is a cam phaser problem but you can either take it to the dealer or you can do it yourself. Somone had done this in thier garage but I forget who.. You can do a search on this site for cam phaser fix. Some have said they had rearend whining problems and tranny problems but nothing thats a major concern. Thats all I can come up with know, I'm sure others will chime in shortly.

 

It's great to have you back in the club... I know how I would be if I didn't have my truck... Good luck with your search...

 

Well I decided to trade my car and buy a truck! After numerous emails from Craigslist idiots wanting to purchase my car by sending a check for $183,000 and having me send the difference and the car back to them (yeah right!) as well as a thug and a dumb@$$ wanting to go for joyrides ... I just couldnt take it anymore! I know I could have gotten more but being that I bought an 06 instead of holding out for an 08 or 09, I'm comfortable in knowing that my new toy is almost paid for and I got instant gratification.

So, I'm back in the game and happy with my new ride. Its an 06 Lariat 4x4 SCrew ... I never really noticed this dark stone color before but once I saw it, I was hooked! Only picture I have is the one is sig (from the dealer website) ... but there is a fair chance that y'all know what an F150 looks like ;-) I'm unfamiliar with the 4x4 options for 06; how can I tell what gear ratio I have and LS or not?

 

Check my sig.

 

There is an axle code on the drivers door pillar. Check the 2 digit code against the decoder in the HOW TO sticky. B6 is 3.73 LS or else it is a 3.55 LS. The other 2 possibilities are non LS (there are only 4 cofigs it could be) I don't believe you can get NON LS in a 4x4.

 

You can get a non LS on a 4X4.

 

I stand corrected. But living in a land of literally 15 to 1 4x4's to 2x4's I know of not one instance of a 4x4 with out LS or Anti slip or traction control etc etc. Not sure why someone would get non LS 4x4 but then I am not sure how they got the caramel into the caramilk bar!!!!

 

i guess it would help if i showed my sig.

 

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