Pardon if this should be in another room. I was at the NHTSA site and there must be a couple of hundred TSBs on the 97 F150. What's up with so many? I'm getting ready to buy a 97 4 X 4 4.6 but the TSBs are getting me a little concerned. Should I be? By the way I live about a mile from the Norfolk plant and the trucks are plentiful here at really good prices - should I be looking at a different year? Thanks for your opinions.

 

I've had very good luck out of my co. F150 (1997 with 4.6L). Co. truck has approx. 158,000 miles. The 97 F150 has been the 2nd. best vehicle in the 20 years our branch has been in existance. The best vehicle was 1993 Ranger w/ 2.3L (It is still going strong with only preventive maint. & care)--Ranger has 350,000 + miles on it.
I was so impressed with 97 F150, We ordered a 99 F150 in late 1998--love this one too & so does my wife--she says she will never have another car!

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1999 Teal Blue F-150 S/C
4.6L, XLT, 3.55 L/S 4x2
Tow pkg., Rhino liner, Engine block heater & Swiss hard toneau cover. Premium sound
255/75 R16 Generals-owl
This" is Mama's pride"

 

Buy it! Had my 97 since it was new and have only need to replace an O2 sensor. Great truck. Those TSB are just info that have come up on individuals vehicles to let other service centers become aware of possible problems or fixes. Every automaker has them. They are no big deal. Major recalls are the problems to worry about. The 97 has had a couple of very minor recalls but nothing major.

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97 F-150 Black, 4x4 XLT ext.cab,sb,w/Offroad Package,
4" Suspension lift, 3" body lift,
4.56 gears w/LS,
Flowmaster 50 Series w/ duals out rear,
36x14.5x16 Parnelli Jones Dirt Grip tires,
16x10 Eagle Alloys 589 wheels,
Pre-Runner Bumper w/KC Daylighters,Steel Horse Billet Upper and Lower Grilles,
Kodiak Sidewinder Steps,
Pro-Comp Front Skid Plate,
Summit Aluminum Diff cover,
Rancho 9000's and remote,
Lift Lips,
Lighted FORD logo,
K&N Filter,
Superchip,
Bosch Platinum +4,
TransGo Shift kit,
Clear corner lenses,
Altezza style Tailight covers,
Bug shield,Tinted windows
Sony ES Mobile head unit,Sony ES Mobile changer,MTX Thunderform sub,Boston Acoustic Pro-Series up front, Polk in rear,PPI & Coustic Amps,Alpine Alarm

Check it out at:
http://hometown.aol.com/squanto804/scottwebpage.html

 

Relax. A TSB is a Technical Service Bulletin, not necessarily a problem.
Many of those TSBs were not problems, for example:

99-25-06 BRAKES - INCORRECT ROTOR THICKNESS STAMPED ON ROTOR - F-150 4X2 ONLY
BRAKES - INCORRECT WORKSHOP MANUAL ROTOR DISCARD THICKNESS SPECIFICATION

99-22-02 WIRING - WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AND WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE

99-15-02 TRANSMISSION - NEW TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA

98-16-18 FLOOR MAT - INSTALLATION OF VINYL FLOOR MATS - SERVICE TIP

There were many more like these.

Good luck.
JB

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1999 F-150 XLT
4x2 Supercab
139" WB Styleside
DOB: 7/19/99
Exterior: Dark Toreador Red
Interior: Dark Graphite 40/60 Split Bench
Optional Equipment:

• 4.6L EFI V8 Engine
• Electronic 4-spd Auto O/D
• P255/70R-16 OWL All-Season
• 3.55 Ratio Limited Slip Axle
• Floor Mats - Carpeted
• 6050# GVWR Package
• Sliding Rear Window
• Trailer Towing Group, Class III
• Premium Electronic AM/FM W/CD
• 6-way Power Driver's Seat
• Remote Keyless Entry
• Air Conditioning
• 4-W ABS/4-W Disc

Added:

• A.R.E. LSII Hard Tonneau - $745.45
• Ford drop-in Bedliner - #F75Z-9900038-AB - $211. installed
• Ziebart rustproofing - $279.
• Smittybilt nerfs, textured black - #FN1730-S4T - $210.
• Ford molded splash guards, front - #F65Z-16A550-CE - $33.33
• Ford molded splash guards, rear - #F65Z-16A550-DD - $33.33
• Ford Locking Gas Cap - #F75Z-9030-GA - $19.43
• Spare PATS Key - $20.95
• Tekonsha Envoy #9040 brake controller - $89.95
• Fox WeatherBoot Floor Liners - #198 - $119.

1998 Windstar
1993 Taurus
1999 Casita




[This message has been edited by Jimb (edited 02-02-2001).]

 

Don't worry about the TSB's. Ford posts them as reference tools for mechanics. If there was something that could go wrong that the mechanic might misconstrue as another part, it will be listed. They also have tsb's listed on wire repair procedures, and any updated parts.... However, there are problems listed.... i.e.... door cracks, leaky rear window, etc....

Buy the truck..... Don't worry about the TSB's... Just ask other owners... That's the best reference tool.

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1997 F-150, 4.6, automatic, Dark Toreador Red, Supercab, Flareside, 4X4 Off-Road, Towing Package, Factory moulded step boards, Ford hvy dty rubber floor mats, Kenwood 10-disk cd changer, Kenwood am/fm cassette head unit, PYLE 2000 Plus speakers, Ford bugshield, Black Manik push bar with 2 KC 100w Daylighters, wheel locks and spare tire lock, Ultra "Claw" wheels, Lund Lunar Visor, Ventshades, AVS slotted taillight covers painted to match, Ford bedliner, Lund Premier tonneau cover, cab and bed professionally undercoated, Code Alarm Sure Start RVS remote starter, Ford alarm, Realistic CB with Wilson Little Wil antenna and Astatic power mic, ported MAF sensor, Motorsport 9mm wires, dual platinum motorcraft plugs, K&N filter, Edelbrock throttle body, billit grille, and Lots of TLC!!

http://njf150truckclub.homestead.com/wyldf150.html

 

Get the truck alot of the tsb are on the 97 trucks but also can be used on 98 and latter just that the 97 was the first year of the new style is why it has the most tsb's on it.

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2000 F150 XLT Reg. cab
4.6 Triton Engine
4x2 3.55 rear end gear
sliding rear window
automatic keyless entry
white styleside short box