I have a 97 with the 4.2. the # 4 piston is misfiring and after swapping wires and plug it is still # 4 , I suspect that it is the injector,does that thing screw out ?

Second my check engine light is out.Does any one know if that is a just a bulb?
I tried pulling part of the dash apart,everything is coming apart except a spot behind where the head lights turn on is there a trick to that spot,I really don't want to break it. or maybe a trick to sneak in there with out tearing half the truck apart would be cool.I see that there are 2 different gauge clusters, mine has the 4 small gauges over to the left side, if I need a new one because it is not a bulb but built in somehow can either cluster interchange or do I have to find the same exact type ? Sorry for so many questions.

Thanks
Steve

 

It's may be the 97 and early 98 gasket issue causing the misfire. If you have been having to add coolant, that's probably what it is, and you need to fix that right away before you hydrolock it.

 

Steve, when you turn your key to the "ON" position, all your annuctuation lights should light up. So if the CEL doesn't, then the bulb is out. The replacement bulb is a type-11 I believe. I have done a write-up that can help remove your cluster (and headlight switch, m=I made a video for that part; its really hard the first time around) and replace that light. While you are back there you can change your cluster's color if you want by swapping out to LEDs. All of this info is right here:

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...r-97-03-a.html

 

Changing the light was actually pretty easy once you showed me the trick with the head lights.

As far as the misfire thing goes I should probably change that head gasket any how. I have not noticed any level drop in that coolant or any foam in the oil,But I know that these thing have a problem in this area and it does have 162,000 miles on it. How tough of a job is that to do ? Can I leave the motor in it ?

 

Yeah I've heard you just pull the top end off with the engine still in the truck. There are plenty of threads on the subject, just go try using the search box. If not, head over to v6f150.com. But I would get that changed ASAP if you are the original owner and you haven't done it yet. Mine went out ~140K miles so you should do that before you try to crank it up one morning and you bend a rod like me

 

It's not the head gasket - it's the lower intake manifold gasket.

 

So it is the lower intake manifold gaskets and not the head gaskets that are the problem ? I might be a bit confused here. I know that when you do the head gaskets that you should have the heads milled down a bit does that hold true for the intake manifold as well ?