I've got a 1998 4.2l F-150. The truck wouldn't start yesterday afternoon. I tried it a few times, but it wouldn't turn over. All I got out of it was "eee-rump... eee-rump."

Thought maybe the battery was dying on it, but decided to give it one more shot to start today before going to get a new battery. Well, it turned over no problem. Unfortunately, it started making the worst knocking sound ever and was shaking like crazy.

The knocking sound ended up making a hole in the ?oil pan?. It seems it threw a rod or something. Only 105k miles on the engine.

Is there anything Ford will do, or will I just have to get a rebuilt engine for it and say many prayers that it won't die too? If so, what should I expect to pay for an engine and to get it installed at a Ford shop?

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

 

Quit your crying.... don't ask ford to do anything.

www.supersixmotorsports.com has 4.2 shortblocks for $550.

Take your truck to a local automotive machine shop and they should charge you ~ $500 in labor. New gaskets and oil pan and a few other needed items and your looking at a $1,600 fix.

Just venting

 

Jim:

Your failure is most likely a lower intake manifold gasket failure. What happens is that you stop your truck and the engine has one or more cylinders with the intake valve in the open position. The gasket leaks coolant into those cylinders and fill them up with coolant.

When you go to start the engine the cylinders that are filled with liquid are now hydro-locked. You can't compress liquid and the result is a bent rod for that cylinder.

That fits perfectly why your starter had such trouble and why you have a knock when it eventually did start.

Ford did do a recall for some of these engines for this very same problem.

See if your VIN had the recall done. If not you may get some help there. But what will probably happen is that Ford will say there is nothing they will do on a 105K motor regardless if it is a bad design that they recognized and fixed.

I'm afraid you are facing a rebuild here. Big ticket repair. If you had less miles you'd have a way better chance at getting some help from Ford. Maybe they will help if yours should have been recalled and wasn't, but that is about your only hope of them helping and you will need to fight for it.

Talley:

Great suggestion. News for me to find that option. That makes it almost bearable.....