I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1998 F150 XLT 4X4 EXTENDED CAB WITH 147,000 MILES FOR $3400. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BUY AN ENTIRE NEW EXHAUST. THE TRUCK RAN PERFECT FOR TWO MONTHS THEN THE 3RD MONTH ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. FIRST THE TRANSFER CASE WENT 750$ FOR A NEW ONE. THEN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEEDED SEALED, SO I PUT A CUSTOM STRAIGHT PIPE ON WITH MUFFLER $350. THEN A WEEK LATER THE VENTS STARTED SMOKING AND I NEED TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE AND AC CORE/EVAPORATOR(WHICHEVER IS UNDER THE DASH) $675. AND I STILL WANT TO REDO THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY AROUND. ALL I USE IT FOR IS WORK AND WEEKEND FISHING WARRIOR WITH MY BOAT. MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS TRUCK A LEMON AND ARE MORE COMMON PROBLEMS TO FOLLOW? I HAVE HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS MODEL BUT WAS I MISLEAD? WHEN IT RUNS I LOVE IT I WOULD LOVE TO KEEP IT BUT CAN'T AFFORD $700 REPAIRS EVERY MONTH!!!! PLEASE HELP

 

Respectfully, the truck is 15 years old.
Are you expecting reliability of a 50,000 mile 5 year old truck?
It's an issue of perspective.
Good luck.

 

@bluegrass to some extent I am I don't think any truck or car with that many miles should break down that often but Maybe I am wrong.

 

izar90 had the truck sat for awhile? my dad has a 98 f150 4x4 bought with about 70,000 miles on it 9 years ago and it now has 186,000 problem free miles except for leaking manifolds at 135,000 and a miss here and there. Its impressed the heck out of me but has been driven pretty much everyday of its life

 

@RAVENSFAN YES I THINK IT DID SIT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT IN JUNE 2013. LUCKILY, I FOUND A GUY THAT WILL DO MY HEATER CORE AND AC CORE FOR 450. IS THERE ANY OTHER MAINTENANCE I SHOULD WORRY ABOUT OR COMMON PROBLEM I SHOULD PUT ON THE LIST. I KNOW THE TRUCK IS 15 YEARS OLD BUT FOR THE MOST PART SHE HAS LITTLE RUST AND IS IN GREAT SHAPE MECHANICALLY, NOT MUCH WEAR AND TEAR!!!

 

MY BABY THE BROWN BOMBER!!!

 

It does seem like you have had your run of problems for the miles that truck has. I have not worked as a mechanic for 20 years, so I am a bit rusty but here are my thoughts.
Why did the transfer case go bad? It makes me think maybe it was beat up earlier in life before you had it. It kind of depends on what went bad in the transfer case.
The exhaust manifold needed sealed? I assume the typical problem with the studs breaking on the exhaust manifold, or maybe a cracked manifold usually due to the studs breaking off. Yes this is a common problem on these trucks, probably on the passenger side?
Heater core problems are common on all vehicles eventually. I do have to ask though, why would you have to replace BOTH the heater core and the AC evaporator? Like I said, it has been 20 years since I worked in a shop and a lot has changed since then. But if they are still made the same, it would be either a heater core OR the AC. Not both. 20 years ago I could fix heater cores for usually around $45 or less for the part and 2 to 3 hours labor.
Brakes are also common. The miles you have it is not uncommon at all for the front brakes at least to get worn.
If the truck was properly maintained and serviced you should be about to the end of your repairs.

 

that pic is pretty small but from what i can see thats a good looking truck! like deputydog said hopefully your close to the end with your problems and can run the truck for many more miles! good luck

 

@deputy dawg......The reason for the ac core is that my ac system leaks after about two weeks. A firestone shop said with 90% certainty it was leaking under dash because it wasn't leaking under the hood. Also yes the manifold needed replaced on the passenger side. And I still dont know exactly what caused the transfer case to blow.....a rebuilt one was installed and has faird well with me using the 4x4 twice to pull the boat out of a gravel boat ramp. hopefully I am done with all these repairs...minus the brakes. brake lines were replaced when i got the truck so that is a plus.

 

ALSO THANKS EVERYONE FOR COMMENTING I REALLY WANT TO KEEP THE TRUCK WHEN SHE IS ON THE ROAD SHE RUNS LIKE A CHAMP AND THE LADIES ARE ALWAYS GIVING ME COMPLIMENTS ON THE TRUCK! FOR AN OLD MARRIED MAN COMMENTS ON MY BROWN BOMBER ARE NICE FROM PRETTY LADIES!!!!

 

I have the same truck and have had all the same issues as you except no 4x4 problems.....I have 250,000 miles. Typical problems of a truck that age. If no one ever changed coolent then yes.....heater core/radiator problems show up sooner then later. $450 dollars to pull the entire dash out and R&R the heater core and evaporator? That sounds really low, but good for you if someone will do it for that and do a good job. Have them change the blend door while it is apart.

One of the worst Ford trucks I ever bought was from an elderly man with low mileage and had no rust. Even the rear end went out. That was a 1983 and even a 98 was built a whole lot better if it has sat a lot. Never good though. Hope all works out for you.

 

@spotty yea the job is for 425$ and he works for a radiator shop that only charges 620 for the same job but they don't know he does side work from customers and word of mouth. Yes i got the blend door from doorman parts and I am hoping that this will be the end of any unusual repairs. I am thinking about trading in for a 2010 extended cab 4x4 work truck on payments but we will see if i can get my money worth and not swindled. anything else i should watch out for that you had to do?

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Rear axle seals went out due to the axle lost it's hardness where the bearings ride....so two new axles and I rebuilt the entire rear end at the same time. I must have got the backlash a little off because it whines between 40-50 mph. Been like that for years....my fault totally....setting up a rear end should be done by someone that does it all the time....or has some experience.

 

@SPOTTY YES TO WITH MY LUCK THAT WILL BE THE NEXT THING TO BREAK ON MY TRUCK WILL BE THE REAR END!!! BUT HOPEFULLY IT CAN LAST TILL AFTER CHRISTMAS SO I CAN WHEEL AND DEAL ON A WORK TRUCK 4X4 EXTENDED CAB 2007-10 FOR HOPEFULLY UNDER 15K! I KNOW, ITS HARD TO FIND THAT KIND OF DEAL.