Need some advice please
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Need some advice please
Hello all, Im new to the forum and just have a few questions. Im gonna buy this 1997 f250 hd regular cab. It currently has 63k miles on it and runs pretty good. 4x4 works and everything. I did a carfax and it only has 1 owner and i think it came from a highway department or something similar. no plow, and no plow frame so thats good. Should I get this truck or no? Any advice is helpful
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Sounds like a real gem. What truck needs do you have? Are you gonna work this thing or is it just for driving around? A HD truck like this will ride like a tank, it will only begin to smooth out with 2000lbs of something in the bed. And don't expect very good gas milage, depending upon the engine it could get single digits only regardless how you drive it.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Sounds like a real gem. What truck needs do you have? Are you gonna work this thing or is it just for driving around? A HD truck like this will ride like a tank, it will only begin to smooth out with 2000lbs of something in the bed. And don't expect very good gas milage, depending upon the engine it could get single digits only regardless how you drive it.
He's asking $3500...what do u think?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,698
Likes: 47
From: Mexico, Missouri
Here's a list to check....
Check the radiator core support for rot/cancer.
Check that the leaf springs aren't broken or missing.
Check fuel tanks for any signs of obvious leaks.
Check that the windows Roll down AND Back up!!! Winter time finds us not using them and P.O.'s neglect telling you they don't roll back up!!
Check that all lights, and instrument cluster works!! Hazards, brake, tail lights
Check that the shifter can go through all selected gears and then back to Park.
Check for cracked, busted exhaust manifolds.
Check the water pump SEEP hole for any obvious signs of leaking!!!
Check that the fan and fan clutch are tight and not wobbly!
Inspect transmission fluid for dark, discolored fluid/burnt smell.
Check the frame under the front tires and cab for any stress cracks.
Check the leaf spring perches for rot, cuz they will rust completely out!
Anybody is free to chime in for a list of known problems.
Remember, $3500 is a lot! Don't get sucked into the excited and buy phase and then costing yourself another $1000 or so to fix a shoddy P.O.'s maintenance and lack of.
Check the radiator core support for rot/cancer.
Check that the leaf springs aren't broken or missing.
Check fuel tanks for any signs of obvious leaks.
Check that the windows Roll down AND Back up!!! Winter time finds us not using them and P.O.'s neglect telling you they don't roll back up!!
Check that all lights, and instrument cluster works!! Hazards, brake, tail lights
Check that the shifter can go through all selected gears and then back to Park.
Check for cracked, busted exhaust manifolds.
Check the water pump SEEP hole for any obvious signs of leaking!!!
Check that the fan and fan clutch are tight and not wobbly!
Inspect transmission fluid for dark, discolored fluid/burnt smell.
Check the frame under the front tires and cab for any stress cracks.
Check the leaf spring perches for rot, cuz they will rust completely out!
Anybody is free to chime in for a list of known problems.
Remember, $3500 is a lot! Don't get sucked into the excited and buy phase and then costing yourself another $1000 or so to fix a shoddy P.O.'s maintenance and lack of.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Thanks alot timbersteel, I really appreciate it....I will check all of these things when I go back. I don't know much about these trucks so I'm jus trying to make a good buy.
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Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2016
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Yea I've heard that they are good motors , I know the gas mileage sucks but I'm not goin far....I jus don't wanna have any motor or tranny problems
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,666
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
The E4OD is a good transmission but they get changed out for problems outside of the transmission.
It is an electrical controlled transmission so they get the bad rape for the VSS sensor on the rear end or the TPS on the throttle body and for bad wiring and connectors in the wiring harness.
A bad PCM Computer will also lead to the E4OD being changed out.
It is an electrical controlled transmission so they get the bad rape for the VSS sensor on the rear end or the TPS on the throttle body and for bad wiring and connectors in the wiring harness.
A bad PCM Computer will also lead to the E4OD being changed out.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
The E4OD is a good transmission but they get changed out for problems outside of the transmission.
It is an electrical controlled transmission so they get the bad rape for the VSS sensor on the rear end or the TPS on the throttle body and for bad wiring and connectors in the wiring harness.
A bad PCM Computer will also lead to the E4OD being changed out.
It is an electrical controlled transmission so they get the bad rape for the VSS sensor on the rear end or the TPS on the throttle body and for bad wiring and connectors in the wiring harness.
A bad PCM Computer will also lead to the E4OD being changed out.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,666
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
No not that serious unless it is a bad rear end bearing, a bad PSOM or PCM Computer.
The price would depend on your ability to do repair work on the truck. You can get part prices on the internet from places like Rockauto other than the POSM.
There is a lot of good parts in salvage yards for the OBS trucks also.
If you drive it and it shifts OK and not hard then those big items would be OK as far as the transmission is concerned.
The price would depend on your ability to do repair work on the truck. You can get part prices on the internet from places like Rockauto other than the POSM.
There is a lot of good parts in salvage yards for the OBS trucks also.
If you drive it and it shifts OK and not hard then those big items would be OK as far as the transmission is concerned.
SPONSOR
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 711
Likes: 6
From: Souderton
Good luck if you end up purchasing it!
New User
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Low Miles
Here's a list to check....
Check the radiator core support for rot/cancer.
Check that the leaf springs aren't broken or missing.
Check fuel tanks for any signs of obvious leaks.
Check that the windows Roll down AND Back up!!! Winter time finds us not using them and P.O.'s neglect telling you they don't roll back up!!
Check that all lights, and instrument cluster works!! Hazards, brake, tail lights
Check that the shifter can go through all selected gears and then back to Park.
Check for cracked, busted exhaust manifolds.
Check the water pump SEEP hole for any obvious signs of leaking!!!
Check that the fan and fan clutch are tight and not wobbly!
Inspect transmission fluid for dark, discolored fluid/burnt smell.
Check the frame under the front tires and cab for any stress cracks.
Check the leaf spring perches for rot, cuz they will rust completely out!
Anybody is free to chime in for a list of known problems.
Remember, $3500 is a lot! Don't get sucked into the excited and buy phase and then costing yourself another $1000 or so to fix a shoddy P.O.'s maintenance and lack of.
Check the radiator core support for rot/cancer.
Check that the leaf springs aren't broken or missing.
Check fuel tanks for any signs of obvious leaks.
Check that the windows Roll down AND Back up!!! Winter time finds us not using them and P.O.'s neglect telling you they don't roll back up!!
Check that all lights, and instrument cluster works!! Hazards, brake, tail lights
Check that the shifter can go through all selected gears and then back to Park.
Check for cracked, busted exhaust manifolds.
Check the water pump SEEP hole for any obvious signs of leaking!!!
Check that the fan and fan clutch are tight and not wobbly!
Inspect transmission fluid for dark, discolored fluid/burnt smell.
Check the frame under the front tires and cab for any stress cracks.
Check the leaf spring perches for rot, cuz they will rust completely out!
Anybody is free to chime in for a list of known problems.
Remember, $3500 is a lot! Don't get sucked into the excited and buy phase and then costing yourself another $1000 or so to fix a shoddy P.O.'s maintenance and lack of.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,829
Likes: 362
From: Candy Mountain
Looking at the ad... I wouldn't describe the truck as being in excellent condition, and it does not have any air bags fyi. My experience with fleet vehicles is that they are usually well maintained mechanically but tend to get beat up as they are operated by folks who don't own them. My experience...
My general statement about shopping these trucks would be to keep in mind nothing is guaranteed. Sometimes folks get lucky and pick one up on the cheap and they run strong and problem free for years, others not so much. Any vehicle can become a living nightmare of lost time and money. If you don't have a lot of experience with these trucks or wrenching in general I would advise you to find someone who does to help you look over what you are getting into and to help you out when you need it down the road.
Everyone here on the forum is happy to help but there is only so much we can do without being there in person.
My general statement about shopping these trucks would be to keep in mind nothing is guaranteed. Sometimes folks get lucky and pick one up on the cheap and they run strong and problem free for years, others not so much. Any vehicle can become a living nightmare of lost time and money. If you don't have a lot of experience with these trucks or wrenching in general I would advise you to find someone who does to help you look over what you are getting into and to help you out when you need it down the road.
Everyone here on the forum is happy to help but there is only so much we can do without being there in person.