Our engineering firm has an 01 F150 (4.2L) w/48000 miles on it. Since it was purchased it spent its week days driving 30 miles to and from work, and on a construction site the entire day.

The employee that was using it isn't with the company anymore so the truck is sitting at the office. After driving it today I noticed that it's idle is really loud and there is a spark knock under heavy accelleration.

I'm thinking about doing the 60,000 mile service, myself, early due to the abuse it's seen on the job site. Should I go ahead and change the spark plugs and wires?

The only maintance it's seen in the 48,000 miles is oil/filter every 3000 miles.

Also, I have a Ford service DVD for the 03-04 models. Is there any or much of any difference between the 01 and 03 F150?

 

How long has it been sitting?
Most things are pretty much the same between the different years. Some of the electrical diagrams are probably different but otherwise most things will be close.

 

For the past week or so it's been sitting out front of the office...only driven when one of the engineers or their staff needs to make a delivery.

 

Im guessing you have a leak close too the manifold. sounds like a knock when given gas. and makes for a loud idle

 

What is it with these things and pinging? I'm gonna end up having to drop mine off at the shop and tell them to do what they have to do to get rid of it and go back to driving my 157k mile car. Overall I have to say I'm not overly impressed with the truck. In the time I've had my car aside from plugs and wires and a O2 sensor the only other major engine related piece to need replacing was the radiator. Actually, I replaced the plugs/wires at 132k and they weren't even missing or anything. O2 tripped MIL and I could pull the codes with nothing but the ignition key right there in the drive. It's off to a bad start but I guess the long run will determine if I buy another one of these.

 

I noticed today when driving it around town that there is some vibration in the brake pedal when I'm stopped at a stop light. If I shift into neutral it dissapears. Any one know what this could be? At that time I didn't think to check the transmission fluid...but I will later on.

This weekend I'm going to go ahead and change the oil, coolant, air filter, fuel filter, rotate the tires, and check the brakes. Is there anything else I should check?