I have a 97- f-150 truck 4.2 62,000 miles. The other day I turned if off and and went and checked my mail, when i started it back up i heard a knock after it turned over. It was a short quick knock.I turned it off and back on and it did it again. I left work today and it started fine, got home, checked mail same thing. (I know, quit checking the mail.) anyway i have already been thru the dreaded gasket failure a few months back. Oil pressure is fine, Temperature is fine. Any Ideas ?????? Does this truck a starter issues as well as gaskets??

Thanks,
Eddie

 

not sure toyour question, but if my truck donst fire the first time i and i try to crank it again, i get that nastynasty grinding sound

 

Yes, the starter should give you a really bad grinding sound when starting. I guess at first they give a few quick little knocks. Why don't you just go to auto zone or something and get it checked?

 

man before my 4.2 hydrolocked it would knock right after it would start. are you loosing coolent from the resivore, sorry spelling is not to good tonight. hope not for your sake. has the gaskets been replaced??

 

I recently purchased a '99 model with the 4.2, and that was what I was wondering about. When I turn the key to start it, it has a grinding sound with the starter, kind of ruff sounding, but it starts right up, runs great. Is this normal.

 

I would say no. If it is rough sounding like you say, there is a problem. My truck never sounds rough when starting... get an electical systems check somewhere...maybe at autozone or something.