The truck is in really good shape, well-taken care of and looks in practically new condition. No apparent leaks and drives nice, runs clean. But 190K! It's on a dealership lot so there's nobody to tell us if it's the original engine/tranny... is there a way to tell that by looking at it? We can compare the numbers on the engine to the door and see if the engine was replaced but it seems more likely that it would have been rebuilt, if anything. It's the 4.6L engine and XLT truck... we're looking for the hose leak, ball joints, the recall on the incredible self-igniting switch was repaired by the dealership. What else should we keep an eye out for? Is this a ticking time bomb or could it hang in there for a few years yet? It's a real nice rig and we really like it but I'm scared it's going to disintegrate five minutes after we buy it! We live on a long bumpy bad road, how's it going to handle that? Price tag is $4500... my husband is going to go check it out tonight.

TIA for any input!

 

Put money aside for a pending transmission failure... the Transmissions die in those, the only thing that is an unknown is when.
The 4.6 is a reliable unit.

The 190k should be a pretty useful bargaining tool

 

No kidding! A major medical savings account is in order! The salesguy came down to $3500 on it. My husband said it was a little looser and rattley on the washerboard gravel road than we like but it ran super good. Then he promptly fell in love with a 99 Expy EB that smells like burning oil when it runs! I warned him about the potential issues with that-we'll take it to a mechanic and see what that's all about, I'm scared of the head gasket issue though the 8th digit on the VIN is not a W. It ran like a top- just smelled like burning oil. Which of course is not good. And the previous owner's black lab ate (literally) the passenger seat (leather, ya know). It's been reconstructed out of duct tape. But that one is at 120K and $4300...

 

We have an XLT 5.4 4wd. It has between 170,000 and 180,000 miles. I have been gone for over a year and I don't know what the mileage is now. Original engine and trans. Still going strong. I rebuilt the suspension a few years ago since it was getting loose. New ball joints, tie rods, eurethane busings, pitman arm, idler arm, shocks, etc Fords have weak front ends (from what I have read). I have used synthetic oil in mine since new, every 5000 miles. Transmission serviced at recommended mileage intervals. We used to tow a travel trailer and still tow a boat with it. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it from Savannah to Pennsylvania. We have driven it on several trips to Orlando.

We have had our share of Check Engine lights and the common problems (rough idle, etc). I found a cracked hat on an injector a few years ago that was causing a rough idle issue that had been there since the truck was new. Found a few broken vaccum lines, replaced plugs a few times, O2 sensors, etc. All the normal stuff you would expect. Truck has NEVER left us stranded. It has been by far the best vehicle I have ever owned.

Would I buy another one, sure, but I am looking at a diesel F250. The added towing ability of the 250 will help with our boat and we want to trade our Class C for a 5th Wheel.

I would just get the truck for as little as you can, get it inspected and get a gig sheet. Use the gig sheet to get the price down and budget some money for mechanical failures until you build some confidence in the vehicle.

Good Luck,
Vincent

 

Get the 97, you won't be disappointed. Parts can be had cheap and sounds like it is in great shape. Mine has been super, super, super reliable. She just turned 228,550 and runs like a top. No transmission failures here.