Ford F150 Pick Up Engine BLOWN!

[DawnCt1]

What timing. Just back from Hawaii and DS went to start the 1997 pickup truck with only 104K and it wouldn't turn over. I assumed that the battery died after a 3 week period of just sitting there. It wouldn't take a jump so we called AAA and had it towed to a very dependable garage. The mechanic said that the starter or the wires to the starter often rust out. Nope, the engine is blown. It is not worth $3K to install a new engine but he will give us a couple of hundred dollars for it. This is DSs transportation to and from school. I guess we will be buying a new (used) set of wheels in the next week.

 

[dnoyes]

Motors don't just blow up sitting still? I would check this out a little more if I were you. Was it ok when you parked it?

 

[cardaway]

Some kids just can't take care of anything anymore.

 

[Chattyaholic]

Well, there you go! It's a FORD for goodness sake! Not surprised!

(DH says FORD means Fix or Repair Daily )

 

[agnes!]

What timing. Just back from Hawaii and DS went to start the 1997 pickup truck with only 104K and it wouldn't turn over. I assumed that the battery died after a 3 week period of just sitting there. It wouldn't take a jump so we called AAA and had it towed to a very dependable garage. The mechanic said that the starter or the wires to the starter often rust out. Nope, the engine is blown. It is not worth $3K to install a new engine but he will give us a couple of hundred dollars for it. This is DSs transportation to and from school. I guess we will be buying a new (used) set of wheels in the next week.

I admit it, I'm kind of a techno-illiterate type but I don't understand something...how did the truck get its engine blown just sitting there?
The only thing I can think of myself is that something ran low in the time before it was parked...maybe there was an oil or coolant leak and the engine just burnt itself up.
What did the mechanic say?

agnes!

 

[DawnCt1]

Motors don't just blow up sitting still? I would check this out a little more if I were you. Was it ok when you parked it?

Yes, but when the mechanic came from AAA to jump start it, he spent some time under the hood. He said that from the sounds of things and the fact that it wouldn't turn over, etc that he thought that the engine was blown. When it was hooked up to the battery pack, it sounded like it wanted to start from the starter but the engine wouldn't engage at all. He came from a different town than the town we had the vehicle towed to. When our mechanic got a closer look, he found the same thing. At this point I would be spending more money to find the cause when in the end, it won't change a thing. We bought the truck used at a good price about 4 years ago so who knows what happened prior taking ownership. I am wondering if the oil pump went or the water pump went, who knows?

 

[DawnCt1]

Some kids just can't take care of anything anymore.

Frankly, I would like to know what motivates you to be so abrasive. It never occurred to me, nor would it, that DS wouldn't and didn't take care of the truck.
Why would you make such an assumption when you don't know ME or HIM? Just can't help yourself I guess/

 

[AllyandJack]

It could be the fuel pump. DH had his go (2002 Chevy Blazer with 140,000 miles on it at the time). It made a similar noise - like it wanted to start, but couldn't. Maybe have that checked out.

 

[DawnCt1]

I admit it, I'm kind of a techno-illiterate type but I don't understand something...how did the truck get its engine blown just sitting there?
The only thing I can think of myself is that something ran low in the time before it was parked...maybe there was an oil or coolant leak and the engine just burnt itself up.
What did the mechanic say?

agnes!

Actually, we had to replace coolant rather frequently, so that is a very good possibility. I am not happy having to buy another vehicle but I am not heartbroken (my son is) either. It was a 2WD and not very good on slushy, wintery roads. It may be a blessing in disguise. School doesn't start for a week so we have time to "shop".

 

[DawnCt1]

It could be the fuel pump. DH had his go (2002 Chevy Blazer with 140,000 miles on it at the time). It made a similar noise - like it wanted to start, but couldn't. Maybe have that checked out.

No, the engine wouldn't move at all.

 

[cardaway]

Did somebody else drive the truck or do something to it?

 

[Squirlz]

"Blown" really doesn't describe anything in particular. Can the mechanic tell you what exactly is broken?

 

[wdwmom2]

Our 97 or 98 Ford Expedition developed piston slap at around 94,000 miles. Did a little research, not an uncommon problem with this engine. E-mailed Ford about the problem, they wouldn't cover anything. We put about $4000 into a new engine. This was probably about 2 yrs ago. Has been running fine ever since. I like Ford vehicles, but not happy with Ford's response to this problem considering it was being seen in quite a few vehicles. Enough vehicles that finding out about this problem on the internet was easy.

 

[DawnCt1]

Did somebody else drive the truck or do something to it?

Typical reponse cardaway; You make a comment; "some kids can't take care of anything anymore", and when you are called on it, you play the victim and tell me that I am overreacting. POOR YOU!

 

[Aerochic]

Did somebody else drive the truck or do something to it?

It couldn't have just been a weak part, or pure bad luck now could it? Blame the kid...

 

[cardaway]

So is that a yes or a no to anybody else driving or doing something to the truck?

 

[DawnCt1]

Our 97 or 98 Ford Expedition developed piston slap at around 94,000 miles. Did a little research, not an uncommon problem with this engine. E-mailed Ford about the problem, they wouldn't cover anything. We put about $4000 into a new engine. This was probably about 2 yrs ago. Has been running fine ever since. I like Ford vehicles, but not happy with Ford's response to this problem considering it was being seen in quite a few vehicles. Enough vehicles that finding out about this problem on the internet was easy.

Well I just googled it and it seems to hit the Ford 150s. 1997 was the year, so who knows. I am not going to put anymore money into it. We paid $8K for it at 54,000 miles and its been dependable until yesterday.

 

[lkjasd]

As others have said, an engine can't just "blow" sitting there. For the engine to "seize" as you are describing is possible but highly unlikely unless there was significant rusting inside from sitting for three weeks. Assuming there was oil and no blown gasgets, etc. You may want to get a second opinion.

I am not a "mechanic" (but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express Last Night - Sorry couldn't resist) but I am familiar enough with repairing my own cars that something just doesn't sound right. My brother is a mechanic and I can't tell you how many cars he has bought that the owners claimed could not be fixed and, $40 in parts later, ran just fine.

Maybe there is something very wrong with it but for the price of a used car, you may want to look into it further. Try some of the online help sites. There are a lot of F150 forums out there with real mechanics. The DIS may not be the best palce to get advice on this.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Does anybody else feel the sexual tension between Dawn and cardaway??

 

[wdwmom2]

Well I just googled it and it seems to hit the Ford 150s. 1997 was the year, so who knows. I am not going to put anymore money into it. We paid $8K for it at 54,000 miles and its been dependable until yesterday.

Our Expedition is in EXCELLENT shape. So it was worth it to replace the engine. Where else were we going to find an SUV in excellent conditon with a new motor for $4000????