1997 FORD F-350 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 FORD F350 DIESEL PICKUP, PULLING A 36FT GOOSENECK HORSE TRAILER WITH MY TWO TEENAGE DAUGHTERS AND THEIR FOUR HORSES, THE ENGINE IN MY PICKUP SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITED. THERE WAS NO "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT, AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED NORMAL. THE ONLY WARNING I HAD WAS SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE LEFT WHEEL WELL UPON SPEED DECREASE TO TURN A CORNER. I WAS TRAVELING A SHORT DISTANCE FROM HOME AND AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED (LESS THAN 40MPH) DURING THE TRAVEL FROM MY HOME TO THE LOCAL FAIRGROUNDS FOR RODEO PRACTICE. AS I TURNED THE CORNER, THE SMOKE BILLOWED. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SMOKE FILLED THE CAB OF THE PICKUP. MY TWO DAUGHTERS AND I QUICKLY EVACUATED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. WE QUICKLY UNLOADED THE LIVESTOCK FROM THE TRAILER AND GOT FAR AWAY FROM THE SCENE. MY FIANCE, WHO WAS TRAVELING BEHIND US IN ANOTHER VEHICLE, TRIED PUTTING THE FIRE OUT WITH THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER I CARRIED IN MY PICKUP, BUT TO NO AVAIL. AS AN EMERGENCY RESPONDER HIMSELF, HE HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO UNHOOK THE PICKUP FROM THE HORSE TRAILER AND PUSH IT AWAY AS IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND A TOTAL LOSS. FROM THE TIME I NOTICED THE SMOKE UNTIL THE FIRE CONSUMED THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 15 MINUTES. MY DAUGHTERS HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED BY THIS INCIDENT. WE HAVE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC LOSS AS A RESULT OF THIS SPONTANEOUS FIRE. I NEED TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM SUFFERING SIMILAR LOSS, INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. I AM AWARE THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. I RECEIVED NO RECALL NOTICES FROM FORD, OR WARNING OF ANY KIND THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN TO MY VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY PART (WHICH IS WHAT WE BELIEVED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE). *TR

Mileage: 173,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-350 TURBO DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL GALLERY PLUGS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK WERE LEAKING OIL WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER CALLED HIM AND EXPLAINED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED BUT THE CONTACT STOPPED DRIVING IT ON THE STREET. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY USED A NEW MATERIAL WHEN PRODUCING THOSE MODELS AND THE PLUGS WOULD LEAK, BUT REFUSED TO ASSIST IN REPAIR COSTS. THERE WERE PHOTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,700. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.

Mileage: 42,000

STOPPED AT A STOP SIGNAL AND ENGINE QUIT. CRANKED OKAY, BUT WOULD NOT START. GOT IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE. AFTER LOTS OF TROUBLE SHOOTING FOR NOT STARTING, NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE TACHOMETER WAS NOT WORKING WHEN TRYING TO START. REPLACED THE CAM POSITION SENSOR, F7TZ-12K073-B. THE TRUCK STARTED RIGHT UP.*AK

Mileage: 235,362

CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN TRUCK HAS GONE OUT SUDDENLY AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN MOVING - LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. EVIDENTLY ALMOST ALL ENGINES HAVE THIS PART FAIL AT SOME POINT AND HAVE DONE NOTHING TO HELP THE CONSUMER.*AK

Mileage: 145,000

I HAVE HAD TWO CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURES ON MY 97' F350 7.3L DIESEL IN A MATTER OF ONE YEAR. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED ON BOTH OCCASIONS. I DISCOVERED ON SEVERAL FORD TRUCK DISCUSSION FORUMS THAT THIS IS ONE THE MOST COMMON FAILURES ON THESE TRUCKS THROUGH A VARIETY OF YEARS. I COULD NOT FIND ANY PERSON WHO OWNED A SIMILAR YEAR TRUCK AND DID NOT HAVE THIS COMPONENT FAIL ON THEM. PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON THIS ISSUE. *JB

(1) VEHICLE RANDOMLY DYING WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC (2) CAM POSTION SENSOR, ENGINE DIES , LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF POWER BRAKES (BOTH A NESSESITY WITH A DIESEL PICK UP TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL DUE TO THIER WEIGHT) (3) REPLACE THE CAM POSITION SENSOR AT APPOXIMATELY $140.00. *JB

Mileage: 78,000

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH MOTOR VIBRATED, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANG. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TWO PIECE FLYWHEEL CAME APART, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING TO CRACK WHERE THE TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE WAS LOCATED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS YEAR TRUCKS, AND THE TWO PIECE FLY WHEELS WERE NOT INSTALLED IN LATER MODEL TRUCKS. TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND THE FLYWHEEL WERE REPLACED.*AK

Mileage: 117,000

THE WATER PUMP BEARINGS FAILED IN MY 1997 FORD, F-350, 7.3 LITER DIESEL. THIS VEHICLE HAD 90,053 MILES AND HAD BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE AS A RESULT OF THE ABOVE FAILURE, NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BY APPROXIMATELY 50% REDUCTION OF STEERING AND BRAKING CAPABILITY. *JB

Mileage: 90,053

CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS FAILED ONCE, SHUTTING THE TRUCK OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC. NUMEROUS OTHERS WHO OWN VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND YEAR AS MINE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 57,770

ENGINE FLYWHEEL FAILED WHILE WAITING AT A STOP SIGN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, #5 PISTON (OR WRIST-PIN) FAILED IN THE ENGINE, CONSUMER IS SEEKING SOME RELIEF IN THE MATTER OF REPLACING THE FAILED ENGINE. *TT

WHILE DRIVING, #5 PISTON (OR WRIST-PIN) FAILED IN THE ENGINE, CONSUMER IS SEEKING SOME RELIEF IN THE MATTER OF REPLACING THE FAILED ENGINE. *TT

PROCEEDING DOWN STEEP HILL AT NIGHT APPROACHING A T INTERSECTION, ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART FAILED, JUST NARROWLY AVOIDED A COLLISION, MINIMAL BRAKES AND STEERING AVAILABLE. CONTACTED PERSONAL MECHANIC, EXPLAINED SITUATION. CHECKED FUSES, 30 AMP FUSE FOR POWERTRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM RELAY COIL/GLOW PLUG CONTROLLER HAD FAILED. MECHANIC ADVISED OPEN THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING, REMOVE FILTER, CHECK THE HEATER WIRE IN BOTTOM. IF LOOSE, SHORTED OUT FUSE, THEREBY SHUT DOWN ENGINE. FOUND THE SOLDERED WIRE LOOSE. REMOVED SAME FROM THE ASSEMBLY PER INSTRUCTIONS AND REPLACED THE FUSE. ENGINE STARTED. MECHANIC SAID HE HAS REPAIRED (4) FORD DIESELS WITHIN PAST FEW MONTHS WITH SAME FAILURE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. HE FURTHER SAID FORD WILL NOT HONOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FAILED PART. MY WARRANTY BOOK STATES THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM (LESS LINES AND TANK) ARE COVERED. CONTACTED TWO DEALERSHIPS, BOTH INDICATED THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED FRONTIER FORD WHERE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED. THEY STATED THOSE PARTS ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY IN THEIR BOOKS. ADVISED THEM OF THE CRITICAL NATURE OF ENGINE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. CONTACTED FORD MTR CO. AND WAS ESSENTIALLY TOLD THE SAME THING. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED, BUT I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL A DEALER COULD BE LOCATED WHO HAD THEM IN STOCK, I WAS TOLD THEY ARE ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER STATUS. THE INTERNAL ASSEMBLY MADE OF A THIN METAL PLATE WITH THE HEATER ELEMENT SOLDERED TO THE PLATE WHICH PLACED UNDER THE FUEL FILTER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING. BY DESIGN ANY WATER PARTICULES DRAWN INTO THE FILTER SYSTEM ARE FORCED INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE ASSEMBLY WHERE A DRAIN VALVE IS LOCATED. FORD REQUIRES DRAINING THE ASSEMBLY EVERY 5K MILES OR WHEN THE WATER IN FUEL LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL FILTER REPLACED WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE TRUCK AND USE THE DRAIN VALVE EVERY TIME I REFUEL WHICH IS ON AVG. EVERY 400-500 MILES. *AK

WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND GEAR TO THE DRIVE GEAR, ENGINE WILL UNEXPECTEDLY STALL. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE TWO TIMES AND HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER ADDS ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WHEN UPSHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR GENERALLY ON INCLINE, WHEN ENGINE DIES THERE ARE NO BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING, AND THE VEHICLE THEN BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE, VEHICLE IS PUT IN NEUTRAL TO RESTART ENGINE. *TT

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE ENGINE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND REPLACED VARIOUS SENSORS IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK

VEHICLES ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHEN COASTING DOWN GRADES LOOSING STEERING AND BRAKES. PROBLEM WAS IN MY 1996 POWER STROKE DIESEL FORD TRUCK THAT WAS BOUGHT BACK. CONSUMER WAS GIVEN NEWER 1997 TRUCK WITH SAME PROBLEMS AND NOW 4 YEARS LATER, DEALER IS STILL WORKING ON PROBLEM. TRUCK IS DANGEROUS AND I RECENTLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE 4 TIMES RUNNING OFF ROAD TWICE. WHEN VEHICLE SHUTS OFF I NEED TO PUT IN NEUTRAL SHUT-OFF KEY THEN RESTART AND PUT IN GEAR. THIS IS NORMALLY WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWN GRADE AND REACHING SPEEDS OF 80-90MPH. CONSUMER RECENTLY BROKE OFF END OF SHIFT LEVER IN A PANIC SITUATION DOWN SHIFTING TO LOW ALONG WITH INDENTING STEERING WHEEL FROM WHITE KNUCKLES TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN CONSUMER WAS UNABLE RETURN TO NEUTRAL. CONSUMER HAVE FOUND OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER NOTIFIED NHTSA IN 96 AND 97, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND MUST BE CORRECTED. *AK *JG

THE ENGINE TOTALLY CUTS OFF LEAVING THE TRUCK INOPERABLE. AT FIRST IT WOULD CRANK BACK INSTANTLY. NOW, WE HOPE TO MAKE IT OFF THE ROAD WHERE WE HAVE TO REPEATEDLY TRY TO GET IT CRANKED. NUMEROUS MECHANICS HAVE TRIED AND FAILED TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. *AK

BEARINGS CAME LOOSE IN FLYWHEEL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHAKE AS IF ENGINE WAS LOOSE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

VEHICLE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

DRIVING AT SPEED, THE TRUCK MOTOR DIES

WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE IN DEALER SHOP FOR REPAIR SERVICE SEVEN TIMES, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. HOWEVER , DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE DUE TO A LEAKAGE. *AK

METAL FILINGS FOUND IN THE OIL PAN ON TWO OCCASIONS. MJS

ENGINE QUITS WHILE DRIVING.

ENGINE STALLS WHENEVER VEHICLE IS COASTING ON A DOWN SLOPE WITHOUT FOOT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN GOING DOWN GRADES, LOOSING POWER TO BRAKES AND STEERING. TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT STAY ON.

WHEN TRAVELING AT 20 TO 35 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER ALSO HAS EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WHEN TRAVELING, FIRE SHOT OUT OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, CAUSING OBJECTS IN THE ROAD TO CATCH ON FIRE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

ENGINE SURGES CONTINUOUSLY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION.