I have a 1999 F150 extended cab 4 by 4 with a 5.4 V8 engine, anyone having a problem with this engine? Only have 62,000 miles on it and the truck just stopped, no noise, no obvious oil leaks, etc. One mechanic said the engine won't budge, he thought it was the starter and replaced that but truck is dead.Of course it is out of warranty, taking to the dealer to have them check it out but am sure they won't replace without a fight on my part. Hoping for a AWA but looks like it will be a battle so any tips/info would be appreciated.

 

I have the same year, engine, model truck you have and it runs like a champ.

Give us a few more details including when it happened, what have you done to the truck in the last few weeks, did you buy the truck new, etc...

 

First of all, make sure the dealer knows what he is talking about.
My brother-in-law had his 99 5.4 towed into the local dealer with the same sort of situation you mentioned. The dealer had two of his grease monkeys put a breaker bar on the motor and attempt to turn it over. Well of course it would not budge, so the service writer looks at him and says ,"your motor is froze up". "It will cost around $6000.00 to replace it". He then called me, and I called the dealer and ask how it froze up at 80,000 miles. He says it must just have happened. I asked if he was positive that it was froze up to which he replied, " sure is". After I asked if he would check the A/C compressor to see if it was locked up, the dealer called me back and appologized for causing my brother-in-law to have a coronary. The A/C compressor was froze up....They repaired it for cost of the part only....

 

Thanks for the input, bought the truck new, only problem had with it up to this point was the windshield wipers going on for no apparant reason( usually while making a turn!) It has been parked in garage since the engine stopped, was going to have someone rebuild engine but they told us not to bother that they couldnt guarantee this engine, i have heard from numerous mechanics that the engine is prone to problems. It is at the dealers now so when I hear what they have to say I will post it. Also will definitly check into the AC problem ( hope it's that simple!) Thanks again, your input is appreciated.

 

Have you been using 5w20 oil?

 

SORRY, i had wrong info earlier, we are using the 5w20 oil . The oil and coolant levels are fine also. Waiting for the dealer's diagnosis. Thaks Spud, wil let you know if i need that phone number later.

 

My '97 5.4l still runs like new! Unless you ran it out of oil or maybe coolant, I can't think of any reason it would just "sieze up"! I would think that by dropping the pan you could find out quite a bit.
FWIW, I think I've seen low mileage 5.4l engines on Ebay for <$2000!
Hope it doesn't come to that!

 

my bro in law has 2 of them engines in lake havasue az if ya need one i can get ya his #

 

I work for a dealer and had a 80,000 mile f 150 with a locked up engine. I did all the cks first, took off belt,plugs etc. and couldn't get it to free up. So I gave the cust a choice to pull the pan or replace the engine. They elected to not waste money with further diag so I started replacing the engine. I seperated the trans and engine and a bolt fell out. It turned out it was an intake bolt that had been laying under the intake probally from the factory that had finally worked its way into the bell housing through the drain hole in the back of the block. The customer said they were driving down the road and the engine just quit no noise just quit! Needless to say the owner was very happy to only be spending a couple hundred bucks instead of a couple thousand. I thought that was a pretty rare. A couple months later I had an Expedition with the exact same problem. Ford has put a plastic plug to keep foreign stuff from entering the bell housing on the newer models.

 

That means there is a potential problem for all of the people who have dropped screws, bolts, nuts, etc. down into the intake area of the engine.

When did they install the plug?

BTW, you would think an engine stopping virtually instantly from who knows what rpm would have some kind of internal damage.

 

I honestly don't know when Ford started plugging the hole. You can't see it with the intake in place. You are correct anything dropped in the black hole under the intake could make its way into the bellhousing.

 

Oh crap, yeah ive had my fair share of things drop down there, most recovered but i think i still have a bolt or two, im gonna have to fetch em out.

 

Awww crap... add me to that list. I've got a bolt from the plastic throttle body cover that went flying under the intake into that cavity. Couldn't retrieve it with my magnetic stick.

Doh. Oh well.

 

I receintly Installed a rebuilt 5.4 in a '98 Expedition & the factory engine had the plastic plug installed in it (build date 12/97). I wonder if some engines didn't get the plug installed at the factory. Could have been another cost cutting measure by Jac nasser!

 

Danny owens-

Exactly what I was thinking!!!

5W20 anyone?