2000 Ford F-150 engine and engine cooling problems

“ON MARCH 30, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M. (PST) MY 2000 FORD F-150 UNEXPECTEDLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY BLACK SMOKE AND FIRE COULD BE SEEN COMING OUT OF THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE FIRE ENGULFED THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MELTING ALL THE PLASTIC, WIRING AND THE AIR INTAKE AREA. THE FIRE MELTED EVERYTHING NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CRUISE CONTROL HOUSING. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVE-WAY FOR FIVE HOURS WHEN HE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THROUGH THE FRONT GRILL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED WHO CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THEY DID NOT KNOW THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM WITHIN THE NEXT FIFTEEN DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”

“WHEN TRYING TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE TRUCK MADE A LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN I RAISED THE HOOD, I COULD SMELL UNBURNT FUEL. I THEN DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS COULD BE A BLOWN SPARK PLUG FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS AND TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED. ALL HAVE SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND OTHER FORD ENGINES. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE. MY LOCAL DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE STOCK PLENTY OF IGNITION COILS ON HAND. THIS REPAIR IS ESTIMATED TO COST ME $400. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS COST, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. *TR”

“VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR TWO HOURS AT HOME AFTER A LONG TRIP. NEIGHBORS NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND NOTIFIED ME. LOCAL VFD WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE ... BUT NOT BEFORE TOTAL LOSS OF THE TRUCK. *TR”

“MY 2000 FORD F-150 WITH 5.4 TRIDENT ENGINE BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. I HAD NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAPPENS TO HUNDREDS OF 5.4 ENGINES. THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS DEFECT. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS MOTOR?I CANNOT AFFORD THE $3000.00 REPAIR BILL. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR”

“PARKED CAR AFTER HAVING DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 45MILES. SPONTANEOUS ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR LATER IN PARKED, LOCKED VEHICLE. APPARENT ORIGIN OF FIRE WAS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT QUADRANT CLOSEST TO DRIVER. *TR INTERNET SEARCH OF SIMILAR FIRES SUGGESTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. (SEE HTTP://WWW.RVAPPRAISALS.COM/FORD-FIRES.HTM)... TRUCK NOW LOOKS LIKE THE ONE SHOWN IN COLUMN 2, ROW 9 ON ABOVE PAGE. (SEE ALSO HTTP://PUT.EDIDOMUS.IT/AUTO/PDF/NEWS/141009_INCENDI_FORD.PDF). *TR”