Just taking over ownership of a 1999 Ford F250 with the 5.4L motor.
Been driving it for a week and loving it.

Have a couple of issues that perhaps someone can advise.

1) The Oil dipstick will not come out of the tube...and the tube seems to be detached from the block due to rust.

2) The heat works intermittantly.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

If the tube is detached, get the replacement in ASAP.
If junk gets into the engine it can destroy it!
Could you be a little more specific regarding the heat problem?
Does the blower work?
Does it blow hot/warm then cold?
Exactly what does it not do that it should do?

 

Well, the tube is rusted separated but it still meets the part in that is still in the block.
Heat--OK...the blower works and the control for where the air flow goes seems to work. Sometimes I can get warm air out of the floor and vents and sometimes I cannot. It never seems "hot" though. I was thinking thermostadt perhaps?

Thanks for your help hanky!

 

The thermostat is a good place to start. A quick way to check it is to feel the heater hoses after the engine has run a while. If they are really hot to the touch and the engine isn't overheating , thermostat is not stuck closed. If the hoses only get warm the stat may be stuck open. Considering the year and possible mileage , replacing the stat is usually a good move before winter. They can sometimes stick and function intermittently.

 

...I agree with Hanky.and reverse flush the cooling system while you're at it...particularly the heater core.

 

OK Guys....here the report.
We replaced the oil dipstick tube with a new one and all is good on that front.
We also did the thermostat replacement and flushed the enitre cooling system and paid special attention to the heater core. It did not help. All I get is luke warm heat.
Next we tried the blend door actuator....but whatever graps the actuator stalk must be broken up because that is where the problem is....that does not grasp the stalk and make it turn. The blend door is stuck in whatever position it was when it stopped turning. So, replacing the actuator will not help.
That leaves me nowhere now. I cannot remove the dash and cannot afford the labor for a pro to do it.
It is gonna be a long, cold winter in New Hampshire.....
Anyone know if any of the 12V electric heaters work to any extent?

 

If you remove the glove box and get behind there can you move the blend door enough to get heat all the time? Also do the controls allow for you to get defrosters?

 

Hanky.....If that would do it...that would be great. I would settle for heat all the time....and yes, I can get defrosters--thankfully.
Do we know for sure if I can get to the blend door if I pull the glovebox?

 

certainty is illusive,but I'd give Hanky's idea a try..It usually works.but it may later make your back twitch a little later on...

 

Oh boy...with 2 crushed vertebrae and a disc always in the nerve channel, I won't try that unless I know I can reach that blend door.....