1989 Ford F150 Custom from North America - Comments

Nothing that wasn't all ready wrong with it.

>You have to hold the switch for left signal light to work. (inexpensive plastic part in steering column I'm told)

>5 speed transmission sometimes doesn't want to go into first gear, I have to put it in another gear first then go back to first.I'm guessing it is worn bushings in the shifter. Has any one else had this problem? and how hard is it to fix?

This is my first Ford truck (2WD) It was to cheap ($1500) to pass up. The old thing runs like a top other than the shifter. The truck is candy apple red (I believe) with factory wagon wheels and chrome bumpers. The body is very straight just had some minor surface rust over the rear wheels. The bench seat is tad hard for my liking, but she goes down the road nice and straight. The transmission whines in all gears except fourth, which can be annoying if you don't have the radio on. Gas mileage is very good. Although I haven't checked it, I would bet it is 20+/Imp Gal.

Check the oil in the transmission now! My 84 was acting in the same way. The transmission was a quart low. This is about one third of the total oil in the unit. As make certain that the retaining collar on the shift lever is screwed down tight. The noise can mean there is bearing and gear damage from oil starvation. With the oil kept full it will keep going a long long time.

Conratulations on such a great truck at such a great price. It is so low mileage that it should be good for another 10 years of use. My family has put over 300,000 miles on Fords with no problems at all. They are by far the best built truck on the planet (and most automotive writers agree). You don't become the world's best selling truck for half a century unless you're doing it right.

First probably isn't synchronized, either come to a complete stop before shifting to first, or double clutch it, meaning push the clutch in twice quickly in and out and then shift to first. It helps to get the gears to mesh more smoothly.