Ask the Car People.SM


Ford Expedition Maintenance and Repair

1936 messages,  Last post on May 21, 2013 at 11:24 AM

You are in the Ford Expedition Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Expedition, SUV

    
 
Go to NHTSA to file a safety complaint.
 
Or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm ET) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800)424-9153

Messages Page 187 of 194

#1857 of 1936 Shakes or Accellerates by yashodoa

Mar 21, 2010 (9:43 pm)

I have 2001 Expedition and I bought it from my friend last summer, prior to her selling the SUV, she had no problem with it at all. Her husband had taken it in for tire rotation, belt change, window fixed, and stuff and hosed down the engine to clean it out. When I drove it out of the parking lot at the 'you park and sell' place, I noticed the idle problem immediately and told my friend about it, she had no idea and said it was the first time.
Let's remember this key point in the story I'm going to tell you because it's going to get weirder - I live in Anchorage, Alaska.
Now, I got the SUV at the end of July, I had idle issue all the way to October. My mechanic couldn't figure it out. The engine would shake so much and then die every time I am at the red light. It was so hard to drive it. I had the SUV taken in several time to my mechanic to fix it. He replaced the spark plugs (all of them) then he replaced some bad coils (near the spark plugs), then my husband replaced the IAC valve to a new one. Idle problem remained and no improvement. Then it stopped in October for some odd reason.
But a new problem rose in November when I got below 0 degree weather. The SUV would accelerate on its own on the highway and keep at it as if it were on cruise control, but at high speed of its own preference (75 to 80 mph and the limit is 65!) I have to brake to slow it down and hold the brake to get it to stop; it will gear up the engine so much, fighting me. If I put it in neutral, it roars and accelerate like crazy, or in P, it go nuts! I had to turn it off completely. But when I turn it back on, it still accelerates at its own will then finally gives the speed control back to me after 5 to 10 minutes. Scary and crazy! It happens from time to time, not all the time. After a few minutes of this crazy possessed moment, the gas pedal would 'snap' against my feet meaning I got the control back.
I began to notice the pattern here. It will accelerate and stick on its' own speed when the outdoor temperature is 10 degree or under. But over 11 degree, it's fine. It does fine if it's previously warmed in the garage and run perfectly on cold days. However, it had started to warm up lately in past two week and the idle problem happened again.
So; between 11 degree to 40 degree it run just perfectly, but anything under 10 degree, it has "sticky" gas pedal or over 40, it has shaky idle issue.
HELP ME! I love this SUV, but this is driving me NUTS! And my mechanic or even the Ford mechanics could not figure this out!
What is wrong with my SUV?

#1859 of 1936 98 Expedition liftgate problems by _cperry_

Mar 22, 2010 (7:23 am)

Both the liftgate and the rear window remain latched even though I can hear the normal unlocking sounds inside the door when using the remote or the key to get in. Is there an easy way to access the latch mechanism without going to the dealer?

#1861 of 1936 ABS light came on by two_plus_twins

Mar 22, 2010 (9:34 am)

My ABS light came on this morning and has stayed on. Can I check a sensor or do anything before taking it in? This is a 2002 Expedition.

#1862 of 1936 Re: Major Ford Flaw?? [hatecarprblms] by bronsonb

Mar 23, 2010 (6:08 am)

Replying to: hatecarprblms (Mar 19, 2010 7:41 am)
Does the passenger window control work? I had a similar problem in my 2004 Expedition where the driver's controls wouldn't work for the rear driver's side passenger window, but I could control the window from the passenger's controls. I remove the window switch from the driver's armrest, took it apart, and cleaned it all out. Put it back together, and it now works like a charm. Some dirt had built up under the contacts and caused it not to work. Why THAT switch and not the driver's window, which is used MUCH more, I do not know.
 
I guess I'd start there and see if that helps. If you google "Expedition Door panel removal," you should be able to find directions for getting the door panel off and taking a look at the switches.

#1863 of 1936 Looking to buy 04-06 Expy, what maintenance items should I care most about by cheapdad000

Mar 24, 2010 (8:57 pm)

Looking to buy 04-06 Expy with 75-100K miles. What items should I be most concerned with prior owner having maintained? What part failures should I anticipate over the next 3-5 years of ownership? I will be turning my own wrench for most simple repairs - tune-up items, O2 sensors, alternator, suspension components, not comfortable yet digging into the engine for head gasket type work or any transmission type work. Have the engines/transmissions been reliable on these vehicles? Are they prone to any mysterious electrical gremlins?

#1864 of 1936 Re: Looking to buy 04-06 Expy, what maintenance items should I care most about [cheapdad000] by alwaysfords2

Mar 26, 2010 (5:45 am)

Replying to: cheapdad000 (Mar 24, 2010 8:57 pm)
The plug change inteval is 100k. It is a big job for a DIYer, people report it taking 8-10 hours. There is a big issue with snapping plugs off in the head which makes the job take a lot longer. This typically happens in #4 and #8, which are the hardest to work on. It is a $300 job at the dealership. Tranny service interval is 30k, so depending on what you find you should see if the proper number of services have been done.

#1865 of 1936 Re: Looking to buy 04-06 Expy, what maintenance items should I care most about [cheapdad000] by wedo43

Mar 26, 2010 (8:43 am)

Replying to: cheapdad000 (Mar 24, 2010 8:57 pm)
Plan on replacing the coil packs per many of the threads here. You can get them on Ebay for about 10% of what the dealership will charge. These and new plugs a chore but not to bad if you have swivel socket gear.
One thing I had to replace to the tune of about $1,500.00 was the intake manifold. Freakin thing is plastic, rots from the same moisture that affects the coil packs, and eventually leaks antifreeze.
I've warped front disc rotors on every Ford SUV I've owned. I finally replaced this one's with Powerslot Rotors and Hawk Performance pads. Costs were higher than the cheap Chinese junk you get from local auto stores but about the same overall to have someone else do you brakes for you, ie you'd break even if you used these and did it yourself. The thing about them though was I got 90K miles or so out of the pads!
I've got 160K on my '03 and that's about it. It's been a really good truck and baby bus.

#1866 of 1936 Re: Looking to buy 04-06 Expy, what maintenance items should I care most about [wedo43] by cheapdad000

Mar 26, 2010 (12:45 pm)

Replying to: wedo43 (Mar 26, 2010 8:43 am)
wedo,
  Thanks for the feedback/advice. Did the intake manifold replacement include any other services - as the parts themselves (manifold/gasket/etc.) look to be ~$200? I can't believe they made it out of plastic. Is the engine setup a 1 ignition coil per cylinder? I have dealt with that with my Mazda MPV, and in order to get to half of them (and the spark plugs), you need to pop off the intake manifold. Any tools I need (like swivel sockets) I get really cheap at Harbor Freight.

Messages Page 187 of 194

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement