Hunting for bugs in our new-to-us 2014 EL Ltd

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MrTommy

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We picket up our 2014 EL from Carmax. We're in Nevada and found the one we wanted in Maryland. We paid to have it shipped to Carmax in Reno. It looks almost new, with just a hair under 30,000 miles. We had five days to drive it and give it back, no questions asked, if we wanted. However, we love the car.

We upgraded from a 2004 Expedition that was virtually trouble free. We bought that one four years old as well and put almost 100,000 miles on it. We liked it so much we wanted another.

Now that our five days are up, we're into the 30 day "bumper to bumper" warranty. They fix anything and everything we find. So far, new battery (after having the Expy dead in the water when we went shopping), new windshield wipers, new brakes, a new sun visor (because one of them would not turn off the vanity light and burned the cover), and a new ignition key (because mine would not unlock the doors, or start the car).

While on the freeway the other day, we were doing about 65, radio on, wifey driving, and suddenly we hear a low pitch rumble (for lack of a better word) and could feel a slight vibration. Wifey said she could slightly feel it in the steering wheel. This was discernible above the radio, but not real loud. We slowed down considerably and it went away. I thought 'wheel bearing'? We pulled over and I attempted to push against each wheel (which is actually useless because I'd have to have the wheel raised to feel for bad bearings - but it made me feel like I was doing something about it - ha). We took off with no further issue. This happened once more on a different day, but it was short lived.

We have an appointment this Friday at Carmax and I told them about the noise. The service person also (without my suggesting it) said it sounded like a wheel bearing - which they will take care of.

The car has new tires (which I thought is unusual for only 30,000 miles) so I'm wondering if there was uneven tire wear (possibly from bad bearings) and new tires were added. And I would think 30k miles is too young for bearings to go. Or is this common on the newer Expeditions?

Anything else we should look for before we run out of the "bumper to bumper" warranty? Deer Run Road001.jpg
 

Flexpedition

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What brand of tires did Carmax put on it? They frequently (ie: not always) use what I consider 2nd and 3rd rate tires. Brands like General, Fuzion, Cooper, GT Radial and others.

If you can recall the exact stretch of highway, lane number and speed, maybe try revisiting it. There is a section of highway I use every couple of weeks and it gets me everytime.
 
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MrTommy

MrTommy

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What brand of tires did Carmax put on it? They frequently (ie: not always) use what I consider 2nd and 3rd rate tires. Brands like General, Fuzion, Cooper, GT Radial and others.

If you can recall the exact stretch of highway, lane number and speed, maybe try revisiting it. There is a section of highway I use every couple of weeks and it gets me everytime.

I had to run out in the 14° cold to check the tires out. They're Sumitomo Encounter HT's. I've never heard of them so I did a quick web search and they seem to be viewed as pretty good tires. Who knew?

We'll be on that same stretch of road Friday when we take the car in for Carmax to check the bearings (and a couple more less important issues). Good suggestion.

Btw, I put Cooper tires on my one ton pickup and absolutely love them. I consider them better than the Michelins I had on previously. Pickup weighs about 8,600 pounds and we tow a 7,000 pound trailer.
 

deweysmith

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Does it have air suspension? That sounds exactly like the compressor kicking on to lift up the rear end. I can always feel it in the brake pedal and the steering wheel, and it happens EVERY TIME I start my truck right now because it's so blasted cold up here in the Great White North. It's kind of an unnerving sound when it comes on. I've never heard it at high speed but it would definitely be weird.
 
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MrTommy

MrTommy

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Does it have air suspension?

Because it's so blasted cold up here in the Great White North.

No, we don't have air suspension (though I wish we did . . .)

10-4 on the "blasted cold". Ha. We can get cold 'down here' but not as cold as YOU. Good for me. Not so good for you. :anitoof:
 

Adieu

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30k out of low profile Prated tires?

I would be kinda surprised if they last that long

PS or maybe not such a low profile after all... what tire size are you running?
 

ExpeditionAndy

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30k out of low profile Prated tires?

I would be kinda surprised if they last that long

PS or maybe not such a low profile after all... what tire size are you running?
They look like 275 R55 20 stock size based on the sidewall in the picture.
 

J Ski

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We picket up our 2014 EL from Carmax. We're in Nevada and found the one we wanted in Maryland. We paid to have it shipped to Carmax in Reno. It looks almost new, with just a hair under 30,000 miles. We had five days to drive it and give it back, no questions asked, if we wanted. However, we love the car.

We upgraded from a 2004 Expedition that was virtually trouble free. We bought that one four years old as well and put almost 100,000 miles on it. We liked it so much we wanted another.

Now that our five days are up, we're into the 30 day "bumper to bumper" warranty. They fix anything and everything we find. So far, new battery (after having the Expy dead in the water when we went shopping), new windshield wipers, new brakes, a new sun visor (because one of them would not turn off the vanity light and burned the cover), and a new ignition key (because mine would not unlock the doors, or start the car).

While on the freeway the other day, we were doing about 65, radio on, wifey driving, and suddenly we hear a low pitch rumble (for lack of a better word) and could feel a slight vibration. Wifey said she could slightly feel it in the steering wheel. This was discernible above the radio, but not real loud. We slowed down considerably and it went away. I thought 'wheel bearing'? We pulled over and I attempted to push against each wheel (which is actually useless because I'd have to have the wheel raised to feel for bad bearings - but it made me feel like I was doing something about it - ha). We took off with no further issue. This happened once more on a different day, but it was short lived.

We have an appointment this Friday at Carmax and I told them about the noise. The service person also (without my suggesting it) said it sounded like a wheel bearing - which they will take care of.

The car has new tires (which I thought is unusual for only 30,000 miles) so I'm wondering if there was uneven tire wear (possibly from bad bearings) and new tires were added. And I would think 30k miles is too young for bearings to go. Or is this common on the newer Expeditions?

Anything else we should look for before we run out of the "bumper to bumper" warranty? View attachment 22594
Check the roof seams for cracks in the sealant they use running down the channels on the outsides of the roof, check for paint bubbling on creases of the hood and trunk.
 
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