After watching the Odometer blinking for the last four years, I finally was able to pull the cluster and make the repair (In conjunction with new heater core, blend door and blend door actuator). Working well now. I used a video from the F150 forum site (link to you tube) to see which pins needed re-soldered. Visual inspection with magnifying glass did not show the crack, but by hitting the first and last pins in the pin header, no more issues!
My 2000 5.4l Eddie Bauer 4x4
- Thread starter ExplorerTom
- Start date
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Brandon Sneed
Member
Looking at doing this one to mine; part of preventative maintenance as well; any attributable benefit to the Motorcraft over some of the other A/M ones that are on the market? The MC ones are easily 3x the price of several brands I've seen, and was curious what you're thoughts were on the replacements.
Did the water pump and fan clutch last night. My AC performance on hot days while not moving fast was not the best. But once on the highway, it cooled like it should. It's not the blend door and the AC charge is pretty good.
I figured they were both original so if it was my clutch going bad, the water pump was nearing its end as well. I got a new Motorcraft pump off Amazon. The impeller design has changed over the years. The fan clutch is a Hayden heavy duty unit.
The new fan clutch seems to draw way more air through the radiator/condenser than the old one. I did all the tests prior to determine if it was bad and didn't come to any conclusive evidence other than seeing somewhere that a fan clutch will lose about 100 RPM a year. If that's true, I was down 1600 RPM. The true test will be today.
When you're sitting idling in the heat since this modification, have you noticed there's a better cooling effect? Does the fan clutch have quite a bit to do with how well the A/C works in the cabin? I've got the same problem (just replaced the AC Accumulator last year) with the AC not cooling well when idling or in stop and go traffic. We inherited this bad boy from my Mother in Law, and there's no telling what sort of preventative maintenance was done to the vehicle, most likely only reactive.
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ExplorerTom
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Regarding the MC coils vs others, I had read some stuff suggesting that others are more prone to fail and the MCs are more reliable.
After I replaced my fan clutch, my AC performance did not improve. It still works poorly at low engine speed. But it works great on the highway and seems to work pretty well while revving at a stoplight. I'm thinking it's more of an AC clutch issue, but I don't spend enough time in stop and go with the AC on to worry about it.
After I replaced my fan clutch, my AC performance did not improve. It still works poorly at low engine speed. But it works great on the highway and seems to work pretty well while revving at a stoplight. I'm thinking it's more of an AC clutch issue, but I don't spend enough time in stop and go with the AC on to worry about it.
aeorn
Well-Known Member
Tom, the truck looks great . Thank you for documenting your work for the masses! I bought my EB on the cheap with the same 'camping rig' goal, but without the know-how. This thread has given me a ton of answers. Cheers.
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ExplorerTom
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I'm going to be headed to Wyoming for the Great American Eclipse on 8/21. We are going to be off the beaten path camping along the way. I've heard some horror stories about the Big O Big Foots in terms of their offroad sidewall strength. Although admittedly I've never actually had a problem with mine. But mine were getting worn out and loud. It was time to replace them. I put a little over 42k miles on them and they were on the truck when I bought it.
Looking at the space around my tires, I thought I could fit 35s. But even if I could fit them, my 3.55 gears up at this altitude would be lacking. So my $1200 35" tires would cost me an additional $1800 ($850 to regear, $350 for new bearings, and $600 for a Trutrac). Instead I went for 275/70/18 which measure out as 33.2"- a true 33" tire and not a 32 rounded up.
As far as tires, the BFG KO2 was the leader of my list. But it was a close fight with the Cooper ATPs. My tire guy told me he thought the KO2s were wearing faster than he thought they should. So I opted for the cheaper ATPs.
I'm happy with the results.
I think 35s would have been too stuffed for my liking.
Looking at the space around my tires, I thought I could fit 35s. But even if I could fit them, my 3.55 gears up at this altitude would be lacking. So my $1200 35" tires would cost me an additional $1800 ($850 to regear, $350 for new bearings, and $600 for a Trutrac). Instead I went for 275/70/18 which measure out as 33.2"- a true 33" tire and not a 32 rounded up.
As far as tires, the BFG KO2 was the leader of my list. But it was a close fight with the Cooper ATPs. My tire guy told me he thought the KO2s were wearing faster than he thought they should. So I opted for the cheaper ATPs.
I'm happy with the results.
I think 35s would have been too stuffed for my liking.
SnuffThePunkz
Full Access Members
You have an expy similar to mine, but in better condition.
Coincidentally my father and I are headed down from Canada for the eclipse as well, but aiming for Madras.
I did go with the 35's after I leveled it it the front and put a 2.5" spacer in the rear. Definitely need to do the rear shocks like you did though. Mine are roached, though you can't see how bad they are anymore with the big tires lol.
Coincidentally my father and I are headed down from Canada for the eclipse as well, but aiming for Madras.
I did go with the 35's after I leveled it it the front and put a 2.5" spacer in the rear. Definitely need to do the rear shocks like you did though. Mine are roached, though you can't see how bad they are anymore with the big tires lol.
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ExplorerTom
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The Great American Eclipse Trip was a success. We did a couple hundred miles of dirt driving using the COBDR from Gysum to WY. Great trip. Expedition did great.
Our first camp site just north of Gypsum. We rolled in just after 11pm. It was super dark and quiet. Could see the Milky Way stretch over the sky.
The Expedition was our home for these 5 days and were rarely more than a few feet from it. Here we pulled off to the side of the road to eat lunch in the shade:
Second camp site north of Steamboat:
3rd camp site within striking distance of the twilight zone in Wyoming:
We met up with a group and drove out to view Totality. The BLM roads are everywhere in this area.
The group me behind me in the mirror:
Set up on a hill to watch:
11:21am during Totality:
Then we hit the roads and saw lots of this:
The 4th campsite in Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming:
I took 20 extra gallons just in case fuel was going to be an issue, but it never was. But because I had it, I needed to use it (borrowed the gas cans) so I dumped 2 tanks before leaving camp:
The ol' rig did great. Sitting at about 219,400 miles and 10,700 feet:
Our first camp site just north of Gypsum. We rolled in just after 11pm. It was super dark and quiet. Could see the Milky Way stretch over the sky.
The Expedition was our home for these 5 days and were rarely more than a few feet from it. Here we pulled off to the side of the road to eat lunch in the shade:
Second camp site north of Steamboat:
3rd camp site within striking distance of the twilight zone in Wyoming:
We met up with a group and drove out to view Totality. The BLM roads are everywhere in this area.
The group me behind me in the mirror:
Set up on a hill to watch:
11:21am during Totality:
Then we hit the roads and saw lots of this:
The 4th campsite in Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming:
I took 20 extra gallons just in case fuel was going to be an issue, but it never was. But because I had it, I needed to use it (borrowed the gas cans) so I dumped 2 tanks before leaving camp:
The ol' rig did great. Sitting at about 219,400 miles and 10,700 feet:
AZ59apacheguy
Full Access Members
I always love reading your posts! Looked like a ton of fun and that tent is sweet!
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