What did you do to the expy today

[Rikaherlambang]

Subscribed!

 

[b514]

had a weird issue last night. The truck had been driving fine all day, but when I wanted to go home from work, it wouldn't crank. Got just the dreaded click you get when the battery is down. After the 3rd unsuccessful attempt I went in to find a colleague that would boost me.
While that guy went to bring his car over, I decided to give the truck another try and it started just fine on its own. So it wasn't the battery. But when it started, I noticed that the onboard computer was reset, the trip counter, mileage gauge were all at zero. I also remembered that when I was trying to start it before, the driver seat would not auto-adjust when I entered/removed the key. Could this have been a computer glitch? Never seen this before. Hope my computer isn't on its way out. i heard they're expensive as hell.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Finished changing the shocks on the left side. That left rear is a pain!

And finished the tire rotation since the shocks were done.

New Dorman intake showed up today. But probably won't get to work on it until Thursday night. And I have Friday off. Should be a wrenching good time!

 

[k9education]

Today I washed, clay barred, and cleaned the inside of the windows, which took me about 3 hours. On my way out the door, I tried to plug my iPhone into the 2nd row AC outlet (my car adapter died) for the first time and discovered the plug wouldn't stay in. I ran back inside, grabbed a mini flathead and popped the outlet cover off. I took a pair of pliers to the flimsy metal connectors and reassembled; problem solved. Considering how poorly made the outlet is, I can see I'll be repairing/replacing it in the not-too-distant future.

 

[ExplorerTom]

This is a quality cigarette lighter replacement:
Panel Mount Cigarette Lighter Socket Automotive Marine Grade [PanelCIG] - $7.99

 

[k9education]

This is a quality cigarette lighter replacement:
Panel Mount Cigarette Lighter Socket Automotive Marine Grade [PanelCIG] - $7.99

The outlet I'd be interested in replacing is actually an AC outlet. Coincidentally though, I was also looking for a USB socket that offered at least 2.1A per plug and there's one on that page. :thumbsup:

 

[carlos08]

Done installing lift struts for the hood then detailed the engine bay a bit.

 

[WarrenG]

Hit a deer on my trip.... Was able to drive away thank goodness. Front end damage only.
Goes in the shop this week.

 

[cman1120]

Hit a deer on my trip.... Was able to drive away thank goodness. Front end damage only.
Goes in the shop this week.

Ouch sorry to hear about that. What's the expy look like?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

 

[mr49erguy]

My 1998 Expy went to Utah (from Virginia) and made it back out last Friday. On the way back it developed a serious exhaust manifold leak at the flange on the drivers side. The bolts that held the flange in place were rusted clear through and I popped them out with little effort at a friends garage. We replaced the bolts to hold the exhaust together and voila...no more exhaust leak and no more deafening sound. Also found that the sway bar bolt/sleeve on the drivers side was sheered clean off so I had to remove the remaining pieces and replace it. Decided to do both sides.

Washed and vacuumed the mess that the kids left after 5000 miles in the truck and now she's ready to have a new heater core put in in the next few weeks.

If I'm really feeling motivated after that, I may take the intake manifold off and replace gasket, hoses, COPs and spark plugs.

On a side note, as I was replacing the bolts for the driver side exhaust, I noticed how badly mangled the exhaust manifold nuts are and am not looking forward to what it will take to to remove the drivers side manifold at some point. I'm at nearly 210,000 miles and would really like to keep it for another few years for camping.

 

[Flexpedition]

Added a Roush air filter to my Roush-modified Expedition.
They are practically giving these away, so I bought several.
$7.21 shipped. Current Ebay item number is 281757269156

Appear to be of good quality, well constructed, don't let crazy low price deter you.
Yellowish orange media is very similar to NAPA Gold filter.

 

[Jeckler]

had a weird issue last night. The truck had been driving fine all day, but when I wanted to go home from work, it wouldn't crank. Got just the dreaded click you get when the battery is down. After the 3rd unsuccessful attempt I went in to find a colleague that would boost me.
While that guy went to bring his car over, I decided to give the truck another try and it started just fine on its own. So it wasn't the battery. But when it started, I noticed that the onboard computer was reset, the trip counter, mileage gauge were all at zero. I also remembered that when I was trying to start it before, the driver seat would not auto-adjust when I entered/removed the key. Could this have been a computer glitch? Never seen this before. Hope my computer isn't on its way out. i heard they're expensive as hell.

Remove and clean the battery and cables. I use baking soda and water to clean along with a brass brush. Try not to get too much inside if your battery isn't sealed. Rinse with plenty of plain water.
After reinstalling the cables, coat them with petroleum jelly (Vaseline).
A buddy's '03 EB usd to do this too. He hasn't had a problem since cleaning.
I used to have a '95 Taurus that did it too.

 

[b514]

Remove and clean the battery and cables. I use baking soda and water to clean along with a brass brush. Try not to get too much inside if your battery isn't sealed. Rinse with plenty of plain water.
After reinstalling the cables, coat them with petroleum jelly (Vaseline).
A buddy's '03 EB usd to do this too. He hasn't had a problem since cleaning.
I used to have a '95 Taurus that did it too.

Thanks! Actually, after the truck refused to crank a few more times I noticed that the red PATS light in the middle of the dashboard was constantly on, so I figured that the immobilizer was not recognizing my key properly and was preventing the starter from turning.
So I disconnected the battery for a few minutes to reset everything, then switched to my other key (which is barely used) and the problem never reoccured (at least not in the 7 days since I did this )
I also removed the rubber boot around the ignition cylinder and made sure that the PATS antenna was properly seated and plugged in.

 

[b514]

So a few days after having a local shop replace my lower control arms and do the alignment I started hearing a clunk every time I turned the wheels. So i looked under the truck today and my jaw dropped. Check out the bolt that holds the arm to the frame on the drivers side. It moves as I turn the wheels. These ****ers didn't tighten it!!!!

I could tighten it myself, but I imagine that the alignment is shot, so I'll take it back to the shop and tell them to fix it. I did a quick visual inspection and didn't see any other damage resulting from this (like the frame or the arm bushing being mangled). Anything else I should look for? (Besides a better mechanic, lol)

 

[k9education]

So a few days after having a local shop replace my lower control arms and do the alignment I started hearing a clunk every time I turned the wheels. So i looked under the truck today and my jaw dropped. Check out the bolt that holds the arm to the frame on the drivers side. It moves as I turn the wheels. These ****ers didn't tighten it!!!!

I had a similar experience with a power steering box in my old Explorer back in college wherein someone made a seriously stupid mistake. We had a local shop that charged $10/hr (yes, you read that right). When I brought in the part and the truck, the guy asked me if I had instructions on how to install it. When I said no, he said they'd figure it out. It worried me, but I was in college and poor as dirt so I handed him the keys anyway. Ultimately, they did install it properly, but they forgot to cap off the power steering fluid and the thing half emptied within several miles. I went back and Isaac and Malachai (not their real names) quickly realized their mistake and corrected it.

Anyway, hope they sort you out without any problems.

 

[mr49erguy]

While I did not do any work on my Expy today, I did use it for one of the reasons I purchased it. I dropped off a load of old kids bikes an old recliner and an old car tire at the landfill. I learned that my truck weighs 2.84 tons unloaded with about a 1/4 tank of fuel.

I also wrote up a 20 point list of things I'm going to work on with a buddy over the next year. Things like replacing the front heater core to removing the intake manifold to replace the gasket and perhaps even replacing the exhaust manifolds and exhaust system.

 

[b514]

Didn't do this TO the Expy, but FOR the Expy: redneck 4" jack extension from a piece of steel pipe
Tested it pretty aggressively and it's rock solid.

I can finally get rid of the piece of wood I had to use since I installed the lift kit.

 

[k9education]

Today I removed my cigarette lighter socket and replaced it with a dual 2.1A USB socket.

Ford's proprietary cigarette lighter connector (Part #WPT682). Upon discovering that this connector is $40, I opted to re-use it rather than cut it off.

I made these wire connectors in order to connect my new USB socket to the existing Ford connector. Initially, the tab connector was too large. As it was a Sunday and my dash was already apart, rather than wait a day to get a smaller connector, I used what I had and sanded the width down with a Dremel. In the end, it was a perfect fit.

Everything is connected and ready to go.

The USB socket is installed and everything is zipped back up. I opted not to use the cover it came with as my phone plug essentially lives in the dash. I'll put an individual cover on the unused socket later.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Nice. I've got something very similar about to get installed.

 

[Odimus]

changed the final spark plug...what a pain to get to the back plug/passenger side...so all 8 changed and the extraction tool is still a virgin