Vibration during constant speed

[Mike1988]

Hi,

I bought my 2007 Expedition a couple days ago with 127000 miles.

I get a vibration during constant speeds between 40-55 mph. It feels and sounds exactly like I would drive on these rumbling stripes on the interstate. It goes away instantly if I accelerate more or less. I did not recognize it if cruise control is On or if Overdrive is turned Off.

I made a video of it.


Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Adieu]

Check tire integrity then tire balance then alignment

Also your shocks look to be kinda shot

How much did you pay, dealer or private party, and did the the seller manage to conceal the issue when you bought it??

 

[NevadaGeo]

Welcome to the forum (I'm a newbie myself here...). Sounds electrical? maybe the rain is causing the anti-lock on your wheels to activate? Are you sure the sound vibration is from your wheels?

Maybe mud packed unequally on the inside of the wheels? This would not be intermittent, but is a symptom of vibration at a certain speed.

 

[Mike1988]

@Adieu
It was from a dealer. Not a Ford dealer. I got the car for $11000. The car had all extras thats why i wanted it. And I trade in a Mustang so I only paid the difference

I did not recognize it during the test drive. I contacted the dealer yesterday. He said that he had the problem with a different Expedition before and I should change the transmission fluid. I did check the transmission fluid last night and it was very low. Actually way too low. I was planing on dropoing the pan today and see if I see something. Then I will replace the transmission filter and put new Mercon LV in it with some additive. Any additive recommendations?

I did not check the tires yet. If the work on the transmission makes no change, I will check the tires next, balance them and make an alignment.
I did not check the shocks either yet.

@NevadaGeo
The rain has nothing to do with it. Its the same in dry conditions. Also there is not mud or anytging else.

 

[Adieu]

$11k????

Holy ****... (can I say that on this forum?)


That's 2009-2010 Navigator L money...without any of that swaying bounce, weird noise, dangerously low tranny fluid nonsense

Not a very ethical dealer

 

[Adieu]

Also, careful, your Fuel Level estimate (at least one of em) seems WAY OFF... 164 miles to E, with needle around 1/4 tank? That don't sound right

 

[Mike1988]

It was by far the best I could find in my area.

The car is bought, so I cant change it now...

 

[Adieu]

Odd....for future reference, you can get vehicles shipped in from just about anywhere for like $500

 

[Mike1988]

Good to know for the next time.

Anyways, besides the vibration the car runs great.

About the fuel level. I had a full tank when I started driving it. I have a 2007 f150 with the same motor as well and with a full tank and chill driving, i get 500 miles out of it. The expedition had about 300 miles on the meter and 160 left, so i think that would be reasonable.

I want to get the car fixed now, as my wife will drive it. So the vibration is the outstanding issue at that point.

Please let me know if you can think of anything else.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Hawaiianbasshead]

Mine does it in pulses it seems like. I was thinking tranny mainly when only slight throttle. If I drive with a heavy foot it doesn't do it or idle while rolling. Interested to see if the trans fluid helps.

 

[Mike1988]

I dropped the pan today and checked everything.

Unfortunately my car needs a special transmission filter and that I didnt had and no autoparts store had it either. Before I knew that, I had a Filter had a nozzel at tge bottom. That one does not fit as I cannot put tge pan back on.

Anyways, I didnt had a nee filter so I had to out the old one back in which i dont like.

I put then 3.5 quarts of Mercon LV and a bottle of Lucas Conditioner in it. I think this changes about 40% of the tranny fluid.

The vibration is still there but much much lighter. So I think this was the reason for my vibraton.

I am thinking now to bring the car to the Ford Service and let them make a completed transmissiom flush. And also add a new filter.
I think they do it for $199

@Hawaiaan
That sounds exactly what mine did/does.

Thoughts on that?

 

[stamp11127]

Do not flush transmission fluid - ever!
Only drain and replace. There are plenty of stories of trans going out after the flush.

Do you notice a change in the tach when it is having the problem? If so it is the torque converter lock up.

You are rolling the dice using most additives.

 

[Mike1988]

Hmm ok.

Do you mean by change in the tach the tachometer?

If so, no there is no change in the tachometer. Speed and Rmp stay the same.

I guess I would try to get the right filter and drop the pan again and put a new filter in and fill it up with some more Mercon LV.

And about the additive, are you saying that they I should not use them?

Thanks

 

[Mike1988]

And does anybody know the part number of the small yellow dipstick for the tranamission?

Edit: never mind, i was able to order the part from the Ford Dealer

 

[RedExpy]

Check tire integrity then tire balance then alignment

Also your shocks look to be kinda shot

How much did you pay, dealer or private party, and did the the seller manage to conceal the issue when you bought it??

i am curious how we can tell that the shocks look to be shot from the video... I would think that, unless you are driving or standing next to it, there is no definitive way you can tell the shocks are kind of shot... i just think it's the road and arm moving due to filming... i could be way off base and sorry... just seemed a stretch...

 

[powerboatr]

i hate to state what may be an obvious, but did you put her up off the ground and check the ujoints and constant velocity joints.
vibrations are sometimes a bear to solve. loose plastic parts, doing the harmonic dance caused by some other out of balance issue.



my long years would use KISS
120k plus miles, do you have a service record? if not
1. tire balance, tie rods worn
2. measure rotors for warpage
3. u joints, CV joints
4. internal tranny, which you did fluid and filter
5. suspension to frame isolators/rubber baby buggy bumpers
6. in park run engine at varying rpms and watch and listen.

 

[Mike1988]

I will start with putting the new transmission filter in this weekend and go from there.

@powerboatr
I will definately check all the point you have listed. I need to put new tire pressure sensors in the wheels anyways so this will be a good point to balance and check them.

@stamp11127
After reading your post, I did notice that when this vibration happens, the rpm go slightly up, but this is so minimal that you really have to look very carefully at it.
Do you think this os the torque coverter?
If so, is this normal, do I HAVE to replace it now or can I wait a little longer.
The car drives and shifts perfectly fine besides the slighy vibration. Maybe it will be even less when I take the pan off this weekend and put a new filter in with new fluid.
I heard that the transmission needs to come out if it has to be replaces, I guess thats nothing I could do myself...

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I had a car that use to make noise at certain speeds. It drove me crazy. It turned out to be a piece of loose windshield trim that would vibrate at certain speeds. I noticed the loose trim when cleaning the outside of the windshield. I taped it down and the noise went a way. It could be something as similar as that.

 

[Hawaiianbasshead]

My rpm bumps or dips when my rational vibration goes on. Which is only at low rpm with light throttle applied. No go pedal, no vibration, heavy foot drive it like I stold it, no vibration...

I got my expy broken/not running for 2gs and there's been every problem notorious so far save cam phasers *fingers crossed*.

 

[Mike1988]

After my second transmisson pan drop and putting in the new filter, the vibration is gone.

Looks like the problem was that the fluid level was low.