Timing chain

[TJ Toronto]

hello everyone,
Has anybody had to change the timing chain on their 07 expedition? My 08 has been running a bit rough the last couple of weeks. When I stop at a light or start the truck, it idles rough, and shakes. Not violently but enough to notice. While driving, more noticeably on the highway, it seems like it “skips a beat”. It’s like a small little jolt every so often. Barely noticeable to the average driver, but for me it’s very, seeing as this is my baby, and I am so in tune with it. I notice every little thing. So the mechanic put in a bottle of TKO, fuel system cleaner, no change. New fuel filter, still no change. Now he’s thinking it is likely the timing chain.
The unfortunate part is, there are no codes and the engine light is not on.
I am about to start a 1 month road trip to the east coast, and want to make sure my truck is in tip top shape before I go.
Any information would be greatly appreciated. You guys have been very helpful in the past!
Thanks!

 

[TJ Toronto]

Correction, it’s a 2008 not 2007.

 

[JExpedition07]

I highly doubt it has anything to do with the timing chains. It sounds to me like the classic failing VCT solonoids, unfortunately starting in 2007 they aren’t accessible without pulling valve covers.

Could also be out of tune and just plain misfiring. When were plugs last changed?

 

[Plati]

Doesn't sound good to set out on a road trip in that condition. ??

 

[TJ Toronto]

I did spark plugs and wires about 50,000 - 60,000 km ago. The scanner didn’t pick up on any misfire codes, but that doesn’t mean it’s not in the early stages I guess.

I notice every single little change, but I am not mechanically inclined at all.
I appreciate your help.

MrSticker, I don’t want to even imagine being far from home and something happening.

 

[Sgt Darkness]

I did spark plugs and wires about 50,000 - 60,000 km ago. The scanner didn’t pick up on any misfire codes, but that doesn’t mean it’s not in the early stages I guess.

I notice every single little change, but I am not mechanically inclined at all.
I appreciate your help.

MrSticker, I don’t want to even imagine being far from home and something happening.

Take a timing light and you can check the plugs and wires to see if either is bad. Just hook the business end of the timing light to the spark plug wire, then point the timing light at your palm and watch to see if it’s a continuous flash or a flash that jumps in a irregular pattern. This test will show if u have a bad coil, wire or plug.

 

[bobmbx]

Take a timing light and you can check the plugs and wires to see if either is bad. Just hook the business end of the timing light to the spark plug wire, then point the timing light at your palm and watch to see if it’s a continuous flash or a flash that jumps in a irregular pattern. This test will show if u have a bad coil, wire or plug.

Dat old school. I'll bet that 50% of "mechanics" today have no idea what a timing light is.

 

[1955moose]

Here's a dumb idea, rent an SUV for your vacation. Better to spend $1,000.00 on the rental, probably less, but you won't have to worry about a breakdown. If it flies, floats, or f###s, rent it the old saying goes. If you break down with their SUV, they bring you a new one, and if not right away, your motel/hotel room too. I'd fix your 08, if your hell bent on taking it on vacation.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[TJ Toronto]

Sgt Darkness, I have looked into your suggestion, and actually found an old school mechanic who will be able to check using this or a very similar method. Thanks!
1955moose, it’s not necessarily a dumb idea. Either way, this one will need to be fixed before or after I go.
Thanks again for everyone’s input.

 

[1955moose]

I would. A vacation can turn into a nightmare if your vehicle breaks down far away from home. Especially if you have little ones. It's tough enough everyone crammed together for 500 or more miles. I've never liked taking my personal vehicle more than 100 miles from home. After you get your SUV fixed by a shop, or yourself, take it on a shakedown cruise. At least 25 miles, just smart money. I've done repairs on my own past vehicles that I did 100 percent right, that had something stupid rear it's ugly head on the test ride. Just my 2 cents from an old Moose!

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[Sgt Darkness]

Dat old school. I'll bet that 50% of "mechanics" today have no idea what a timing light is.

You make a good point.....I’m keeping all my old stuff in case we get hit with an Electromagnetic Pulse bomb and the only cars on the road will be old school cars.....

 

[T100T]

So this is a long shot but quick to check. I've had the coolant pipes that run to the heat exchanger in the dash start to leak and they spray water on the coil packs causing a misfire. Easy to check.

Peter

 

[Sgt Darkness]

Dat old school. I'll bet that 50% of "mechanics" today have no idea what a timing light is.

You make a good point.....I’m keeping all my old stuff in case we get hit with a Electromagnetic Pulse bomb and the only cars on the

So this is a long shot but quick to check. I've had the coolant pipes that run to the heat exchanger in the dash start to leak and they spray water on the coil packs causing a misfire. Easy to check.

Peter

I think you are talking about the heater core. I don’t see a connection between the heater core and the coils?? Of course my wife tells me “you don’t understand”.....so I probably don’t understand......

 

[Trainmaster]

Yea, what Peter is referring to is that "tee" on the heater hose that goes to the heater core. Common leak on the 3rd Generation trucks and the water runs right into one of the coils and spark plug wells.

 

[TobyU]

I would. A vacation can turn into a nightmare if your vehicle breaks down far away from home. Especially if you have little ones. It's tough enough everyone crammed together for 500 or more miles. I've never liked taking my personal vehicle more than 100 miles from home. After you get your SUV fixed by a shop, or yourself, take it on a shakedown cruise. At least 25 miles, just smart money. I've done repairs on my own past vehicles that I did 100 percent right, that had something stupid rear it's ugly head on the test ride. Just my 2 cents from an old Moose!

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

Been there; done that.
On our HONEYMOON!!
We had no real plans and couln't afford the Sandals all inclusive resort we wanted and our friends were going on vacation to Minneapolis/ St Paul so we decided to tag along.
2 of us, 2 of them and their 9 month old daughter.
None of us had a car big enough to all of us so we borrowed a friends 86 Pontiac station wagon with 307 olds in it and 140K or so.
This was in 1995.
He had driven it all over the country and it had a great track record and good working AC.
We had a 13 hr drive.
We got 2 hours into it and it over heated.
Hot and then cooled off, then hot, then cooler, then hot and stayed mostly.
Plenty of coolant. Got to exit. Let it cool, had no tools with me.
Got a screw driver and popped of top hose and gutted thermostat just in case.
Got some gallons or spring water and headed back out.
Good for 20 mins then same thing.
After a couple of stops got to Danville, IL (we were going from Dayton, OH to MN) and got to an autozone store.
It wasn't my car and I didn't want to waste money on it but I if I had known or wanted to fix it I could have popped a radiator in it right there. I wasn't sure that was it but he had just had the water pump done not too long before so that really was all that was left.

As luck (more like fate) would have it, there was a car rental place literally connected to the Autozone parking lot.
We went over to see what we could do.
They required a credit card and being young we had like 1 between the 4 of us.
Had to be a real credit card, no debits. I had very little available on the card but had a pocket full of cash and wising well and dollar dance money.
Put 5.00 ob the card adn paid the 360.00 for the week for a 95 Aerostar minivan.
Had like 6K miles on it.
Transferred everything over and left the wagon in their lot.
Got about 1 hr down the road and the damn check engine light on the van came on!!!
Pulled into gas station...turned it off....Checked fluids and all looked fine and sounded fine.
It went back out later and was fine all week and 10 hrs there and back.

Got back to Danville Sunday around 2 and got the wagon.
Filled up on water jugs and ran it up to 80 and coasted in N then even turned it off some. Left cap loose most of way.
Made it the last 3 hours in about 5 with 5-6 pull overs to cool and add water.

Rolled in at 7:15 for a 7 PM karaoke show I was paid to host.

Friend put a radiator in in and never any more problems. He still has it.
Painted it jet black and pin striped it. Put wheels on it worth more than the car.
I've been trying to get him to let me build a real Pontiac engine for it for over 10 years.
Still has 307 with 240K and still has great AC with original R-12 in it. He has added half a can in all the time he's owned it.

Moral of story....rent a damn car and don't go with friends esp with baby on honeymoon.
Free stay except for one night in hotel, but that was the only sex filled night....if you count a ****** in the bathroom while the others were in room/coming back from pool.

And MN sucks as bad as Ohio if not worse. Land or 10,000 lakes....More like land or 100 million mosquitoes.
I saw one I swear could palm a basketball.

 

[Tocapet]

Please let us know what was the verdict and what you had to fix.

 

[rjdelp7]

Go to local Autozone and have them scan for a code. You can buy your own scantool for $25(ebay). Why would someone, think other peoples 'guess' is the way to go?