2012 Expedition EL noise passenger side

Turn off HVAC completely next time you hear this - I noticed it was on during the videos. I'm also thinking its fan/squirrel cage related.

The only other thing that makes a similar noise that I've experienced is the rear air suspension compressor. Its on the passenger side of the firewall, but mine has never been audible from inside the truck. Does have the air compressor sound though. If you do have rear air suspension, turn it off. Process of elimination, you'll find it.

Good luck no less.

Do you have rear air suspension, sounds like the air pump rattle to me. The system checks ride height then adds or removes air to level out the rear. One to four people plus stuff weighs all different, it’s automatically corrected. It’s on the passenger front frame behind the bumper. It’s what my truck has and it seldom pumps. Check for a leak, that would make is run more often, or if your truck looks lower in the rear. But it WOULD do it while idle too...
Turn it off with the dash control, drive it....see if it stops. Turn it back on, drive again, if it makes the noise, that’s it.... check the mounting bushings on that pump, it shouldn’t be that harsh.
Hope you find it.

The only other thing I can think of is a AC line with a contaminant in it slightly blocking the pressure, it would make a vibration at the spot of the blockage. I had a VW that we found making that noise and you can hold the line and feel the noise, we drained and cleaned a chunk of a o-ring out of the filter, it must have been bouncing all around in front of the filter screen....

Flexpedition said:

Turn off HVAC completely next time you hear this - I noticed it was on during the videos. I'm also thinking its fan/squirrel cage related.

The only other thing that makes a similar noise that I've experienced is the rear air suspension compressor. Its on the passenger side of the firewall, but mine has never been audible from inside the truck. Does have the air compressor sound though. If you do have rear air suspension, turn it off. Process of elimination, you'll find it.

Good luck no less.

Click to expand...

It was the rear suspension compressor,located behind the passenger headlight.

About a year ago, had the air suspension fail and had it converted to shock and springs. Upon your suggestion, looked up the location of the compressor and it was still plugged in.
Unplugged it this morning and the problem is solved and the wife is happy! lol

Thanks to everyone who replied with your suggestions. Been chasing this problem for awhile and it feels good to get it resolved!

Bob Sheets said:

It was the rear suspension compressor,located behind the passenger headlight.

About a year ago, had the air suspension fail and had it converted to shock and springs. Upon your suggestion, looked up the location of the compressor and it was still plugged in.
Unplugged it this morning and the problem is solved and the wife is happy! lol

Thanks to everyone who replied with your suggestions. Been chasing this problem for awhile and it feels good to get it resolved!

Click to expand...

Doesn't Make sense that it didn't happen at idle or park. Glad to see you found it though

gixer2000 said:

Doesn't Make sense that it didn't happen at idle or park. Glad to see you found it though

Click to expand...

When the car isn't moving the sensors don't detect any motion, so no adjustment is necessary...the pump doesn't start up.

bobmbx said:

When the car isn't moving the sensors don't detect any motion, so no adjustment is necessary...the pump doesn't start up.

Click to expand...

Wrong!

I have rear air in mine, and if all the doors are closed the pump will run if needed. I have a sequence of operation I can upload later.

gixer2000 said:

Wrong!

" the pump will run if needed"

Click to expand...

What does that mean? Does it mean "no adjustment is necessary...the pump doesn't start up"?

My ignored list grows again.

bobmbx said:

What does that mean? Does it mean "no adjustment is necessary...the pump doesn't start up"?

My ignored list grows again.

Click to expand...

I wasn't trying to be rude..

it's in writing from Ford that it is normal for the ride height to move a little while parked and more over extended periods of sitting. If the ride height has dropped at all, once all the doors are closed and vehicle is running the pump will start inflating the bags whether the vehicle is moving or not.