"Limited slip differential reduced torque"

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KDM39

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No shudder, vibration, and thankfully no limp mode as of yet. Issue has now persisted for 10k miles. No leaking fluids or any noticeable impacts while driving, but i'm afraid there could be internal issues.

The dealers claimed they checked for electrical issues and then blamed uneven wear of the tires. I am now over 36k miles and fearing we will get stuck with very expensive repairs. Appreciate everyone's input.
 

JasonH

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Sometimes you can pull additional codes that don't throw a check engine using Forscan. I suggest accessing the ECU with Forscan to see whether you can identify any error messages there. Also, extended warranties are available from other dealers, such as Flood Ford. It might be worth the peace of mind to go that route.
 

Soliyou

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No shudder, vibration, and thankfully no limp mode as of yet. Issue has now persisted for 10k miles. No leaking fluids or any noticeable impacts while driving, but i'm afraid there could be internal issues.

The dealers claimed they checked for electrical issues and then blamed uneven wear of the tires. I am now over 36k miles and fearing we will get stuck with very expensive repairs. Appreciate everyone's input.

These rear diffs are complicated and I doubt any typical tech can figure out the issue without something physically failing and making noise. For instance, this could be just the rear diff low on fluid or may be full but with less portion of the required friction modifier, or the actuator not fully retracting causing some residual drag on the clutch pack. These require a really good technician to properly diagnose.

If I were you and planning to keep the vehicle, I would do one of the following:
1- Take it to the dealer and request a rear diff fluid change and inspection. You will pay for it, this will be around $200 - $300 service. It is very easy process but the fluid is pretty expensive. They will add the differential fluid and one bottle of friction modifier. Then see what happens afterwards. At 36k miles, you are due for a rear diff fluid change anyways (if you plan to keep the vehicle).

2- Just buy the fluid and friction modifier and replace it yourself (very easy).
 

ROBERT BONNER

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Good suggestion above about using Forscan to look for more information.

Mine did throw this message once. (I have a '20 XLT FX4 MAX) I had just made a run from Charleston, SC, to Charlotte, NC. I ran the whole trip up in a constant wipers-on-high-speed rain storm. Don't judge - it was a light traffic timeframe, I did the whole trip Michigan style at 80+mph in A4WD, plowing water. The truck handled really well. As I parked it in the garage at the end of the trip, the "elsd limited torque available" message popped. It was late, I was tired and I planned to deal with it the next day. It's been a year and the message has never returned. But, I haven't driven it for that distance in A4WD since. I chalked it up to that drive mode activating the elsd and overworking it from a heat standpoint.
 

duneslider

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Good suggestion above about using Forscan to look for more information.

Mine did throw this message once. (I have a '20 XLT FX4 MAX) I had just made a run from Charleston, SC, to Charlotte, NC. I ran the whole trip up in a constant wipers-on-high-speed rain storm. Don't judge - it was a light traffic timeframe, I did the whole trip Michigan style at 80+mph in A4WD, plowing water. The truck handled really well. As I parked it in the garage at the end of the trip, the "elsd limited torque available" message popped. It was late, I was tired and I planned to deal with it the next day. It's been a year and the message has never returned. But, I haven't driven it for that distance in A4WD since. I chalked it up to that drive mode activating the elsd and overworking it from a heat standpoint.
IF you think that was the cause then I would for sure replace that fluid. Heat is what kills that fluid. I haven't looked close at these diffs but if they have a drain plug it won't take long to drain and refill. If it doesn't have a drain I would consider getting a pump and sucking out as much as possible.

Mine is probably about due, I should look and get it taken care of this summer.
 

Soliyou

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IF you think that was the cause then I would for sure replace that fluid. Heat is what kills that fluid. I haven't looked close at these diffs but if they have a drain plug it won't take long to drain and refill. If it doesn't have a drain I would consider getting a pump and sucking out as much as possible.

Mine is probably about due, I should look and get it taken care of this summer.

They do have a drain plug and are pretty easy to access. You still need to some kind of fluid transfer pump to refill since the rear cross frame member restricts the access slightly.
 

ROBERT BONNER

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IF you think that was the cause then I would for sure replace that fluid. Heat is what kills that fluid. I haven't looked close at these diffs but if they have a drain plug it won't take long to drain and refill. If it doesn't have a drain I would consider getting a pump and sucking out as much as possible.

Mine is probably about due, I should look and get it taken care of this summer.
Speculation alert!

Reading from my owner's manual page 127. There appears to be two different temperature related warnings. The one that I've seen once on my vehicle reads, "eLSD Reduced Torque". Without retyping the "Action" in its entirety, the gist is that if you have unequal diameter rear tires or have done something else to heat up the rear end, this message appears, and you should fix the unequal diameter situation, or cease the bad stuff you're doing that is heating the rear end because, the computer is dialing down the clutch pressure and maybe reducing power train total available torque by dialing down the boost. The next message (I haven't seen this one) "eLSD Temporarily Disabled", this one probably comes on if you didn't pay attention to the first message and the diff got hotter. The action on this one tells you to pull over and take a powder, to let the diff cool down. AND from a safety standpoint, they are warning you that you now have an open rear end that will not help you in a bad yaw event or poor traction event.

There are more messages, one that tells you when the eLSD is restored to working condition (presumably once temperature returns to normal). There is also a "you broke it" message and a "get it checked" message.

I would expect that the escalating "temporary" deactivation messages are intended to preserve the differential fluid, and if you pay attention to them, your fluid will be OK. Obviously, if it tells you it's broke and/or to get it checked; you've gone too far.

Note this would be a really good opportunity for someone in Ford Vehicle Engineering on the Expedition/Navigator (who should be monitoring these posts) to step in and enlighten us all. Just saying.
 
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duneslider

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My experience with temp warnings on vehicles has been that they are more dummy lights than actual warnings. As in you dummy you just cooked your transmission, or you dummy you overheated the engine, or you dummy you just cooked the diff fluid. Therefore, I just assumed any warning in the diff would be the same and be saying you cooked it. It sounds like there are a lot of messages just for the diff and it would be cool if someone from ford could clarify what each actually meant.
 

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