03 Drivetrain problems

[Guest]

Anyone have the following problem with their 03 4x4 Expedition:

Make: FORD TRUCK
Model: EXPEDITION
Year: 2003
Service Bulletin Number: 16070
Bulletin Sequence Number: 636


Summary Description:
SOME 4X4S MAY EXHIBIT A FRONT AXLE GROAN OR HUM, AND / OR A SLIGHT VIBRATION WHEN OPERATED IN 2 HIGH MODE. *TT

I'm getting the runaround from the dealer and have called Ford, they identified the front tires as "unbalanceable" and are going to replace them. Problem they are replacing the 01 Navigator tires with the Contitrac TR that come with the 03 Expedition thus there is a supply problem.

I would really like to know what this TSB contains, and it is of concern that Ford keeps putting the cheapest mainstream tires available on their SUV's.
:nobs:

 

[Shaggy]

I cant say that I have heard anything from my vehicle as of yet. I have only had it for around a month and it has Continental tires on it. I will pay close attention tomorrow and try to listen harder with the windows opened and no radio. Here in the NW the weather is not that nice and I try to create a cozy environment for the drive home thus I really havnt heard much. Come to think of it, I will get a picture of a fireplace and put it on my dash

Uhmmm......

 

[Guest]

Also do you notice when first starting the engine briefly (1 - 2 seconds) revs high (900-1000 RPM, then settles down to 600). 5.4 engine, seems that eventually this would put unneeded wear on the engine while in a oil starved second or two.

 

[Guest]

Ford has a fix for all of our growling expy's first you need to know that this is not published yet and your dealers will not know about it so after reading this do not go running to you dealer and ask them to fix it becouse they will not know what you are talking about.

First thing I will do is qualify this fix. You need to know whats happening to cause the noise before it will make any sence.
The front drive shafts in these trucks when new is under some friction from the new seals, bearings, and other things in the front drive line. when the truck is new it takes about 50 in. lbs. of tourque to turn this shaft. the transfer case puts out about 30 in. lbs. of tourque when the truck is rolling down the road. (this amout will change depending on how fast you are going, how warm the fluid in the transfercase is ect.) but after time when the front drive line gets broke in that 50 in lbs. goes down and wil get down to as low as 5 in lbs. of totque so as you can see the front drive shaft will start to spin. Now this is not a problem and it was designed to do this. but what is happening is when the front shaft spins it also spins the front axles. and this is not a problem except the front axles are not spinning at the same speed and some one axle will spin foeward and the other backwards. this is where the noise is comming from. the noise is being produced inside the front differantial becouse the axles are not spinning at the same speed. Now I could go into how this can happen and I am sure a lot of you would like to know but I just don't have the time right now I am in school and not at work so please ask you questions and I will respond as soon as I get back to work on Monday.

Now for the fix
in a limmited slip differantial there is a spring that holds pressure on the side gears of the diff. these gears are splined to clutches that hold the gears from turning.
in the front of the expy is NOT a limmited slip diff. but ford is going to take that spring from an 8.8in. diff. and put it in the front diff. of the expy. This will provide enough friction on the gears to keep both axles spinning the same speed.

This fix will fix the growl and the loud pop bang grind you here when shifting from 2WD to 4X4Auto.

this fix should be out in the first quarter of 2003

I would suggest that you eather drive your truck in 2WD or 4X4auto but do not switch back and forth a lot at high speeds it could damage the locking wheel ends. if you have already been doing this ask your dealer to check them when you get you truck fixed.

 

[Guest]

Wow, that was some explanation and it sounds like you really have an inside scoop on this one. Thanks for the info, truck going to Ford tomorrow for the front tires. And now a new report from the wife, when going over bumps the power in the truck appears to go out...this is getting interesting !!!!!

BTW: Hey Expypate where on LI do you hail from ? I am in NC now but moved here from West Babylon six years ago:rockband:

 

[5.0X]

Originally posted by webhype
Also do you notice when first starting the engine briefly (1 - 2 seconds) revs high (900-1000 RPM, then settles down to 600). 5.4 engine, seems that eventually this would put unneeded wear on the engine while in a oil starved second or two.

This is normal - the engine is just warming up and revs higher at cold startup than when warm.

Switch to a synthetic oil to combat cold cranking friction issues.

Ry.

 

[Guest]

I found the info on the 03 problem on another site and saw your post. I am glad that the info helped. I was born and raised in Ronkonkoma, not to far from Babylon.

Pat

 

[Guest]

Here is the TSB number from Ford to fix the 03 Growl problem. TSB # 02-25-07


Hope it help.........

Pat

 

[DAMN_FORD]

My 2003 had this problem. The dealership knew what the problem was right away. I was worried that they would say "cannont duplicate problem" (I hate it when they do that)They added the spring to the front differential and it solved the problem.

I also noticed that the "KLUNK!!" was gone now. I didn't realize that is was because of this fix. Cool.