Feels/sounds like rumble strips when at 35/45 mph...help!

[rackops]

Sorry for not getting back around to following up! I rarely drive my Expedition as my wife has her car and I have my company vehicle, so the Expedition kind of ends up the "third wheel" (so to speak!)

Anyway, here's how things worked out...

I tried the test as suggested - getting the car to the point where it was rumbling, and then braking to see if it went away. It didn't. I then re-read the instructions and found that I was supposed to take off O/D! So I did that.

Strangely, with O/D off, the car didn't rumble! I thought I found the cure for the rumble until we were stuck in traffic this weekend and it was moving right at 38-42 mph. I normally keep the car with O/D on (as it doesn't seem very smooth with O/D off) so when the rumbles started, I turned off O/D, expecting the rumbles (and shakes) to go away. They didn't.

It was kind of a blessing in disguise though as I was able to get the car to rumble with O/D OFF and then tapped the brakes. That seemed to make the rumbling go away. I say "seemed" as I couldn't get it to dependably reproduce itself as I tried it.

My wife finally got exasperated of the car shuddering with the O/D off and demanded I turn it back on: "I'd rather have it have the shakes than this!" So that was the end of my testing.

Pretty wild! I am pretty much thinking it's the torque converter. Does that sound about right?

Thanks for all the help!!

Dave

 

[1955moose]

Sure sounds like it, dumb question though, you have checked trans fluid level first? Right! Eliminate all simple items first.


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[rackops]

Sure sounds like it, dumb question though, you have checked trans fluid level first? Right! Eliminate all simple items first.


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Simple question...and not a dumb one! No, I haven't checked it. I'll do it tomorrow (hopefully) when we have daylight (and it's not snowing!)

 

[1955moose]

Cheers to you, thank goodness we don't have snow here in San Francisco. Can you imagine with our hills. I'd be one the few to get around with my 4x4.


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[steelnewfie]

Fuel Injector / System Treatment FIXED MY PROBLEM

IMHO the rumble strip sound is caused by the engine slightly missing under a very lean state. Thus when you take it out of OD, the rpm's jump back up and you are no longer running lean and there is less chance of spark arking.

After my plug change I had heavy missing and misfiring. Ended up changing all the coils as well to ensure it was not my problem. Still had a bad idle, decreased power and fuel economy.

Subsequent 'cleaning' of the plugs and sleeve of the cylinder head improved things significantly. However still had rough idle and didn't feel like it was running properly.

Last weekend I added a bottle of Gumout High Mileage Fuel System (with Regaine) Treatment. It was 14.99 at Canadian Tire. It stated on the front it had the cleaning esters people are talking about.

Not a quarter into the tank I noticed significant improvement. Seems to be running PERFECT currently, and I'm still not to the halfway mark.

Wish I did this treatment before the plug change like some do with Seafoam in the tank.

Anyway... NO MORE ROUGH IDLE : ) : ) NO MORE MISFIRES : ) : )

 

[thedirtysteve]

Any new updates on this issue? Mine has started doing the same thing. I have new plugs and COPs as of this week. I am also now getting P0420 as well.

 

[stamp11127]

Rackops the dealer should be able to hook up a laptop with shop software to monitor transmission functions including the torque converter clutch, line pressure etc. If they give you some bs about not being able to do that move on to another dealer/trans shop that knows what they are doing.

 

[JHA1235]

I just picked up a 2007 expedition limited, 100k miles. Same sound from 40 to 50mph, 39 or 51mph no sound, on the gas, off the gas, on the gas and braking, O/D on or off. No rough idle or misfires that I've noticed.

 

[thedirtysteve]

I should have updated this thread once I solved the issue. This is torque converter shudder. Who knows the real reason why but there are a couple of fixes. First, buy some Dr. Tranny Instant Shudder Fix. If this is the issue, the shudder will go away with in just a couple of miles driving once this added to the transmission. Remember, this is a sealed tranny....there is no dipstick in the engine compartment. There is a service port on the passenger side at the front of the tranny. The bolt is 19mm. I used one tube, wished I had used two!

Next thing is servicing the transmission. Probably a flush and fill with the proper fluid, which I think is Mercon V. I haven't gotten to this part yet...still wanting to see how long the Dr Tranny holds.

 

[Galaxidan]

Had the same problem. Solved with a trans fluid change.

 

[j2gifted]

Delete

 

[j2gifted]

I should have updated this thread once I solved the issue. This is torque converter shudder. Who knows the real reason why but there are a couple of fixes. First, buy some Dr. Tranny Instant Shudder Fix. If this is the issue, the shudder will go away with in just a couple of miles driving once this added to the transmission. Remember, this is a sealed tranny....there is no dipstick in the engine compartment. There is a service port on the passenger side at the front of the tranny. The bolt is 19mm. I used one tube, wished I had used two!

Next thing is servicing the transmission. Probably a flush and fill with the proper fluid, which I think is Mercon V. I haven't gotten to this part yet...still wanting to see how long the Dr Tranny holds.

I'm having the same issue on my 07 Limited.

I bought the Dr. Tranny stuff [4 tubes lol], but there's not one trans shop in my area that's willing to open up the service port and put it in. Ive been to several and been told:

- It's a very expensive transmission and this won't work.

- These additives only make the fluid thicker and can cause problems.

- I will have to drain some of the transmission fluid out to get the stuff to fit in.

- We can only open in up if you let us fill it with out fluid [Jiffy Lube].

I'm not comfortable putting it in myself since it's under the vae next to the catalytic converter, and since the service port would require the fluid to be put in at an angle [don't have the tools for that].

Any suggestions?

Also, can the stuff be put in cold, or does the car have to be warm/running?



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[JollyRoger]

I gotta say that I tend to agree with some of what they have told you. It's a very sophisticated electronically controlled transmission. If I had those symptoms, I would first do a complete flush and filter replacement, and see if that fixes the issue. I would only consider adding an additive as a last resort prior to tranny rebuild. This is only my opinion, and others may think differently. As to the other points you noted, you can certainly crawl under there and add this stuff while it's cold. I suspect the main reason a shop won't add this for you is liability.

Good luck!

 

[j2gifted]

I gotta say that I tend to agree with some of what they have told you. It's a very sophisticated electronically controlled transmission. If I had those symptoms, I would first do a complete flush and filter replacement, and see if that fixes the issue. I would only consider adding an additive as a last resort prior to tranny rebuild. This is only my opinion, and others may think differently. As to the other points you noted, you can certainly crawl under there and add this stuff while it's cold. I suspect the main reason a shop won't add this for you is liability.

Good luck!

I appreciate your feedback!

Do I need a special tool to add it?

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[JollyRoger]

No, just remove the cap and dipstick on the passenger side of the transmission. It's a pain, for sure.

I just changed the transmission fluid and filter on my 2010 this weekend. It went very smooth and wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, FYI. Having 4 steel ramps helped a bunch!

 

[rackops]

Just an update to mine...we took it to the local transmission shop and they recommended a torque converter flush. Sure enough, $175 later, it works perfectly! So indeed, it was the torque converter...

Hope this helps others!

 

[j2gifted]

I took mine to the dealership, I showed them the TSB and let them know about the torque converter... but they said that wasn't it.

They said the valve body needed to be replaced... since my warranty covered it, I let them do it and it resolved the issue.

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[MB_07Expy]

Had a similar issue with mine also turned out to be the torque converter. Took it to the dealer flushed and filled been doing fine ever since. Just make sure the correct fluid was used which is Mercon SP I believe. Due to the parts guy screwing up they did mine with Mercon V the first time and luckily I caught it and had them redo it.

 

[ONEBADMK8]

I just test drove an 07 EB EL and was going to buy it until I head the rumble strips, it is NOT bearings at all lol if it were it would happen all the time, it for sure is in the trans I passed on it and it was gorgeous and cheap too. Oh well.

 

[ONEBADMK8]

100% torque converter.