Headed to the dealer for issues

[Bones]

Life was going fine with my 2018 Expy Plat Max 4x4 (non-tow package) with 41,000 as I was headed from Washington State to Texas a couple days ago. We got about 50 miles away from home and circumstances caused us to make a turn back to home. Among the issues were the following:

#1. I tried to open the sunroof and it makes noises but doesn't open. It won't also move into the pop open position.

#2. The sunroof shade won't close to cover up the entire sunroof. It will close only as far as the back roof. (had sunroof cover repaired on 09/18/2018. It had been binding.)

#3. As I drive (ECO mode) there is a "Clatter" sound that is coming from the left front tire and the chatter last only about 2 to 5 seconds then there is a clunk/thud and the clatter sound goes away. It sounds kind of like gears spinning then re-engaging. It doesn't happen every time it is driven. It happened at 70 mph and we turned around and headed back and it occurred at 15 mph going back onto the freeway. Close to home I was driving up a hill at 13 mph and it was very noisy until I gave more power and it did the clunk/thud and all was fine. Doesn't happen all of the time though. The Expy doesn't pull to the right or left during the episode and really can't feel any feedback through the steering wheel. No error messages. I changed to the sports mode and not sure if that took care of the issue.

The Expy will spend some time in the Ford dealer's service bay. The most important issue I hope they can figure out and fix is #3. I don't want to be in the middle of nowhere and it seizes up.

 

[aggiegrad05]

Life was going fine with my 2018 Expy Plat Max 4x4 (non-tow package) with 41,000 as I was headed from Washington State to Texas a couple days ago. We got about 50 miles away from home and circumstances caused us to make a turn back to home. Among the issues were the following:

#1. I tried to open the sunroof and it makes noises but doesn't open. It won't also move into the pop open position.

#2. The sunroof shade won't close to cover up the entire sunroof. It will close only as far as the back roof. (had sunroof cover repaired on 09/18/2018. It had been binding.)

#3. As I drive (ECO mode) there is a "Clatter" sound that is coming from the left front tire and the chatter last only about 2 to 5 seconds then there is a clunk/thud and the clatter sound goes away. It sounds kind of like gears spinning then re-engaging. It doesn't happen every time it is driven. It happened at 70 mph and we turned around and headed back and it occurred at 15 mph going back onto the freeway. Close to home I was driving up a hill at 13 mph and it was very noisy until I gave more power and it did the clunk/thud and all was fine. Doesn't happen all of the time though. The Expy doesn't pull to the right or left during the episode and really can't feel any feedback through the steering wheel. No error messages. I changed to the sports mode and not sure if that took care of the issue.

The Expy will spend some time in the Ford dealer's service bay. The most important issue I hope they can figure out and fix is #3. I don't want to be in the middle of nowhere and it seizes up.

#3 sounds like the well-known issue with the 4wd hub actuator valve; I would say it sounds more like a grinding than a clatter, but everything else you’re describing seems to fit.

Here’s the current TSB on it:


https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10171859-0001.pdf

I’d ignore that it says it only covers 2013-2018; it seems to affect later MYs of the 4th Gens too.

 

[aggiegrad05]

Check out this thread i started many moons ago when I had the issue...and be amazed at how similar the titles are:


https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/headed-into-the-dealer-for-work.35507/

 

[Deadman]

Wow, you ended you trip over those things?
Sucks to have issues, but I'm not sure any of them would of affected your trip....

 

[wakeboarder]

Is it normal for a Ford dealer to say that it will take 2-3 days to even look at the car with a service advisor appointment. He didn’t offer any other alternative. I asked if he could schedule it a couple days out and I bring it in then. He said “no that is not how it works”. They told me on the phone last week that they would need an hour to check what part is broken so they could order it. I never had this problem with the GMC dealership across the road from them. The last time I brought it in it also took a couple of days for them to even look at it.

I’ll try a couple of other dealerships in the area.

 

[aggiegrad05]

Is it normal for a Ford dealer to say that it will take 2-3 days to even look at the car with a service advisor appointment. He didn’t offer any other alternative. I asked if he could schedule it a couple days out and I bring it in then. He said “no that is not how it works”. They told me on the phone last week that they would need an hour to check what part is broken so they could order it. I never had this problem with the GMC dealership across the road from them. The last time I brought it in it also took a couple of days for them to even look at it.

I’ll try a couple of other dealerships in the area.

In my experience, if you’re a walk-in and are having drivetrain issues....yes, it sometimes can take several days to get someone to look at it. Non-drivetrain is usually quicker. But...with an appointment that is not usually the case. Again, in my experience.

I have resigned myself to the fact that I need an appointment. For that reason and because it makes it easier to get a loaner. With the extended warranty I’m entitled to a loaner, but without an appointment they try to tell me they have none available. With a bit of...convincing, they can usually find a loner somewhere (miraculously), but I don’t like to have to be a jerk. Just seems easier to make an appointment.