Hello!

[Ulver]

Just wanted to introduce myself. I bought a 2001 Ford Expedition 4.6l about a month ago, and it's quite a lovely piece of work. Handful of issues, but I think I'm enjoying the DIY aspect of it all. Very grateful to find this forum as I know there are more repairs needed besides the repairs I've done, which hopefully I can help others as well from what I've experience so far. I may even post a video of it here this weekend.

Best Regards--

 

[TobyU]

Welcome. I love the 1st gens. When they first came out I said that will be the vehicle to have when they get old and down to what I am willing to pay.
Wife picked a 2000 over an 03 Grand Cherokee in 2011. We got her an 04 Trailblazer in Aug of 18. Still have the Expedition gonna sell it as soon as I clean it up a little.
I will pass on 3 valve or any with VVT for now and probably a long while.
Don't like the independent rear susp either. Solid axle is almost bulletproof with no half shafts or boots to ever need replaced.

 

[lonestarjeff]

Welcome from TX.... I just joined myself, but I've had my 2000 since '05. I hope you enjoy yours like I have mine over the years. Great people & cargo hauler.

 

[Ulver]

Thanks all. The previous owner obviously had no love for it. Leaks everywhere, bad battery, hydraulic lifters weak, leaking differential, leaking oil, vacuum leaks, leaking lemonade, water reservoir unplugged behind kick panel, interior paint chipped, dented up, splashes of paint, looks like someone blew a bit fart in the driver seat, and the list goes on. Me and my brother are both mechanically inclined so I've been moving through the list one by one. Next big project is the intake.

 

[TobyU]

Never seen lifters being an issue.
Add a qt of Marvels Mystery Oil to it. Run for a few days then fresh oil change with 5w-30 or 10w30 high mileage.

 

[1955moose]

The lifters, if you want to call them that, their actually a valve assistant of sorts. In some situations they get hot, and seize in their bores. Usually it's one or two, towards the back that have the most problems. What symptoms are you getting that make you think their sticking?

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[Ulver]

OoH, I see why there's talk about lifters. I was wondering why it was brought up.. What I meant was the hood and trunk lifters were weak and didn't work properly.

 

[1955moose]

Oh those lifters. Stay away from the cheapies. I had good luck in the past with the ones Oreillys sells. Anything's better than getting a 60 pound door bonking you in the head! Trust me it hurts!

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[Ulver]

Oh those lifters. Stay away from the cheapies. I had good luck in the past with the ones Oreillys sells. Anything's better than getting a 60 pound door bonking you in the head! Trust me it hurts!

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I bought a pair and tried installing them today.. Made mistake of not checking my dimensions on my Expedition and now they're have laying on the counter ready to be return shipped. Went out about a half hour ago and they ended up being too short and had to put in a return order. I bought a pair from "Vegapoo" today though that has good reviews, and the dims match up this time.

 

[TobyU]

OoH, I see why there's talk about lifters. I was wondering why it was brought up.. What I meant was the hood and trunk lifters were weak and didn't work properly.

AHHH funny!! Hood struts, lifts, supports...they call them lots of things.

We at least a lot of us....wrongly (oh well) call the valvetrain part a lifter but as Moose said it's not really. Just like the rocker arms are really called rocker arms on these if I remember my ford terminology...lol

Moose- On the 4.6 and at least 2v 5.4 and 6.8 they don't move at all so they cant stick I don't think.
At least not stick to make a problem or noise like traditional lifter. They can only get dirt in or collapse and not pump up with oil solid then you get a clacking and little valve opening.

They just hold the no valve stem end of "rocker" and as the lode on cam spins it pushes down on roller on rocker and something has to move so the valve end pushes the valve spring down.

 

[1955moose]

The 3 valvers 05 on up had a problem with galling in their bores. Look online, you'll see quite a few expeditions and f150 has this issue. I'm sure the two valve 5.4's did too. But on the 05-08 is the worst due to lack of oil. Might be those damned phasers leaky gaskets, along with a faulty oem pump. Ulver, I know you younger guys like everything via computer, but see what happens when parts don't fit. I order big ticket stuff that way, but cheaper parts, why bother. I've got an oreiilys 1 block from me, and why take the chance of not fitting for saving what $5.00. Not worth the aggravation to me.


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[TobyU]

I have not seen the setup personally on a 3 valve but all of the modular Ford's I have had a part the lifter that were referring to does not move at all. It simply sits in a cylindrical cup hole in the head and gets oil pumped to it to keep it pumped up and oil out the tip. It doesn't get pushed up and down by anything like a normal lifter with a lifter bore. On these you could glue them into there because they're bottomed out all the time anyways as long as the oil passage is not restricted.

 

[1955moose]

I just posted a video Toby that shows the problem. Sorry I couldn't link it in to this thread. My phone and I are computer challenged. Hell it's amazing you guys even read my posts. I can rebuild an engine or transmission from scratch, but don't ask me how to do fancy things on a computer. At my age, I don't want to learn.

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[TobyU]

I don't see where he posts anything about what causes the problem. But I can't stand to watch the video second per second with all the camera changes and all him fumbling around to pull the rocker arm out. YouTube videos drive me absolutely bonkers.
I didn't see any pictures of a properly running modular with the valve train in action. I will post a link to one.

 

[Bruce Mitchell]

I gotta throw my two-cents' worth in on the hood support struts. After discovering that the hood weighs about 900 pounds (when it fell down on my hand) I decided to replace them. Got a pair on eBay for $10 (free shipping); fit perfectly and hold the hood up even in sub-zero temps. Replacement struts for the liftgate glass were $20 - they also went in easily and perform as they should. I didn't see any difference in quality between the old and new, although longevity remains to be seen. Hey, I gotta save a buck where I can.

 

[Ulver]

The 3 valvers 05 on up had a problem with galling in their bores. Look online, you'll see quite a few expeditions and f150 has this issue. I'm sure the two valve 5.4's did too. But on the 05-08 is the worst due to lack of oil. Might be those damned phasers leaky gaskets, along with a faulty oem pump. Ulver, I know you younger guys like everything via computer, but see what happens when parts don't fit. I order big ticket stuff that way, but cheaper parts, why bother. I've got an oreiilys 1 block from me, and why take the chance of not fitting for saving what $5.00. Not worth the aggravation to me.


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Luckily I have a 2001 4.6l for the avoidance for this particular problem. Correct?

I like what bests suits the situation when it comes to buying parts. I go to my local auto parts store all the time for things instead of buying things via internet. It's way faster that way, and I can physically see and have some kind of reference before buying. On a side note, I also understand that these newer vehicles with all of these electronics and tech equipment and cool little features make things way more complicated than a vehicle needs to be. I've never experienced first hand how it feels to have a newer vehicle with all of the latest and greatest accessories, but I've heard that it's not as easy anymore to DIY. You've got to bring it to a dealership more or less. I'd like to hear more about how extensive that truth is.

 

[1955moose]

Well the dealership is a lot of people's choice. But a good mechanic shop that knows these vehicles is fine, and actually preferred. Theirs quite a bit the shade tree mechanic can do on these vehicles. The tougher stuff, you either learn and tackle, or pony up the [emoji383] to a more experienced person. Sadly these SUVs are a bit tougher to diagnose and repair than say a 1975 Bronco.

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[Craig Lasnier]

Welcome!