Hunting for bugs in our new-to-us 2014 EL Ltd

[MrTommy]

We picket up our 2014 EL from Carmax. We're in Nevada and found the one we wanted in Maryland. We paid to have it shipped to Carmax in Reno. It looks almost new, with just a hair under 30,000 miles. We had five days to drive it and give it back, no questions asked, if we wanted. However, we love the car.

We upgraded from a 2004 Expedition that was virtually trouble free. We bought that one four years old as well and put almost 100,000 miles on it. We liked it so much we wanted another.

Now that our five days are up, we're into the 30 day "bumper to bumper" warranty. They fix anything and everything we find. So far, new battery (after having the Expy dead in the water when we went shopping), new windshield wipers, new brakes, a new sun visor (because one of them would not turn off the vanity light and burned the cover), and a new ignition key (because mine would not unlock the doors, or start the car).

While on the freeway the other day, we were doing about 65, radio on, wifey driving, and suddenly we hear a low pitch rumble (for lack of a better word) and could feel a slight vibration. Wifey said she could slightly feel it in the steering wheel. This was discernible above the radio, but not real loud. We slowed down considerably and it went away. I thought 'wheel bearing'? We pulled over and I attempted to push against each wheel (which is actually useless because I'd have to have the wheel raised to feel for bad bearings - but it made me feel like I was doing something about it - ha). We took off with no further issue. This happened once more on a different day, but it was short lived.

We have an appointment this Friday at Carmax and I told them about the noise. The service person also (without my suggesting it) said it sounded like a wheel bearing - which they will take care of.

The car has new tires (which I thought is unusual for only 30,000 miles) so I'm wondering if there was uneven tire wear (possibly from bad bearings) and new tires were added. And I would think 30k miles is too young for bearings to go. Or is this common on the newer Expeditions?

Anything else we should look for before we run out of the "bumper to bumper" warranty?

 

[Flexpedition]

What brand of tires did Carmax put on it? They frequently (ie: not always) use what I consider 2nd and 3rd rate tires. Brands like General, Fuzion, Cooper, GT Radial and others.

If you can recall the exact stretch of highway, lane number and speed, maybe try revisiting it. There is a section of highway I use every couple of weeks and it gets me everytime.

 

[MrTommy]

What brand of tires did Carmax put on it? They frequently (ie: not always) use what I consider 2nd and 3rd rate tires. Brands like General, Fuzion, Cooper, GT Radial and others.

If you can recall the exact stretch of highway, lane number and speed, maybe try revisiting it. There is a section of highway I use every couple of weeks and it gets me everytime.

I had to run out in the 14° cold to check the tires out. They're Sumitomo Encounter HT's. I've never heard of them so I did a quick web search and they seem to be viewed as pretty good tires. Who knew?

We'll be on that same stretch of road Friday when we take the car in for Carmax to check the bearings (and a couple more less important issues). Good suggestion.

Btw, I put Cooper tires on my one ton pickup and absolutely love them. I consider them better than the Michelins I had on previously. Pickup weighs about 8,600 pounds and we tow a 7,000 pound trailer.

 

[deweysmith]

Does it have air suspension? That sounds exactly like the compressor kicking on to lift up the rear end. I can always feel it in the brake pedal and the steering wheel, and it happens EVERY TIME I start my truck right now because it's so blasted cold up here in the Great White North. It's kind of an unnerving sound when it comes on. I've never heard it at high speed but it would definitely be weird.

 

[MrTommy]

Does it have air suspension?

Because it's so blasted cold up here in the Great White North.

No, we don't have air suspension (though I wish we did . . .)

10-4 on the "blasted cold". Ha. We can get cold 'down here' but not as cold as YOU. Good for me. Not so good for you.

 

[Adieu]

30k out of low profile Prated tires?

I would be kinda surprised if they last that long

PS or maybe not such a low profile after all... what tire size are you running?

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

30k out of low profile Prated tires?

I would be kinda surprised if they last that long

PS or maybe not such a low profile after all... what tire size are you running?

They look like 275 R55 20 stock size based on the sidewall in the picture.

 

[J Ski]

We picket up our 2014 EL from Carmax. We're in Nevada and found the one we wanted in Maryland. We paid to have it shipped to Carmax in Reno. It looks almost new, with just a hair under 30,000 miles. We had five days to drive it and give it back, no questions asked, if we wanted. However, we love the car.

We upgraded from a 2004 Expedition that was virtually trouble free. We bought that one four years old as well and put almost 100,000 miles on it. We liked it so much we wanted another.

Now that our five days are up, we're into the 30 day "bumper to bumper" warranty. They fix anything and everything we find. So far, new battery (after having the Expy dead in the water when we went shopping), new windshield wipers, new brakes, a new sun visor (because one of them would not turn off the vanity light and burned the cover), and a new ignition key (because mine would not unlock the doors, or start the car).

While on the freeway the other day, we were doing about 65, radio on, wifey driving, and suddenly we hear a low pitch rumble (for lack of a better word) and could feel a slight vibration. Wifey said she could slightly feel it in the steering wheel. This was discernible above the radio, but not real loud. We slowed down considerably and it went away. I thought 'wheel bearing'? We pulled over and I attempted to push against each wheel (which is actually useless because I'd have to have the wheel raised to feel for bad bearings - but it made me feel like I was doing something about it - ha). We took off with no further issue. This happened once more on a different day, but it was short lived.

We have an appointment this Friday at Carmax and I told them about the noise. The service person also (without my suggesting it) said it sounded like a wheel bearing - which they will take care of.

The car has new tires (which I thought is unusual for only 30,000 miles) so I'm wondering if there was uneven tire wear (possibly from bad bearings) and new tires were added. And I would think 30k miles is too young for bearings to go. Or is this common on the newer Expeditions?

Anything else we should look for before we run out of the "bumper to bumper" warranty? View attachment 22594

Check the roof seams for cracks in the sealant they use running down the channels on the outsides of the roof, check for paint bubbling on creases of the hood and trunk.

 

[1997SCEBFEX]

looks like a nice rig.
hope you get the bugs worked out and have years of happiness with her.
thanks for sharing.

 

[jkayca]

How about an alignment? Will that be covered under warranty?

 

[MrTommy]

How about an alignment? Will that be covered under warranty?

I'll ask when we go to Carmax tomorrow. I'll suggest that maybe the bearing and alignment thing might go hand in hand. We're going to try to get everything done we can under the "bumper to bumper" 30 day warranty. I don't think we've put enough miles on it to have uneven wear show up on the tires though.

 

[MrTommy]

looks like a nice rig.
hope you get the bugs worked out and have years of happiness with her.

Thanks. We loved our 2004 Expy! That's why we opted to get another one for our next car, er, truck. And, compared to our old one, this one seems like pure luxury -

 

[jeff kushner]

Heck, if you'd have posted, I could have sent you a report after driving "your" truck! I searched carmax too but in the end, decided to buy new but they do have a very good sales system.

The "best deal" I found last Nov was a 2015 Tahoe with 5,000 miles....42 grand out the door at Carmax-Laurel & a '16 Tahoe with 7500 miles at Carmax-Security blvd for 48K out the door.

I'm just posting these to give you a reference.

I have also felt what you describe and have attributed it to the design of the body....if you accelerate very slowly, you can feel it get into it's "resonance zone" where you feel it. Downshift or change physical speed and it goes away....no bad bearings.

In fact, if you crack a rear window, it disappears.....this is a pretty good indicator!

You will love that truck though!! Congrats!

jeff

 

[MrTommy]

When we went on the hunt for a new vehicle, there was NO looking at anything BUT an Expedition. Period. We loved our 2004 and wanted another. Now, had I known the eco-boost came online in 2015 I may have looked for one of them, but, I didn't. Would like to have a tad more power. Oh well, we'll most likely keep this one for another ten years. We never get rid of anything - ha. Our pickup is 20 years old.

 

[Adieu]

When we went on the hunt for a new vehicle, there was NO looking at anything BUT an Expedition. Period. We loved our 2004 and wanted another. Now, had I known the eco-boost came online in 2015 I may have looked for one of them, but, I didn't. Would like to have a tad more power. Oh well, we'll most likely keep this one for another ten years. We never get rid of anything - ha. Our pickup is 20 years old.

Probably the reason why you found the price agreeable (if you did) is precisely BECAUSE it is a 2014 EL....

If it looks and performs pretty much the same as a 2007 in excellent condition, unloading them has got to be pretty hard.... default shopper reactions gotta be "hmm, I'd rather save a dozen grand or two" and "honey why not add a few bucks and go with the new & improved model instead?"

 

[JExpedition07]

Probably the reason why you found the price agreeable (if you did) is precisely BECAUSE it is a 2014 EL....

If it looks and performs pretty much the same as a 2007 in excellent condition, unloading them has got to be pretty hard.... default shopper reactions gotta be "hmm, I'd rather save a dozen grand or two" and "honey why not add a few bucks and go with the new & improved model instead?"

They aren’t hard to unload you just have to find someone who needs a truck based SUV. From 03-17 they’ve been the same and the same people want them.

 

[MrTommy]

They aren’t hard to unload you just have to find someone who needs a truck based SUV. From 03-17 they’ve been the same and the same people want them.

And you described us to a "T". Except that I would have preferred a bit more power (as I mentioned earlier in the thread).

 

[JExpedition07]

And you described us to a "T". Except that I would have preferred a bit more power (as I mentioned earlier in the thread).

Lots of the lag in the 5.4 is caused by the drive by wire system, you can get rid of that and get sharper throttle response by a few avenues and add some juice with a good tune.

 

[MrTommy]

Lots of the lag in the 5.4 is caused by the drive by wire system, you can get rid of that and get sharper throttle response by a few avenues and add some juice with a good tune.

What would these "few avenues" be? I have an Edge Programmer on my 7.3 Powerstroke and THAT has really livened it up. Of course, I've done a lot more to it, but I didn't think a programmer would do all that much for a catalytic converter gas engine. What do you suggest? We're only towing an enclosed two axle trailer with a 2011 Polaris RZR with the Expy. Probably not much more than 1500 pounds max.

 

[MrTommy]

How about an alignment? Will that be covered under warranty?

No, I think that's what is considered normal wear and tear, like tires, batteries, oil changes, etc.