Looking at buying a 1999 Expedition with I hope just minor engine issues

[BrandonB]

I'm looking into buying a 1999 expedition with 160k miles and what I hope is minor engine issues. It sounds like either an exhaust leak or a rocker knocking to me. I just wanted to post the video and get some expert opinions.

It's a 4.6L engine.

http://sdrv.ms/1bMnLza

If its something simple i'll buy the thing and just fix it myself - its only $900. I've got plenty of experience tearing apart the top end on my vehicles. I just haven't dug into a V8 nor a modular engine before.

Thanks for any advice!

Brandon

 

[BAD RONALD]

Is there a MIL illuminated? Plug in a code reader and see if codes are showing or pending. They may have been cleared by the seller. If none are showing, I would test drive/run for a while/cycle the ignition, etc.

May not throw a code, but it's as good a place to start as any. Mileage is not very high for this truck.

 

[bedrck46]

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[bedrck46]

if it shows a P1000 code then the battery was disconnected and it needs to complete the drive cycle for any other codes to reappear

 

[BAD RONALD]

Drive cycle information:

http://www.obd2.com/support/reprog/downloads/ford/ford-imset_procedure.pdf

 

[BrandonB]

I didn't have a code scanner and couldn't do a proper test drive. It had snow packed up around it really low tires and hadn't been started or moved for months. Once they heard the sound they parked it and left it. The battery was completely shot we had to put a different battery in to get it started. The existing battery charged for 6 hours and jumped wouldn't crank the engine over to start. When we got it started it was pretty late and I put it in gear and moved it back and forth in the drive way. But with the snow and near flat tires I couldn't get it out to road test it.

I didn't see any service engine lights on. But having a dead battery for that long I suspected the lights cleared.

I work with the guy selling it to me. He said it drives fine and everything is good except that engine sound. So i'm not too worried about the lack of proper test drive. When my taxes come in and if that engine sound isn't identified as something tragic i'll get a good test drive when I drive it 12 miles home.

Have another question though. When I was in it the first time moving it around the console light where the miles were displayed but I wasn't paying close attention. When I got back in to check the miles on it the light wouldn't click on. Trying to guide my coworker towards the correct path to get that back on - any ideas what would cause it?

Thanks!

 

[bedrck46]

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[BAD RONALD]

I didn't see any service engine lights on. But having a dead battery for that long I suspected the lights cleared.

Have another question though. When I was in it the first time moving it around the console light where the miles were displayed but I wasn't paying close attention. When I got back in to check the miles on it the light wouldn't click on. Trying to guide my coworker towards the correct path to get that back on - any ideas what would cause it?

I'm sorry but I don't understand your question. Could you explain the problem more specifically?

 

[BAD RONALD]

Rereading your post, maybe you are referring to "odometer blackout". As bedrck already told you, it's common.

More info on this:

Ford Intermittent Odometer Repair

 

[rollavvti06]

Its only 900 I would just get it, if in good shape the motors for these if needed are cheap and easy to come by

 

[BAD RONALD]

Its only 900 I would just get it, if in good shape the motors for these if needed are cheap and easy to come by

Hell yeah! I would jump on it for the price.

Of course I would end up sleeping in the damned thing after I came home and told my wife...

 

[bedrck46]

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[BrandonB]

Thanks for the info on fixing the odometer and where to get the manual on dvd! I'm having him give the speedo a few good thumps to get me the odometer reading for the moment. Have a hard time buying a vehicle not knowing exactly how many miles are on it. After that i'll likely just risk it and buy it. The $900 is coming from income tax anyways so it's not like i'm draining my bank account to buy it! I'm just hoping I don't end up draining my bank account to fix it. I have access to a machine shop if needed to surface heads, fix cracks, valve job, etc. I'm just hoping it's something super simple like an exhaust leak or even the thing just needing an oil change with treatment and a little TLC.

 

[bedrck46]

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[BrandonB]

So I ended up buying it last night and drove it home. The engine noise actually seems like it MIGHT be exhaust, it's really loud drivers side near the bottom of the vehicle. I'm hoping its something simple like that gasket between the header and exhaust. The sound pretty much goes away at highway speed or at least isn't noticeable.

About half way home though the oil pressure tanked and the dummy light came on. It sounded normal, no additional noise so I finished the drive home. Checked the oil - full. So I figure it's probably just the sensor and i'll change that when I change the oil.

It had more miles on it then was originally estimated, 184k instead of "160 some", but that's ok with me. It was only $900 and that came from a tax return so it feels like a free SUV to me. The odometer can't be read with a flashlight, but a mile or so down the road it kicked on and gave me a chance to snap a picture of it for registration purposes.

I tossed a half a can of Sea Foam in the crank and half in the gas tank before driving it home. Figured if it had any sludge that'd help clean it out. Will most likely run some hard core engine flush through it before I change the oil and drop the pan to clean it and the oil pump screen.

Overall it seems like a good vehicle. It drives good on the highway, shifts perfectly. Needs new brakes but that's easy enough.

 

[bedrck46]

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[Yudaman]

So I ended up buying it last night and drove it home.

Pictures or we don't believe you!!!

We wanna see too...

 

[BrandonB]

Pictures or we don't believe you!!!

We wanna see too...

It's disgusting at the moment, it needs a bath. It was sitting under a tree for several months. It was raining tree on the way home.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Can't wait to see it. And Welcome

 

[FordandPolaris]

So I ended up buying it last night and drove it home. The engine noise actually seems like it MIGHT be exhaust, it's really loud drivers side near the bottom of the vehicle. I'm hoping its something simple like that gasket between the header and exhaust. The sound pretty much goes away at highway speed or at least isn't noticeable.

About half way home though the oil pressure tanked and the dummy light came on. It sounded normal, no additional noise so I finished the drive home. Checked the oil - full. So I figure it's probably just the sensor and i'll change that when I change the oil.

It had more miles on it then was originally estimated, 184k instead of "160 some", but that's ok with me. It was only $900 and that came from a tax return so it feels like a free SUV to me. The odometer can't be read with a flashlight, but a mile or so down the road it kicked on and gave me a chance to snap a picture of it for registration purposes.

I tossed a half a can of Sea Foam in the crank and half in the gas tank before driving it home. Figured if it had any sludge that'd help clean it out. Will most likely run some hard core engine flush through it before I change the oil and drop the pan to clean it and the oil pump screen.

Overall it seems like a good vehicle. It drives good on the highway, shifts perfectly. Needs new brakes but that's easy enough.

Wow that is almost the exact description of my dad's 2000 he bought about 12 months ago... If it sounds like a tractor when you start it, it's exhaust. He is missing half of the studs on one side and it sounds like a track car in the winter. The odometer issue occurs in his truck too, and from what I have read it could also be a loose solder on the back of the dash. People have pulled out the board and resoldered it to make it work fine. He also got it at around 180k (now over 200k) and I think he paid about 1200. Funny how similar that was.

Put a little work into it and I'm sure it will be a good SUV for you.

I almost forgot, he also has the weird no oil pressure readings. We have not figured that out yet but it hasn't killed the truck either so its some type of sensor or wiring issue.