Hey everyone! I just got a new (to me) 2005 Expedition Limited and have a couple questions about it. First, a little background on it:
It has 167k miles on it. It had thrown a rod previously and has since been fixed. The mechanic replaced the head with a new one and all the parts involved. Timing chain was good, phasers were replaced, spark plugs were all replaced, the truck drives fairly well and doesn't seems to have any engine issues that I can tell. I had it at two mechanics before I bought it to check it over and they both said it was in good shape minus a few small things (more on this in a bit).
One thing I noticed soon as I heard it was it was LOUD! It sounded like a diesel engine! This was due to the idler pulleys and the tensioner needing to be replaced (that was one of the issues the mechanics mentioned). Replaced the pulleys and tensioner from RockAuto and now it sounds quiet like a normal engine should. Those pulleys were horrible sounding, like they were packed with sand!
It needed new tires, so I got 4 new tires and the shop said the hubs will need to be replaced. I read on here that seems to be a common thing, but how do I tell if they really do need to be replaced? It drives fine and I don't feel any vibration or anything when braking or turning. Just didn't know if I should spend the money on it yet or wait a little bit.
There was a small vacuum leak from a cracked hose near the firewall behind the battery, right off the T valve back there. I fixed this, but was curious if anybody knows what this vacuum hose does? Didn't notice a difference in driving either way, but just curious.
Here's the issues I still have with it and was hoping to get some thought from all you fine, knowledgeable people. Sometimes, when it first starts (right after the engine fires) it will make a loud, like rumbling noise but only for a second or so and then it's quiet like normal. It doesn't do this every time and sometimes the noise isn't as prevalent as others, but not sure what it could be as it's only for a second right when you first start it.
Next, there is a weird noise that happens only when accelerating. It's almost like a scrapping(?) noise. It sounds like metal to metal (almost like when your brakes are low and you hear the noise from the metal tab on the pads). This noise is ONLY when accelerating though. If I let off the gas or brake, the noise is gone. Anyone else have something like this?
The last issue I'm seeing is the trans seems to clunk when downshifting into first while braking. It's not always the same intensity every time, but you can feel it if you're looking for it. I had a shop check the fluid and they said the fluid is clean as day, like it was just changed. It doesn't clunk or make any other kind of noise going in or out of any other gear and it shifts fine, just when braking/slowing and it downshifts back into first. Is this a sign of the trans going out?
Also, what kind of MPG should I be expecting out of one of this age and mileage? The tires are stock sized, and everything else is stock too. The onboard computer says I should get over 300 miles per tank, but I'm coming in well below that, so not sure how it's calculating that. I'm getting right at about 12mpg city. Is this normal?
Sorry for the long post, but wanted to get the questions out there while I was thinking about it. I greatly appreciate any help/thoughts anybody has. Looking forward to this vehicle!!
It has 167k miles on it. It had thrown a rod previously and has since been fixed. The mechanic replaced the head with a new one and all the parts involved. Timing chain was good, phasers were replaced, spark plugs were all replaced, the truck drives fairly well and doesn't seems to have any engine issues that I can tell. I had it at two mechanics before I bought it to check it over and they both said it was in good shape minus a few small things (more on this in a bit).
One thing I noticed soon as I heard it was it was LOUD! It sounded like a diesel engine! This was due to the idler pulleys and the tensioner needing to be replaced (that was one of the issues the mechanics mentioned). Replaced the pulleys and tensioner from RockAuto and now it sounds quiet like a normal engine should. Those pulleys were horrible sounding, like they were packed with sand!
It needed new tires, so I got 4 new tires and the shop said the hubs will need to be replaced. I read on here that seems to be a common thing, but how do I tell if they really do need to be replaced? It drives fine and I don't feel any vibration or anything when braking or turning. Just didn't know if I should spend the money on it yet or wait a little bit.
There was a small vacuum leak from a cracked hose near the firewall behind the battery, right off the T valve back there. I fixed this, but was curious if anybody knows what this vacuum hose does? Didn't notice a difference in driving either way, but just curious.
Here's the issues I still have with it and was hoping to get some thought from all you fine, knowledgeable people. Sometimes, when it first starts (right after the engine fires) it will make a loud, like rumbling noise but only for a second or so and then it's quiet like normal. It doesn't do this every time and sometimes the noise isn't as prevalent as others, but not sure what it could be as it's only for a second right when you first start it.
Next, there is a weird noise that happens only when accelerating. It's almost like a scrapping(?) noise. It sounds like metal to metal (almost like when your brakes are low and you hear the noise from the metal tab on the pads). This noise is ONLY when accelerating though. If I let off the gas or brake, the noise is gone. Anyone else have something like this?
The last issue I'm seeing is the trans seems to clunk when downshifting into first while braking. It's not always the same intensity every time, but you can feel it if you're looking for it. I had a shop check the fluid and they said the fluid is clean as day, like it was just changed. It doesn't clunk or make any other kind of noise going in or out of any other gear and it shifts fine, just when braking/slowing and it downshifts back into first. Is this a sign of the trans going out?
Also, what kind of MPG should I be expecting out of one of this age and mileage? The tires are stock sized, and everything else is stock too. The onboard computer says I should get over 300 miles per tank, but I'm coming in well below that, so not sure how it's calculating that. I'm getting right at about 12mpg city. Is this normal?
Sorry for the long post, but wanted to get the questions out there while I was thinking about it. I greatly appreciate any help/thoughts anybody has. Looking forward to this vehicle!!
My truck is completely stock, but future plans includes electric radiator fans, dual cat-less exhaust and perhaps an intake and a tune so that may improve it a bit. I wouldn't imagine these huge trucks getting 18 mpg in the city though! That's quite impressive and not common on these trucks 
