New to me - 1997 Expedition

[fryguy]

Hello Everyone,

I am picking up a 97 Expedition tomorrow; buying it from a friend. It's in decent shape for it's age, and mechanically has been well taken care of.

There is some damage to the frame, I am told it will be OK for another year, but would need to be addressed before next winter. There's a hole rusting through above the driver side leaf spring. Just wondering if anyone has encountered this, and how much of a job it will be to fix it.

Also the check engine light is on, I hooked up my scan tool to it - looks like an O2 sensor may be bad. It also has a miss on idle, but seems to drive good. From what I have read, it sounds like the coil packs are notorious for going out?

The 4X4 works. I took it out on the freeway and got it up to 70 - no shakes, and it seemed to track straight.

It has the 5.4L V8. I was told it burns about a 1/2 quart of oil between oil changes (5,000 miles) that doesn't seem bad considering it has 275,000 miles.

Looking for some general items I should be on the lookout for. I know I have some work to do, I plan on replacing the coil-packs, plugs and doing a break job on it right away.

Any feedback appreciated.

 

[docraymund]

My dad used to say always go for a car with a decent body. It's cheaper to have the engine repaired than to have the body restored. In your case both are money traps. If you can still back out do so and find yourself another expy one with minor body imperfections and one with a low mileage engine. You will save yourself from a lot of headaches.

 

[GAINMOB]

yeah...hole in the frame...no Bueno...welcome to the site

 

[fryguy]

Latest Update

Well, I ended up getting it. Sheet metal on the truck is still in decent shape, it's just a section of the frame that's in rough shape. I had it looked at today, and the guy said to just drive it for now. It will need some reinforcing in the next year or two.

Run's great while driving/moving. Really rough idle when stopped, has not stalled on me yet. Sounds like I have a vac leak, I can hear it, but can't track it down. I think I am just going to bring it to the shop and see if they can track it down. Good power, no lag or missing when the vehicle is moving. Engine is quiet, no ticks or knocking. New tires in August this year, and front breaks are about a year & half old.

Have the following codes coming up:

P0171 (Bank 1)
P1131 (Bank 1)
P0174 (Bank 2)

Replaced all the bulbs in the cluster tonight and the two bulbs in the Climate Controls.

Is driving the truck with it running like this not advised? Thinking I may just park it until I can get it in and get the Vac leak fixed - I don't want to damage the cats.

Tomorrow's Project: Replacing the bulbs in the running boards & cleaning up the foggy headlights.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Post a picture of the frame rust?

When you said "driver's side leaf spring" I got suspicious. Expeditions don't have leaf springs.

 

[fryguy]

You are correct!

The rust is about 5 to 6 inches in front of the rear axle support arm. I will try and post some pictures tomorrow.

I found out tonight that I have a bad wheel bearing, rear driver-side. Planning on tackling that tomorrow. Needs new break pads and rotors so I will replace those while I have it apart. Will knock out both sides.

I found my vac leak today. Just trying to figure out how to get to it. It's back between the firewall and the rear of the intake, I can't get my hands back in there to do anything. The vacuum manifold - one of the lines is leaking. Hit it with carb cleaner and the engine revs up a little.

I may just take in and have that addressed by a shop (the vac leak).

The rear-end I am planning on doing the work myself as I believe it would probably cost well over a grand if I bring it to the shop. Just a hunch.

More to come in time.

 

[fryguy]

Picture of Rust

Picture of the rust on the driver side frame rail. Passenger side seems to be solid.

 

[fryguy]

Picture of the truck...

Some rust, but overall in good shape for its age.

 

[GAINMOB]

prob with buying older trucks and trucks in the north with salt roads in the winter time

 

[fryguy]

Progress thus far...

Yeah, I don't know what to think. I really like this truck. Now that I have the engine running good, and the rear axle fixed up - it drives great. Monday I am taking it in for an alignment.

The rough idle was the PVC line, the rubber boot on the back of the intake was rotten. Replaced that and the Check Engine light has been out since.

So far I only have about $1500 invested into it, between what I paid for it and parts. I really don't consider my time into the picture as I enjoy working on cars. This has been more of a project for me on the weekends & my spare time.

Anyone familiar with the transmissions paired with the 5.4L engines? Anything to watch for, recommended maintenance items? Fluid flush? Filter? I've had a couple friends tell me to just leave it alone, but then I've had people tell me I should get it flushed and get a new filter.