Rough Idle 2003 5.4 - Anybody else?

[Guest]

I have a 2003 Expedition with the 5.4 engine - bought new Dec 24 2002 and currently has 11,300 miles. We started noticing a difference in the idle while setting at a stop light about 4 weeks ago. The vehicle has been to the dealer 3 times and they have yet to fix the problem. First trip - reprogrammed the computer; Second trip - cleaned 2 plugs (said they looked like they had been wet - possible water in gas); Third trip - service manager said the rough idle was normal for the 5.4 engine. I went off on him (3 strikes and you are out). Told him if it was normal then why has it idled perfectly (couldn't even tell it was running) for the first 11 months we had it. We have scheduled another appointment to leave it next Wednesday for more trouble shooting. HELP EXPY owners ! ! Is this condition normal? If not does anyone know what could be causing this before I go back to the dealer? Wife also said sometimes it won't crank the first time she tries to start it - motor just turns over. The second time she tries it starts.

 

[daveplot]

I don't know what the problem is, but it's NOT normal.

 

[monsta]

Sounds like the classic IAC valve beginning to take a dump. Odd though, with such low mileage...

Anyway...describe "Rough idle". Does the whole truck shake? Does it only do it in gear? Park? When cold? Hot? (meaning: normal op temps) etc. etc.

 

[Guest]

It seems to do it only after it has warmed up and it is most noticable when in gear setting at a stop light. The truck does shake violently but you can feel it via the seat of your pants. Looking at the tach you can't see the needle jump any. The 2nd trip to the dealer I left it running and told them I wanted the mechanic to hook it up to the analyzer before I cut it off. The mechanic got in the EXPY and said he could feel it. We pulled it over to the analyzer and I watch the screen - it looked like a bar graph with 8 charts and a rpm box. The 8 lines were jumping about on the screen and the rpm box was dancing around (+ - 600 rpms). The mechanic told me there should be just a straight line across all 8 cyclinders when it was running normal. He also popped the hood and you could see the motor twitching as it skipped. Does this still sound like the IAC valve?

 

[Guest]

Correction to previos reply: The truck does NOT shake violently but you can feel it SKIP OR SPUTTER via the seat of your pants.

 

[monsta]

Originally posted by TLayman
Does this still sound like the IAC valve?

No. Not now. When they crap out you won't be able to idle.

Now it sounds like an "spark" problem.

What did the tech say??

 

[Guest]

I only talked to the mechanic after the second trip when he replaced 2 spark plugs. He said it was runnig correct after he replaced the plugs and hooked it back up to the analyzer. I took his word for it and left to only feel it skipping again when I was setting in my garage 24 miles later. My thought is that the engine cooled down while he was working on it and he done the final test with it cold. My wife called me when she was going to pick it up, after the third trip, and informed me that the Service Manager said they found no problem and that the skip was normal for the 5.4 engine. That's when I left work and went stright to the dealer to have a word with the service dept. before she picked up the EXPY. Did not get to talk to the mechanic after this trip, it was close to 5:00 pm and he was either gone for the day or took off running when I started in on the service department staff. Don't get me wrong, I strongly believe in the old saying "you can catch more flies with honey" but when I feel like someone is jerking me around or taking me for a fool I have to speak my peace.

 

[Keydo]

How can engine skipping be considered "normal"?

I don't suppose skipping payment can be considered normal as well?

 

[Guest]

Your right Keydo ! !
When I was expressing myself to service I asked them what would they do or how would they feel if the roles were reversed and it was their $35,000 vehicle doing this and I was telling them it was normal. They agreed that they would be mad also after 3 trips to service.
I am getting some replies on other forums saying they think it is the IACV also.

 

[Guest]

Took it to the dealer yesterday and they replaced the IACV. First 2 stop lights no rough idle, stop light ten minutes later the problem was back. They said they talked to Ford and Ford said the rough idle was normal. They told the dealer to have me drive another expy to prove it. My question is still this; "if it is normal, then why has it not been that way for the first 11 months of ownership or 11,000 miles?". I guess I will go talk with the dealership owner Saturday to figure out what the next step is.

 

[rwinch]

I don't know about toe '03, but my '98 5.4 runs "smooth as butter".

Once in a while.... a looooong while, it will skip, like a misfire, but I am talking weeks between events.

You may want to PM a fellow on this site who goes by kidtriton. He was a service tech for Ford, and may have some ideas for you.

 

[Guest]

Decided I didn't feel like ruinning my Saturday by going to the dealer. So I went to the camper show instead . After a day of rough idling around I decided I would just fill out a complaint form to Ford and see what happend.
One other thing - After the IACV and front diff yoke seal replacement I now here a intermittent high pitch shrill sound while accelerating that goes away if I let up off the gas. Doesn't do it every time so I can't carry it to the dealer if I can't prove it. I am trying to catch it on my cam corder. Anyone have any ideas

 

[Guest]

Update:
No word from the complaint I filed with Ford. Just an email stating they got my email and I would get a response within three business days - tomorrow is day 3.

Wife said the high pitch shrill was there again this morning when she headed out to work.

The front diff. yoke seal leak is back - I just happened to look under the EXPY in the garage and low and behold the seal they just replaced is leaking again - 3 big drops the size of quarters under the front diff.

What's wrong with this picture?

 

[Guest]

Update:
No word back from Ford. 10:00 pm tonight is 3 days.

 

[Guest]

How many times have you had the front diff worked on? Mine is on it's 2nd clutch pack at 9K miles! Hummm.... 1 more time and it's Lemon Law I think! Have to check on my state's law on that...

 

[Guest]

No clutch pack work... yet that is....
The problems I have had with the front diff have been:
First time: added a clip somewhere in the front diff to fix the vibration I was feeling when unit was in 2wd. I read about the fix here.
2nd time: Pinion seal was leaking - took 3 trips for fix (1st trip; look at it..yep it's leaking but need to order parts. 2nd trip; oops ordered wrong part. 3rd trip; fixed).
3rd time: Pinion seal leaking AGAIN - started 4 days after fix. See "2nd time:" above. Have not took it back to the shop for this yet.

 

[Guest]

UPDATE:
Had an email when I returned to work saying they (Ford) had tried to call me at home. The email had an 800 number to call them back. I called and after going through numerous prompts I finally got someone. Well after about 30 minutes of telling my story and pleading for help the nice lady told me Ford was sorry I was having problems and that I needed to take it back to the dealer to be fixed. I told her the dealer said "if the last fix didn't work then Ford said it was normal". Well the last fix didn't work so that's the reason I am complaining to Ford and talking to you. She still said I need to take it back to the dealer to be fixed. Now to everyone reading this doesn't it sound like I am stuck in a loop? She did say she was adding my comments to a problem ticket that engineering would review.
So what does a person do? I guess back to the dealer I go....

 

[Guest]

Going back to the dealer later this week.
More later.

 

[Lowandslow]

Well i dont think this is the same problem, and i frankly dont know if it is a major problem, but in mmy 03 expo with the 5.4 it qivers at idle. THis is on a cold engine, and the whole body doesnt shake violently. It is just a quiver every 3 or 4 seconds. Any thoughts

 

[Guest]

Lowandslow,

Mine runs smooth as silk on a cold engine. My rough idle is after the vehicle is at normal operating temp. The shake or skip shakes the whole vehicle. You can feel it in the steering wheel, in the seat, and through your arm if it is resting on the door. You can pop the hood and see the motor giver/shake/skip intermittently.