What to look for when buying a gen 2 expy

[joethefordguy]

I'm looking at a 2004 Expedition XLT 4x4 with the SSV (police package), with 96,000 miles. Looks to be in Excellent shape. No rust (Texas truck). some concerns:
· Front rotors replaced at 29K miles in 2006, at a Ford dealership. that's too soon. Carfax reports multiple instances of brake adjustments, cleaning, etc. is this a problem with this truck?
· Transmission fluid changed at 65K miles in 2011, at a Ford dealership.
· Rear Differential fluid changed at 80K miles, in 2014, at a Ford dealership.
· Brake fluid changed at 87K, in 2015, not at a Ford dealership.
· Ignition coils replaced at 87K, in 2015, not at a Ford dealership.
all of the above seem to me to be ahead of standard maintenance intervals, but I haven't read about these as problem with this truck. Any comments would be appreciated.

· Spark plugs were replaced in 2015 at 87K miles, not at a Ford dealership. Apparently, this is a 2V, so this should not be an issue.

I've read all 6 pages, and I am taking it to my mechanic on Monday. Just trying to be thorough, so any input would be appreciated. I'm being extra careful because I once bought a "great deal" F150 with the mazda 5 speed manual transmission, because I didn't do enough research. I'm not making that mistake again.

Questions:
does this one have a center differential?
are there any issues with the electronic 4x4 switch?

thanks for your time.
jg

EDIT: this truck was owned by a fire department.
Does anyone have any experience with the "J mod" on this 4R70W transmission?
Where could I buy the FX4 components, especially the skid plates?

 

[joethefordguy]

UPDATE:
the mechanic passed it; said it's basically a sound truck; drive train is in excellent shape. from the appearance of the body and interior, it appears to have been babied stored indoors when not in use. we speculate it was a supervisor vehicle and saw limited use.
has a host of minor issues. I got the price reduced again, and bought it. happy with the deal.

 

[joethefordguy]

first off 2nd gen has issues witht their frontend suspension as per dealer. check door switches for proper operation, cluster, the most important part is the tranny... i was told after mine blew that most 04-06 expys come in for new trannies so get it checked ahead of time, front wheel hubs...sigh typical ford. thats about it... imo and experiance.

yes, two of the "minor" issues on mine are the front ball joints, and the power door lock and power window controls.

 

[joethefordguy]

I have an 06 and also have some bubbling of the paint on the rear tailgate - more or less below the rear wipers assembly.

Great post guys - wish I had seen this before buying my Expy, would have had a better idea what I was looking for. Fortunately, I lucked out in most of those scenarios except the rear bubbling of the paint and my $1,500 tune-up @ 74,000 miles. 6 of the 8 spark plugs were seized inside the engine and my friend spent a week and a half doing everything he could to take out the spark plugs without tearing the engine apart and pulling out the heads. A week and a half later with 2 broken specialty tools, lots of patience, and ingenuity he was able to get them out and complete the tune up.

I've read some stories of folks taking it to the dealer and having to pay something like $3,000+ to replace spark plugs because apparently FORD will just simply pull out the heads if a single spark plug seizes inside...

because I had a working vehicle, i was able to take my time researching and waiting for what I wanted. I learned about the 2 piece spark plug problem and the pitfalls you describe, and made sure to avoid it. the 04 is the last year for the 2V engine; the 3V is the one with your two-piece spark plugs. as well, mine had the spark plugs replace about 12 thousand miles ago, so that was also reassuring. I wish they'd been replaced at a Ford dealership, but I guess you can't have everything.

 

[joethefordguy]

I don't know when they changed the from the 2v to the 3v 5.4, but I have one if the very first 2nd gens(Jan/03) and it still has the 2v. So no can phaser problems for me, but less power. And obviously the faded XLT trim, which I took care of with a couple rattle cans. Cruise control doesn't work, can't figure that one out....

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

they changed starting in 05. My 2004 is a 2V. also your truck is beautiful where did you get the roof cargo carrier? what lift kit are you using?

 

[FlatBrokeCrysta]

Looking to upgrade me collection of Expedition . Still have my 1997 Expedition Xlt over 211 k still running might leak a bit of oil but she get me safely back and forth to work. Looking to get a newer to me Ex ....looking at a 2005 Eddie Bauer edition. Has new tires, brakes, Plugs, coils and battery . I know I need to check windows to make sure they work ....anything else I should check out

 

[Hamfisted]

Looking to upgrade me collection of Expedition . Still have my 1997 Expedition Xlt over 211 k still running might leak a bit of oil but she get me safely back and forth to work. Looking to get a newer to me Ex ....looking at a 2005 Eddie Bauer edition. Has new tires, brakes, Plugs, coils and battery . I know I need to check windows to make sure they work ....anything else I should check out

Don't do it. First year of the Rube Goldberg 3V motor in the Expy. Unless it's already been overhauled with new timing set and phasers I wouldn't touch it.

 

[aircargoo]

brakeline rot...common.

 

[joethefordguy]

Nope, you just get paint fading a lot faster.

you think that's worse than rust?

 

[joethefordguy]

I meant to say: 2003s and 2004s. It sounds as if the 3v 5.4 began production, though, sometime during the 2004 model year?

2005

 

[joethefordguy]

deleted - I already posted this once...

 

[Randy-IA]

2005

First let me ask...is the Triton engine both the 3v and the 2v? I have an 04 xlt with the 5.4 Triton which I thought was the 3v engine mostly because the throttle body cover says it's a 3v engine.

 

[Hamfisted]

First let me ask...is the Triton engine both the 3v and the 2v? I have an 04 xlt with the 5.4 Triton which I thought was the 3v engine mostly because the throttle body cover says it's a 3v engine.

If it's a '04 Expy it should still have the 2V motor in it. Can you post a picture of the cover you say has 3V on it ?

 

[Randy-IA]

If it's a '04 Expy it should still have the 2V motor in it. Can you post a picture of the cover you say has 3V on it ?

I'll try to remember to do that tomorrow, I'm already in my flip-flops for tonight and there's 4" of snow on the ground.

 

[joethefordguy]

First let me ask...is the Triton engine both the 3v and the 2v? I have an 04 xlt with the 5.4 Triton which I thought was the 3v engine mostly because the throttle body cover says it's a 3v engine.

"Triton" is a product name - it's branding. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Modular_engine. Apparently Ford used it through 2010. Most Ford models changed from the 2v to the 3v at the same time; I have no clue why. It's not the first time they've done something like that (look up the 7700 option). The ford expedition was a 2 valve (2V) through 2004, changing to the 3 valve (3V) for the 2005 model year. If your car says otherwise, then I can only suppose ford may have started with the 3V in the expedition late in the 2004 model year.

 

[Randy-IA]

I was wrong about the TB cover having 3V on it. It's only got Triton 5.4L on it.

In addition, I may be confused about that nomenclature; 2V, 3V, etc. My feeble understanding is that it refers to the number of valves in a cylinder? I've been not changing my spark plugs because i believe them to be the the two piece plugs used in the 3V engine. Wrong?

But, if the 3V engine wasn't in the 2004 then what plug style do I have? I haven't gone digging down to look for myself since my big hands have a tendency to break all the indestructible plastic they use in these engine compartments these days. I've already cracked the radiator cover in two places just leaning over it. I'd be afraid to actually start breaking vacuum lines and electrical connectors.

 

[Hamfisted]

I was wrong about the TB cover having 3V on it. It's only got Triton 5.4L on it.

In addition, I may be confused about that nomenclature; 2V, 3V, etc. My feeble understanding is that it refers to the number of valves in a cylinder? I've been not changing my spark plugs because i believe them to be the the two piece plugs used in the 3V engine. Wrong?

But, if the 3V engine wasn't in the 2004 then what plug style do I have?

You have the single piece plugs that all 2 valve Tritons have ... usually the Motorcraft SP479 ....

 

[Randy-IA]

Well, if that is in fact true....DUH! And don't forget DOOH!


So maybe I should risk breaking everything inside the engine compartment and get my plugs changed.

I love these newfangled vehicles where half the engine top has to be removed just to find the spark plugs and then more stuff has to be disassembled to actually get a socket on them. No, I actually don't love them! A simple job like changing spark plugs should not take over a half hour for a young person and about an hour for an old fat guy like me. Not a half a day.

 

[Hamfisted]

The right tools will make the job go much easier.

Spark Plug Socket Set : https://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-K...KQ85B86E4A6&psc=1&refRID=44GARWC4DKQ85B86E4A6


Gearwrench Flex-Head Ratchets : https://www.amazon.com/GEARWRENCH-D...sprefix=Gearwrench+flex+head,tools,246&sr=1-5



7mm Flex Head Wrench for Coil bolts : https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Flex-...611260919&s=hi&sprefix=7mm+,tools,217&sr=1-19



Gearwrench 3/8" Flex Head Torque Wrench : https://www.amazon.com/GEARWRENCH-8...=hi&sprefix=Flex+Head+torque,tools,193&sr=1-4

 

[Randy-IA]

I just spent about $300 on torque wrenches in the last month...Now I need to get one with a flex head?!


AWESOME!!!!

Those sockets have have a built in ratchet system? You aught be ashamed! Teaching this old dawg about tools he's never even heard of before!

At least I have an arsenal of gear wrenches already.