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That was a good idea. I bought one of those for my truck but didn't use it - I'm saving it for later. The old one was leaking bad, but when I took it off I saw why; I took the truck in for state inspection last November and they saw the third brake light was out, so they put a new bulb in. Well, the guy that did it didn't clean tree trash/dirt from the truck and gasket mating surfaces - he just put it back on and screwed it down. That's what caused it to leak, so I cleaned it up and put a small bead of silicone on the gasket and in the screw holes. That did the trick, so I just put away the new part for next time. I started to re-sell it, then thought better of it.
Just a few pictures to share. These were taken on my latest 10hr drive back home to Mississippi from Kingsville Texas along the Sabine River in Beaumont and on the beach at Holly Beach, LA.
While home, my wife and I bought a 2006 Expedition at an awesome price, and the Ford Fleet keeps growing.
I've driven this truck over 20,000 miles since late March when I purchased it with probably 1/3rd of that towing either my camper, boat, or pulling my toolbox 350+ miles from Mississippi to Houston.
Only issue has been the fuel pump driver module which seems all too common in these trucks. Not been replaced yet, but sooner than later it will.
Changed the Fuel Pump Module Driver. Didn't fix it. After reading several other threads, I was sure that was gonna cure it.
Then when I was shopping ignition coils, I came across one review that said it cured the miss in his '03 Taurus. I previously had an "02 Taurus and the ignition coil failed in it at just under 100K. I've got 106K and sure enough it's the same part. Qwik trip the local parts place, and the next morning it took me 21 minutes to remove/replace and now the truck is smooth as silk.
At my current pace I will have put over 100K miles on this truck in less than two years. I have until March for a mere 20K more (should be easily able to do that)
Just a few issues that has came up:
1st - replaced the front brake rotors because of a bad wheel bearing. It got to making a loud almost howling noise. At first I thought it was tires, but definitely turned out to be the wheel bearings on the front. Unfortunately, the rotors/wheel bearings are a one piece unit and it *can* be done (with considerable time and overall a PITA to replace just the bearings) it's much quicker and easier to replace the rotors assembly. Then just a few months ago the replacements went bad and they had to swapped out again. At that time I put new brake pads to go on the new new rotors.
2nd: I had a bad miss for awhile and under light load as horrid to drive. After much research on here and other Ford sites, it seemed as if the most likely culprit was the fuel pump driver module that sits above the spare. Replaced it but that wasn't the issue. Turned out it was a bad ignition coil.
3rd: I finally got a muffler on it and it's like a totally different truck now. So much more pleasant to be in and the gas mileage has increased about 1-2 mpg.
4th: After a nasty spell with lovebugs I was a spray it yourself carwash and the water had enough pressure to get under the paint and ya can see where the paint has been blasted off the panel between the grill and bumper.
All in all, this truck is like the energizer bunny as it keeps going and going. 157K and uses no oil, pulls a heavy 19' travel trailer enough to wear out a hitch ball, and drives, stops, steers, and looks as good as the day I got it! (except the above paragraph)
I am glad & releived to hear the V6 is a strong one. Paint these days sucks!!!
75-77mph with the A/C on nets me 21 mpg (after the muffler replacement). Subtract about 1 mpg without having the camper shell on as I do remove/replace frequently.
Something that I wanted to do since I purchased the truck was an overhead console. It seems that the regular cab pickup is getting more and more rare as the extended cabs and crew cabs outsell regular's more each year. With the exception of fleet use not it's almost unusual to see regular cabs on dealers lots any more. This trend had started even when our trucks were new. The console like the one pictured will NOT fit a regular cab.
Ford only had the small overhead console on the regular cab trucks and as best I can tell it was only on a truck with the XLT trim, and even then an option. Thanx to ebay, I finally have one on my truck now.
Leap of faith when actually making that first cut into the headliner. Started off making a small opening in the center and then expanded it just to fit the console.
Finally found and purchased a XLT console. Didn't take before pictures but it was really cruddy, however it did clean up really well. I used SEM vinyl paint for the arm rest and other parts. There is a power plug on the rear (facing the back cab wall) but time didn't lemme run a power lead to it the same as I wasn't able to remove the seatbelt tensioner from the rear wall. I paid $60.00 and anther $20.00 for the vinyl paint. 15 min to remove the old and replace with the new. Still need to find the rubber cup holder inserts.
Finally found and purchased a XLT console. Didn't take before pictures but it was really cruddy, however it did clean up really well. I used SEM vinyl paint for the arm rest and other parts. There is a power plug on the rear (facing the back cab wall) but time didn't lemme run a power lead to it the same as I wasn't able to remove the seatbelt tensioner from the rear wall. I paid $60.00 and anther $20.00 for the vinyl paint. 15 min to remove the old and replace with the new. Still need to find the rubber cup holder inserts.
Those XLT consoles are great. I replaced the center seat/arm rest on my XLT SuperCrew with a console I found at the pull part yard. You can find the front cupholder inserts by Dorman for cheap, that's where I got mine from.
This lil truck just keeps going and going and going. It only gets used approx. 150 miles per week towing my camper back and forth for work.
However, I did just have to replace the door lock actuator on the pax side. Rock Auto had the cheapest price (by far!) and I believe the part was only $11.48 I ordered the correct part, and they sent what I ordered. But, in the picture below one can see how the plug is a lil bit different and thereby making this useless to me. I maybe could have rigged the plug to fit some kind of way, but I didn't wanna hiut a bump, lose the connection and be back to where I started at all over again. I had to stop in the middle of this and get one from the local Autozone. Works perfectly and what I should have done from the beginning.
I did my door lock actuator as well... how much fun that was Don't think I have cursed that much in a while... at least a couple hours
How much more was the lock actuator at Autozone? I honestly only go there for emergency parts and fluids/accessories.
But I am super jealous of your bed cover and center console. I have been looking for that center console since I bought the truck and where I am located, there are no good junkyards or anyone selling one, and I would even go so far as to buy a new one online if I could find one, but no luck. I hate the stock one, it's so uncomfortable. Any ideas? Good luck finding the rubber inserts.
Never found the rubber inserts, but really don't miss having something I've never had I guess...??? Seems as if my drinks fit in there squarely and don't tip. I *may* be able to get you a console from a local yard, if ya don't mind cleaning/repainting....etc.
05-25-2015, 08:00 AM
Don't think I have cursed that much in a while... at least a couple hours 
