EDIT: 2003 Expedition XLT, 5.4 engine 148k miles. Stored outdoors
AND Blew a plug out of the head this afternoon, so that may explain the engine running rough. My mechanic is working on the engine Monday so I will have him check out the other issues and update my post when (hopefully) they are resolved.


After googling the internet for answer to the problem I have the closest and most knowledgeable answers seem to be on this site. I did a search of the site and found some similar problems to mine but nothing exactly the same and none of the proposed fixes worked.

Here is my problem. After a six month period of storage my '03 expedition's battery died. I did start it and run it off and on during this period to keep the battery topped off. However, when I went to take the vehicle out of storage the battery was almost dead. It would then not hold a charge.

I replaced the battery and that is when the following issue(s) started. The vehicle automatic head light function no longer works, the radio does not shut off after I turn off the expedition and open the door, the interior lights no longer work as they used to (although they do occasionally come on when I open the door). All of these problems seem to be related to the computer however I am unsure if i need to "reset" it. I did disconnect the battery negative terminal for 5 minutes, as I have read, to see if that worked. It did not.

Other issues that may not be related to the battery but may be related to the computer/chip. The 4x4 and 4x4 Low lights often blink off and on as I am driving, the engine runs rough at idle and misfires - usually on acceleration and during a shift into a higher gear. Lastly, and this may be causing some of my other issues, the "door open" light now stays on permanently. This issue is common to '03 expys and I have tried spraying WD-40 into all the door latch mechanisms as suggested.

Any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Scot

PS As I side note does anyone have an opinion on the Truxx lift kits. I am going for a 3" front 2" rear lift kit as seen here: Ford Expedition suspension lift kits by Rough Country, Fabtech in order to fit 315/r70s on the SUV.

 

A little more info when posting a question is usually helpful... such as what year expy you are having troubles with.

Another question would be... By in storage do you mean inside / under cover storage?
If not, it is very possible you have electrical problems caused by a windshield water leak that is quite common in some model years. This could have also precipitated your battery getting deeply discharged.

 

The interior light issue is most likely one of the door switches. You might have to remove it to clean it. Don't forget about the rear hatch and glass, each of those have a switch as well.