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I am new to this site but I am looking for any advice-Please.......I have a 2006 Ford Expedition that is having some trouble & I have taken it to a mechanic that a friend suggested (mostly b/c he's the only one in this small town) but I am not sure he is right about what is wrong w/ it b/c he went straight to something expensive & complicated. If I list the symptoms, would you PLEASE give me some advice on what it might/could be??? (These Steps happened in this exact order-like 1 new step/issue per week):
1)-Miles per Gallon started slowly going down
2)-Started w/ having to turn key twice to start (usually crank right up)
3)-Emissions System Light came on
4)-Started Idling Rough
5)-Started smoking a little out of tail pipe when first started
6)-Started smelling fuel when first started engine
I thought it was the EGR Valve (or Purge Valve as of 2006 models) b/c the symptoms were EXACT, so we bought a new one & paid someone to put it on but it did not change anything. I was then told it was the Spark Plugs that needed to be changed out & they were harder to change than usual ones b/c they are 3-point Spark Plugs. I stopped driving it except for occasionally in a 5 mile radius around town. It has 180,000 miles on it. ***ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED***
That is a good question. I just relocated to a small town & I do not know or trust anyone to work on my car yet. I took it to the most commonly known mechanic but it has been a week & no word. He said he was going to put it on a computer. Unfortunately, I did not take it to Advance or Auto Zone before I took it to him to see if they could give me the codes. Every symptom & Light on the dash leads to Emissions or Fuel related though.
Hmm I have to usually turn my key twice to start. Not always. Let me know what you find. Mine runs great and don't think my MPG have gone down. No codes. My next step was checking fuel pressure and replacing fuel filter. I don't get a gas smell either so mine may not be the same as yours.
There's a check valve in the fuel pump assembly that's supposed to retain 25+ pounds of fuel pressure for start ups. When you check the fuel pressure at the rail make sure it is holding pressure after the key is turned off. If not you'll need to replace the fuel pump assembly to replace the check valve. Or you have a leaky injector(s) and they're allowing raw fuel to pass uncontrolled into the cylinder(s). Rough running and poor gas mileage, rich mixture, emissions problems... ( Injector replacement ....). You can probably tell which ones by looking at the sparkplugs of each cylinder.
You shouldn't have to turn the key twice to start it.
The Timing Chain. After 7 days w/ no word from him, we went back to get it & he said he doesn't really work on Fords (it was a Ford when I dropped it off but he never said that then). Then he said he didn't THINK it was the timing chain. He said he changed out (2) spark plugs & that he thinks we need to have the rest replaced & the coils. At first it was driving better & the Emissions light was off but it didn't take but 30 mins before it gradually started doing the same thing. I've been told that Advance Auto will put it on the computer & give me some codes--Is that true?
The fuel smell came later. It was literally like it happened in steps-like (1) step per week:
1)-Miles per Gallon started slowly going down (from 17.4 to 15.3)
2)-Started w/ having to turn key twice to start (use to crank right up but now I have to pat the gas)
3)-Emissions System Light came on
4)-Started Idling Rough
5)-Started smoking a little out of tail pipe when first started
6)-Started smelling fuel when first started engine
I bought it used & it drove like a dream for a month but then little by little it started going down hill. Every step/symptom went w/ it being the EGR/Purge Valve but we changed that out & it had no effect.
That sounds like it could be the problem. Thank you so much-I will definitely look into that. I was told that it could be the Spark Plugs but that these Spark Plugs were "Special" & were called 3-point Spark Plugs & were difficult to change out...Have you ever heard of that?
That sounds like it could be the problem. Thank you so much-I will definitely look into that. I was told that it could be the Spark Plugs but that these Spark Plugs were "Special" & were called 3-point Spark Plugs & were difficult to change out...Have you ever heard of that?
The 3 valve engine like you have originally had a spark plug that was prone to breaking off upon removal. The replacement spark plugs for that engine were modified to a better design to keep that from happening. The original design is usually referred to as "2 piece" due to the metal bits on it that hold it to the head are manufactured using 2 separate pieces while the later replacements are 1 piece to avoid breakage upon removal. That is my best guess as to what someone might call a 3 point plug, unless someone put in the "gimmick" type of spark plug with 3 prongs on the sparking end. Those are a waste of money by the way. The general consensus is to use the OE spec Motorcraft spark plugs for best reliability. They are also usually less expensive than the "gimmick" plugs.
I may have missed it but I don't see where you listed the mileage. Hopefully the spark plugs have already been changed to the later design.
The Timing Chain. After 7 days w/ no word from him, we went back to get it & he said he doesn't really work on Fords (it was a Ford when I dropped it off but he never said that then). Then he said he didn't THINK it was the timing chain. He said he changed out (2) spark plugs & that he thinks we need to have the rest replaced & the coils. At first it was driving better & the Emissions light was off but it didn't take but 30 mins before it gradually started doing the same thing. I've been told that Advance Auto will put it on the computer & give me some codes--Is that true?
I'd run from this mechanic. besides the Ford part, it sounds like he's guessing. Also, he should have been able to pull some codes that anyone with a $30.00 reader can do, including most of the major chain stores like Advance. If they can't for some reason, buy a reader from them or Walmart or wherever and get us the codes.
180,000 miles on it tells me it probably needs spark plugs because it's on the originals that should have been changed eons ago or it's on the end of the second set.
Really-I did bot realize that I could buy my own coder for that cheap...I think I may do that nit just for now but for the future. Thank you so much for replying-you were really helpful!
Thank you for replying...Everything that you said was really helpful! It has about 182,000 miles on it, which isn't bad for a 2006. Other than this issue, it is in really good shape & I need to try to repair it rather than buy a new one right now b/c we are in the process of buying a house.
Really-I did bot realize that I could buy my own coder for that cheap...I think I may do that nit just for now but for the future. Thank you so much for replying-you were really helpful!
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