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Hello all. Considering selling our 2008 explorer and buying a 2005 expedition. They both are at 120k but with three teenage kids the explorer gets pretty full. This vehicle will be used as a second vehicle locally out to 200 mile trips so age and miles are not a huge concern. However as working class family price and value is. It's a CL listing. Says motor has very minor tick other than that pretty clean looking vehicle. I am assuming the minor tick is the cam phaser starting to go. When judging a Ford in this vintage is unplugging the cam phaser to see if the tic goes away the best course of action,?
The web lights up if you even type in 5.4 with rooms day stories. That said it lights up if you type in out 2008 explorer that the transmissions are junk and our explorer has only had a cooling flush to replace a bad thermostat, and the trams flushed and routine maintenance from 2012 at 22k to present. Very dependable. So is buying the expedition a move backwards. Asking price 4900. By pics and a visit on the phone looks good. Any insight appreciated.
The tick can be caused many different items. Phaser, cracked exhaust manifold, broken exhaust stud, spark plug backed out, etc.
Go take a look at it is all I can suggest.
My first 2005 Navigator had a bad phaser, knew when I bought it. Still had a tick, found cylinder #1 spark plug had backed out about half a turn.
My current 2006 Navigator has ~91k on it now, no signs of phaser issues yet, but it does have a slight tick at idle. I consider it normal.My 2006 Mustang GT with 30k on the clock also has the same faint tick at idle. Did it since I purchased it 9 years ago with 7500 miles on the odometer.