My 06 EB with the 5.4 has 26k miles on it. Sometimes, when I start it, I get a loud "growling" noise. It lasts no more than a second or 2. Also, after it warms up, it runs like crap; there is a loud ticking/tapping in the engine and it idles rough. Ford had it for 3 days: the 1st day they said it was something to do with a "cam phaser" (?) and we shouldn't be driving the car. Then they called and said it needed more diagnosis. Then they said that the service manager doesn't think it's the cam phaser. (When I asked to speak to the mechanic, I was told that he just left for vacation, surprise, surprise!) After the 2 days of hearing nothing, I stopped at Ford and found my car sitting in the parking lot without a service tag hanging from the mirror. After half an hour trying to find someone who knew what was going on, I was told there was nothing wrong with my car; it runs fine. After questioning them for another 20 minutes about what they did, they finally admitted that all they did was re-flash the PCM. As soon as the car warmed up on my way home, it started doing the same stuff all over again.

Since 1994 I've had 2 Explorers, 2 Expeditions, and 2 F250's, one of them a diesel (that's a whole nother horror story), and this one will be my last. Ford's products, and especially Ford service has declined to the point that I will not buy another one.

Any similar experiences?

 

The growl you hear is the A/C shooting fluid? through the a/c lines. I had this happen on my 06 zephyr. It doesnt happen all the time but on occasion. I now hav a 06 navigator and it does the same thing sometimes. The running rough part I don't know. Take it to another dealer.

 

Take it to a different dealer.

 

And Ford is wondering why they are struggling in sales.

 

The growling noise is indeed a common problem. When I got my 06 EB, I noticed the same thing and after consulting with others, I was told to completely turn off the climate control (AC, fan, etc.) before shutting off the engine, and the problem will go away. It has worked for me, so try that.

Don't know about the running rough problem. I would too take it to someone different.