Hello everyone, my name is Rob, a Google search indicates that you guys really know your s**t, especially of the FORD variety! Hopefully you can lend some insight into the following problem.

I recently acquired a 1999 Ford Expedition XLT - 5.4 Triton - AWD - w/110K miles.

I've had it for about a year, no problems - except for the factory alarm going off while driving, (lights flashing, horn blowing, etc.) but that is/was the only problem.

Today, the battery was dead, so i jumped the truck with another car, it didn't start right away (even with the other car revving), left it alone for a few minutes, and then it started.

Now, the problem , truck now doesn't shift, stays in one gear, while driving at around 10MPH, the speedometer indicates that the truck is doing about 80MPH (the Tach stays around the 1.5-2.5 range.) When i make left/right turns the truck feels like it's going to stall, and hesitates throughout the turn, there is a (very low volume) whining-type sound coming from under the hood, which goes up in pitch, the faster you travel. It almost feels like it's stuck in 4X4-Low (while the switch is on AWD), however, when i tried to toggle the switch from AWD to 4H and the 4L, it appears that it does nothing, the 4X4 is not operating. No 4X4 lights go on on the dashboard (when i operate the switch) either.

There are no warning lights indicating any problems on the dashboard, everything else works.

My auto mechanical knowledge is somewhat limited (however, i am an easy learner, and capable), it seems that something happened to the computer, are there any tricks, or perhaps anything that i should look into, before taking it to a mechanic?

Thank you,

Rob

 

Try disconnecting the battery again for about 10 minutes, then reconnect it. Oh, and welcome to FTE, and yes we like to think we know our s**t.

 

That was the first thing that i did when i came home Madsonp, i guess i'll find out what happens tomorrow.
Thank you for the welcome, and yes, the high membership numbers are indicative of a strong knowledge-base (i.e., you guys know your s**t!) Kudos to all...

And thank you for the quick reply!

 

Why?
Old battery?
Wiring issue?
Bad alternator?

The reason for the dead battery could be the reason for the other issues.

 

Hello alloro,

The battery (DieHard) was purchased new in 04/08 by the previous owner, i bought the truck in 08/08, and since then i have put on perhaps 300-350 miles, mostly short trips (10-15miles round trip.)
I checked the water level back in December and it was low, i remedied that, but the battery never got a chance to fully charge; as i have yet to put it on a charger, or, take a long trip on the truck. There does seem to be a problem with the horn, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, the doesn't tends to happen when it rains, it may be shorting, but unless i fully charge the battery i have no way of knowing, and yeah, i will be replacing the horn soon.

 

That would certainly explain why the battery died.

 

Well, a week later and i finally got a chance to hook up the terminals, started right up, which tells me that the battery is good. I then drove it, and everything is working as it should, i guess that the computer s/w-based management system somehow became corrupt when the truck was jumped last week. The system simply rebooted, and everything is perfectly fine, the 4X4 works, the tach/speedo is back to normal, and she shifts perfectly. I have also ordered a battery charger (Battery Tender Plus), so the battery issue should also go away...thanks for the feedback guys!

 

Rob,

Glad to hear that you got her squared away. Stay with us and keep posting. Consider becoming a member, it's cheap and you get rid of those pesky ads.

Tim