New Explorer owner with some ??'s

[Jadecat]

Hey all. Just got my first Explorer about a week and a half ago. It's a 2003 XLS. So far, I'm loving the truck, but have some questions

1) When I take off from a dead stop, I feel an ever so slight shudder. Not sure where it's coming from and it's very light. The truck has 212xxx miles on it, but the undercarriage looks brand new. Anything I should be worried about?

2) I thought all Fords nowadays came with a keyless entry keypad, but mine doesn't have one. Is there a way to add it? Is it already wired for one?

3) My truck's tilt wheel is a lever that pulls down and the whole column move up and down. Is this the standard tilt mechanism for these trucks instead of a pull BACK lever that only moves the steering wheel?

I might have a few more questions, but they would be cosmetic in nature, so I'll post them in a different thread.

Thank you in advance for any help!

Kevin

 

[imp]

Hey all. Just got my first Explorer about a week and a half ago. It's a 2003 XLS. So far, I'm loving the truck, but have some questions

1) When I take off from a dead stop, I feel an ever so slight shudder. Not sure where it's coming from and it's very light. The truck has 212xxx miles on it, but the undercarriage looks brand new. Anything I should be worried about?

2) I thought all Fords nowadays came with a keyless entry keypad, but mine doesn't have one. Is there a way to add it? Is it already wired for one?

3) My truck's tilt wheel is a lever that pulls down and the whole column move up and down. Is this the standard tilt mechanism for these trucks instead of a pull BACK lever that only moves the steering wheel?

I might have a few more questions, but they would be cosmetic in nature, so I'll post them in a different thread.

Thank you in advance for any help!

Kevin

@Jadecat Congratulations! Have an '04 and love it (usually). As best as I can answer:
1. nmi (need more info). Shudder only when in 1st. gear, or continues up through higher gears?
2. No, and no. Involves far more electronic tampering (anti-theft module) than is practical.
3. What it's got, is what they got.

Just my opinion, of course. imp

 

[Jadecat]

@Jadecat Congratulations! Have an '04 and love it (usually). As best as I can answer:
1. nmi (need more info). Shudder only when in 1st. gear, or continues up through higher gears?
2. No, and no. Involves far more electronic tampering (anti-theft module) than is practical.
3. What it's got, is what they got.

Just my opinion, of course. imp

Thank you!

1) No. Only when first taking off in 1st gear and even then, it's not every time. It does NOT continue through the gears. It just shudders for like 2 seconds when it does it

2) That's what I figured, but thought I'd ask. I'm sure gonna miss having that though.

3) It's just that the manual looks like the pull back type. I can use this one, just a little more inconvenient.

 

[Number Twelve]

my 2005 has a telescoping steering column mod I found on this site. Take it apart, find the sliding block, cut the front and rear ears off it. I only did the "slide closer to me" side because that's what I needed.

These cars seem a lot bigger on the inside than the outside so it feels like the seat is way back from the pedals and the steering column needs to be farther away from the dashboard.

 

[imp]

Thank you!

1) No. Only when first taking off in 1st gear and even then, it's not every time. It does NOT continue through the gears. It just shudders for like 2 seconds when it does it

2) That's what I figured, but thought I'd ask. I'm sure gonna miss having that though.

3) It's just that the manual looks like the pull back type. I can use this one, just a little more inconvenient.

@Jadecat I think I would hesitate to say transmission-related, but our transmission Moderator might have a thought if he catches this. There is a one-way clutch in there which I don't recall whether it is driving the vehicle in 1st. gear....

Another thought might be a partially not-releasing disc brake caliper which shudders a bit as the wheel & tire twist a little, causing a tiny amount of deflection between the rotor and caliper, pushing the piston away from tight contact with the pads. Caliper piston release depends on the slight amount of distortion experienced by their seals after brake release. If this were the case, finding it would be a difficult proposition. If it continues, or worsens, it might be a good idea when replacing brake pads, to either replace piston seals (a hassle), or the calipers themselves, depending on mileage. Just my two cents. imp

 

[Jadecat]

@Jadecat I think I would hesitate to say transmission-related, but our transmission Moderator might have a thought if he catches this. There is a one-way clutch in there which I don't recall whether it is driving the vehicle in 1st. gear....

Another thought might be a partially not-releasing disc brake caliper which shudders a bit as the wheel & tire twist a little, causing a tiny amount of deflection between the rotor and caliper, pushing the piston away from tight contact with the pads. Caliper piston release depends on the slight amount of distortion experienced by their seals after brake release. If this were the case, finding it would be a difficult proposition. If it continues, or worsens, it might be a good idea when replacing brake pads, to either replace piston seals (a hassle), or the calipers themselves, depending on mileage. Just my two cents. imp

Thank you!

I'll definitely keep an eye on it.

 

[Jadecat]

OK. After paying a little more attention to this shudder thing, it seems like it only happens when taking off from a dead stop and also turning left. It doesn't seem to happen when taking off going straight or turning right.

 

[Number Twelve]

I have a feeling you should check for unintentional 4 wheel drive engagement by watching the instrument cluster for a light that comes on during 4WD. Difference in wheel rotation will trigger 4WD during a sharp, low speed turn but 4WD also engages when something is wrong with the wheel speed sensors. I read about it on this site, but I haven't had that problem so I'm not up to speed on it.

 

[Jadecat]

I have a feeling you should check for unintentional 4 wheel drive engagement by watching the instrument cluster for a light that comes on during 4WD. Difference in wheel rotation will trigger 4WD during a sharp, low speed turn but 4WD also engages when something is wrong with the wheel speed sensors. I read about it on this site, but I haven't had that problem so I'm not up to speed on it.

I know the shudder you are talking about very well as that is how I have always tested whether or not the 4X4 system in a potential vehicle buy is working. It's how I tested it on this vehicle. Put it in 4WD and turn the wheels to lock and move the vehicle slowly and if the 4X4 is working, it should hop.

But that is not the shudder I'm feeling and the 4X4 light does not come on when it happens. This was a southern vehicle and I'm guessing that the 4WD had probably never been engaged and I'm assuming that there is probably grease in the system (?). I'm having a scheduled maintenance done on Tuesday (9/13) and they are supposed to lube everything, so will see if that helps with this shudder.

Thank you again for all the suggestions!!

 

[Tylers02]

Do you have a limited slip differential? They are known to shudder/chatter almost like tires rubbing(which is what i thought was happening when i purchased my EX). Mine was usually turning though if i remember correctly. Look for D4 axle code on front driver side door.