New here and 05 Expedition problems!

[ScoutMomAng]

Hi I'm new here, don't know much about vehicles but I have a huge problem that started yesterday. Truck was running fine, pulled out of the parking lot and truck started shaking (idiling rough). Got on the free way got up past 60 and shaking stopped but oil pressure dropped to well below Low and "check guage" came on. Any ideas? I know there are codes that can be checked, but I'm not sure how to do it with out the code reader and I have no idea what the flashes mean when its done. Need Help TODAY. Must go back to work tomorrow.

 

[dean63]

By saying check gauge light I'm assuming you mean "check engine light"? If it is a check gauge light that could be a different problem. I'll throw a few ideas at you (internet diagnostic questioning) Have you recently taken it to an oil change place that may have forgotten to put the breather cap back on? Did it make any sounds like "two rocks being thrown around in a tin can"? The shaking could have been your engine fighting for life.....I'm assuming that you made it home ok? I would lift the hood and see of there is any oil spray in the engine compartment. Also check to see if your drain plug is in place. If it is a "check engine light" I would say take it to Autozone/Advance Auto and they could hook up a scanner to see what's going on.....then again bear in mind with low oil pressure it's not a good idea to be driving around. Any friends/neighbors with a good scanner? Your particular vehicle has an OBD-2/CAN system you will need a code scanner....no flashes to count. Unless the 05 Expedition has a feature I never heard about???? Good Luck

 

[ScoutMomAng]

No....when I say "Check Guage" light I mean "check guage" light. The words actually say..."Check guage"

Yes I made it home ok, luckily we were not too far and once on the freeway (where the light came on) I took the next exit and headed for home. No recent oil change, it is actually due for one. Looked under the hood, no oil spray of any kind. I heard no sound of any kind. When it happened, I had just stopped at the store and left the family in the truck with it running. I was in the store maybe 5 minutes, came out, pulled away and was fine until I got to the driveway before entering the roadway. So unless it happened while they were in the truck, I heard nothing. I don't want to drive it anywhere. I started it today just to hear what it sounded like and if anything had miraculously changed, however nothing has changed and the truck sounds HORRIBLE!

 

[dean63]

Have you physically checked the oil level with the dipstick? I could start going through a list of things for you to check....the bad idle along with the oil pressure drop could be two seperate issues or intertwined as one. It will take a little bit of diagnostics.....really sorry that kind of stuff takes a little time. Bad idle could be anything from a vacuum hose, inadequate fuel delivery, Idle Air Control Valve, Throttle Position Sensor, etc... then again those will kick usually off a Check Engine Light. The low oil pressure thing could be anything from a short in the circuit, bad oil pump, low oil level, possible cam position sensor issues, etc...

 

[ScoutMomAng]

well, I think the bad idle had everything to do with the oil pressure gauge and check guage light. Got any idea where the oil pump is located on this beast???

 

[dean63]

Yeah, it's sort of inside the engine tucked away under the oil pan.

 

[ScoutMomAng]

is there anyway to DIY it??

 

[dean63]

I'm sorry to say unless you can pull the oil pan off......No Foremost, before doing that!!!!! The best place to start would be to get an oil pressure check done on it, also check the oil pressure sending unit. I would have possibly a mechanic friend do this for you? Any good manual (Chiltons/Haynes) should show the readings and where there at.

 

[ScoutMomAng]

its going to have to be somebody that can come to the house since I don't want to drive it. Afraid the engine will seize.

 

[dean63]

Certainly keep us posted (of course, that's the last thing on your mind). There is a lot of talent on this forum, to include professionial technicians who learn from these posts!!! Kind of hard to do the proper diagnostics over the net.....however it can give you a starting point.

 

[ScoutMomAng]

I feel, in my heart of hearts, its the oil pump. This truck has been giving me tons of grief for about a year now. Some how the catalyic converter got a hole in it and I'm told there is more than one on the truck and they are about $500 or more a piece to replace. Now I have this problem! It just makes me sick to my stomach because I have no way to get it repaired and I use my truck for everything, work, family, scouts...you name it! I wish I knew a mechanic.

 

[ScoutMomAng]

checked the oil from the dip stick. doesn't seem to be any metal shavings in there. The oil needs to be changed but it is just due for its oil change. Seems to read a little low but could be that the truck is parked on a slant in the driveway??? or that the pump stopped working????

 

[dean63]

Yes, make sure it's parked on a level surface prior to checking. Really sorry you don't have a mechanic friend who could run a pressure check on that for you. I currently don't have access to the TSB's (Technical Service Bulletins) that may have been issued for the "05" Expedition. Not to familiar with the Taylor area, but I'm sure there are a few Ford Stealerships in the area that may give you a heads up if they've had problems on that particular vehicle.

 

[ahodges]

If the oil pressure gauge is reading zero then don't even start it untill you can check the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge. I say you risked a lot just by driving it home with the gauge at zero. And I don't know what engine you have or anything but typically the oil pump is driven off of the distributor (or the sensor in place of a distributor) on the back of the engine. Sounds to me like one of the two following happened...

1. the oil pump siezed and caused the drive pin to the "distributor" to break so the computer isn't getting the proper signals causing it to run poor and also you have no oil pressure...
or
2. the oil pump drive pin broke/ sheared off due to age? or something like that..

Regardless you will need a new oil pump and in most causes you have to take the engine out to do this..

I hope no serious damage has occured. Is it under warrenty anymore?