Picked up a 2003 Expedition with just under 104k miles for $3500. It’s in amazing shape and runs great! I’m surprised how good this SUV is so far. Only issues are worn hood and window struts, a bad locking actuator, and it always thinks a door is open when they’re all shut.
Any tips for maintenance to keep it going for a long time?
And is there any way to make the interior lights turn off faster after shutting the door? It stays on way too long before it finally goes dark.
For the interior lights, there’s something about locking it with the key fob versus locking it with the key. Try using a key fob if you aren’t already; it should make the lights go off sooner.
Congrats on your new ride!
@Devin
I do use a key fob. I guess it’s not the worst thing as long as it doesn’t drain the battery, but I’m not a fan of the inside being lit up when I park somewhere public.
Luca said:
@Devin
I do use a key fob. I guess it’s not the worst thing as long as it doesn’t drain the battery, but I’m not a fan of the inside being lit up when I park somewhere public.
A lot of people use FORScan for stuff like this. Check out: What are the Commonly Applied FORScan Mods for Beginners? | OHP Tools — OHP Store
@Haru
Thanks, I’ll look into it and see if it’s worth a try.
Luca said:
@Haru
Thanks, I’ll look into it and see if it’s worth a try.
Forscan won’t work on an 03 model.
Luca said:
@Devin
I do use a key fob. I guess it’s not the worst thing as long as it doesn’t drain the battery, but I’m not a fan of the inside being lit up when I park somewhere public.
Could be a faulty door sensor causing the issue. Fixing that might solve the light problem. Just a thought, though… I’m no mechanic!
@Devin
That sounds like it’s probably the reason.
Try this: CERAKOTE® Ceramic Trim Coat Kit - Quick Plastic Trim Restorer. It works wonders on faded trim. Here’s the link: Amazon.com: CERAKOTE® Ceramic Trim Coat Kit - Quick Plastic Trim Restorer - Ceramic Coating Black Trim Restoration to Last Over 200 Washes – A Ceramic Coating, Not a Dressing : Automotive
Joss said:
Try this: CERAKOTE® Ceramic Trim Coat Kit - Quick Plastic Trim Restorer. It works wonders on faded trim. Here’s the link: Amazon.com: CERAKOTE® Ceramic Trim Coat Kit - Quick Plastic Trim Restorer - Ceramic Coating Black Trim Restoration to Last Over 200 Washes – A Ceramic Coating, Not a Dressing : Automotive
Just ordered it! Thanks for the tip.
Joss said:
Try this: CERAKOTE® Ceramic Trim Coat Kit - Quick Plastic Trim Restorer. It works wonders on faded trim. Here’s the link: Amazon.com: CERAKOTE® Ceramic Trim Coat Kit - Quick Plastic Trim Restorer - Ceramic Coating Black Trim Restoration to Last Over 200 Washes – A Ceramic Coating, Not a Dressing : Automotive
Good choice.
I’d suggest replacing the plugs and coils soon and go through all the fluids unless you know for sure they were done recently.
Charlie said:
I’d suggest replacing the plugs and coils soon and go through all the fluids unless you know for sure they were done recently.
I have proof the oil was changed recently, but not sure about the trans or diff fluid. I plan on doing the diff fluid one weekend. I’m nervous about touching the trans fluid because I’ve heard mixed things about changing it after high mileage. The trans is shifting perfectly now, and I don’t want to risk it.
I’ll do the plugs and coils soon, but they look like a real headache to replace. I’ve seen my dad go through a lot of trouble changing them on his Expedition.
Had the same problem with the door thinking it’s open. I used QD Electrical Spray and sprayed a lot into the door latch on the frame. Then I opened and shut the door about a hundred times to get it into the switch. Problem solved! Saved me from having to take off the panel and replace the switch.
@Tatum
When it thinks a door is open, does the interior light stay on or does it actually say ‘door open’ on the dash?
My F150 sometimes has the interior light come on while driving, and it stays on even when the doors are closed and locked. I ended up turning the dimmer all the way down to keep the light off, but that’s not great when driving at night because I can’t see the dash lights.
@Han
Both happen. The dash shows ‘door open’ and the dome light stays on. It usually senses the door is shut after driving for about 30 seconds, but the issue is worse when parked. If the car is locked and the alarm is on, it sometimes goes off because it thinks a door opened. The spray fixed that issue for me.
I had the same issue with my Expedition, and it turned out to be a door jamb switch problem.
You can tell which switch is bad because when you open that specific door, the lights won’t come on (it already thinks the door is open). Replace that switch and the lights should behave normally.
@Aki
Thanks, that clears things up! How hard is it to replace the switch?
Luca said:
@Aki
Thanks, that clears things up! How hard is it to replace the switch?
It’s not too tough. You’ll need to take off the door panel (there’s a hidden panel with two screws you need to remove first, then lift it out).
Once the panel is off, just unplug the old switch and plug in the new one. You can find these switches on Rock Auto for about $17.
@Aki
Appreciate it! I’ll grab one. Are these switches universal for all doors or do I need a specific one for each door?