rjr

What was the problem(s) with the International?

On my 97, I have 2H, A4WD, 4x4 and 4L. I have assumed that the 07 has the same labels. If you had it in A4D, there's no problem. Only engages front wheels if transfer case computer gets input from ABS sensors that rear wheels are going faster than front. If you had it in 4x4, you might have a problem, or at least the start of one. 4x4 of=n dry curves puts tremendous pressure on U-joints as well as transfer case. You might want to check U-joints, but if the transfer case isn't making noise or malfunctioning, I don't know what you can do.

Ford doesn't realize that, one someone exhibits interest in a Ford product, they have to stimulate that interest. Ford delaers not having an answer to a question about the Expedition, I wrote Ford's Marketing Director; 2 months later I still haven't gotten an answer. I know from experience any communications to Ford's "Customer Service" always result in a "See your local dealer." I have an Expedition with 183,000 miltes & no problems, so I'm a prime candidate for another In contrast, I e-mailed GMC a question regarding the Acadia transmission, I received an e-mail back containing a precise description of the inner workings of the transmission, answering my question, followed by a phone call from GMC Marketing (not a dealer), followed by a thick package of information. I did decide against the Acadia since I prefer a full 4x4 SUV, but I am imporessed enough that I'd buy a Yukon over an Expedition. All that's holding me back is the non-folding 3rd seat. If Ford adopts this attitude towards potential customers, then I must have grave doubts about its viability; another reaon not to buy a Ford.

Has anything been heard about whether Ford plans to offer flex-fuel capability in the 07?

ELLover: Now that it's been reprogrammed, can you tell in which gears the transmisssion will lock up the torque conveter. On my 97, it can lock in 3rd or 4th, and in hot weather also in 2nd. Could you please tell me what RPM you're showing at about 50 if the OD is locked out? I beleive I had posted this question before, and now can't find the answer. After carefully looking at the Durango, Yukon, & Acadia, I think I'll gamble on Ford surviving & order an 07 in the next few weeks.

I too would like to learn how the transmission adjusts to my driving habits. What does it do?

Is there any benefit other than that they appear trendy?

If you'll pardon the expression, that's damn poor odds on proper performance.

Thast 6-speed is one reason I may NOT buy a 2007. I can see no reason for such a low ratio 1st, & the inability to hold the transmission in 5th means that when going through rolling country like US40 in Western Pennsylvania or I-80 in Wyoming, it will be constantly shifting and won't hold back worth a hoot on the downgrades. Evry time I ease up when climbing it will upshift, and then downshift when I again try to hold speed. With the 3.7 sxle and 4th being 1.14: rather than direct drive, pushing the OD button & holding it in 4th will mean unacceptably high RPMs.. I must confess that Ford's Customer Service line attitude is another reason.

The trick is to refill the btank as soon as the light comes on, so you can determine what you do have left. It is actually not a good idea to let the tank regularly run low, since the gasoline is all that cools the in-tank fuel pump. Also, the lower the fuel level, the more air there is in the tank to hold the moisture that will condense into the gasoline when the temperature drops.

Code 11210, good through 11/30, is a $1000 rebate on the 2007.

I don't understand what you mean by a "dead hole." The symptoms sound to me like the coil on cylinder #8 has gone bad. The coils often will not give a "Check Engine" light or set a trouble code immediately. Ford has had a LOT of problem with those blankety-blank coils on spark plugs. I've replaced 4 in 183,000 miles, and my neighbor has replaced 8 in half that mileage. This is a job done from the top.

New brake pads have to be "broken in" with a few hard stops---but not overheated. They will often set a glaze on the rotor which causes squealing. One solution I have used is to remove the wheel & sand the rotor.

The tire outside diameter does have an effect. While the ratio does not change, the circumference of the tire, which is 3.14 times the diameter determines how far the car will move with one turn of the wheel. If the larger diameter wheel is used with tires having a different aspect ratio, it is possible that the ditance per revolution will not change. The speedometer is set up according to the tires/wheels on the car when manufactured. The only problem I had with the 97 was with the front brake rotors warping, & since 160,000 miles I have replaced 4 ignotion coils. I eventually gave up on Ford rotors and installed rotors with round vent holes through the braking surface. This solved the problem. The 5.4 enigine has had nothing but Mobil 1 10-30 since I took delivery, & I have changed the transmision oil (16 qts) & filter in the E4OD every 25-30,000 miles. One thing about this trans is that there is a plug to drain the torque converter, which helps. Has crossed the US 6-7 times, including off-roading in the west.

No I haven't driven the 07. I'm not in the market until April, because (1) I try not to buy a car that's had substntail revision unti the initial bugs have been resolved, (2) I'll be spending much time in a large northeatern city on business, wiith the vehicle left alone in a public garage for weeks, (3) the delaers here are only getting limiteds and eddie bauers with leather seats, & I want to see the XLT with cloth. Besides, I only have 183,000 miles on the 97. So I see no need to excite the dealer

According to the 07 specs, 4th has a 1.14:1 reduction. The 97 4-spd is 1:1 in 3rd (OD locked out). Multiply this times the rear axle ratio, which is 3.73:1 on the 07 and 3.31 on my '97 (I have the optional axle), to get the overall ratio. There is a slight adjustment because of the different wheel sizes, 17" vs 16", but overall, the result is that there is a substantial differnce in RPMs with the OD locked out. For info, 07 specs give the following: 1st 4.17:1 2nd 2.34:1 3rd 1.52:1 4th 1.14:1 5th 0.86:1 6th 0.69:1 REV 3.40:1 The 17:1 figure in my post is an arithmetic error; it should be 15.55:1, which is still a stump puller. The 07 spec sheet shows 1st has a 4:17:1 ratio. Multiply that times the 3.73:1 axle and you get 15.55:1. By contrast, the E40D in my 97 has a 2.71:1 ratio, yielding 8.97:1 overall, which I have found to be quite adequate. (When I did have to pull a stump, I used 4L). I am surprised to now hear 2 people say the RPM jumps when they step on the gas. Does the 6-speed shift so easily from 6th to 5th?

Sounds like your transmission torque converter may not be locking up. Worth checking into. If driving above say 50, with engine pulling, and you step on gas slightly (w/o causing a downshift), RPM should not jump up.

Thank you both. Reason I ask is that the wife & I do a lot of mountain driving. We've gone from our home in VA to the west coast 6 or 7 timnes in our 97, and do a lot of driving in the Appachians. If we leave it in OD, there's too much shifting as you go through areas where the terrain is rolling, so I often will leave OD locked out. These RPMs that you report with OD locked out seem considerably higher than in the 97, which has the 3.31 optional axle. I was also surprised when I did a few calculations, and found that 1st on the 07 is a 17:1 overall ratio, compared with slightly over 7:1 on the 97. That's a real stump puiller, & I can't see the purpose of it.

Can someone with a new 07 please tell me what RPMs in 4th at 45 or 60? Given that the 6-speed has no direct drive, I'd like to compare RPM with OD locked out to my current 4-speed Expedition w/ 3.3 axle.

There was a recall because drivers side tires were damaged during productiuon. Recall was back in July. Don't know if there been a later one.

While on the subject of in-car entertainment: My preference is XM because that's what we have in the other cars & the house. Has anyone had experience with the "XMDirect tuner box" for $49.99 plus $50 for the cable at www/xmradio.com/xmdirect/index/jsp ? Says it connects to "satellite ready" factory-installed car radios. Also that channels display on standard radio screen and standard radio controls it. And is the standard radio in the 07 Expediton "satellite ready"?

Maybe I should hold off buying a 2007 until the transmission is fully debugged. Since I only have 183,000 miles on my 97, there's no rush.

Several times I've had occasion to call Ford Customer Service to ask a question dealers couldn't answer, or because I wanted info on a new product. Invariably the answer is "See your Ford Dealer." If they had the answer, I would be bothering with Cuistomer Service. In contrast, I was wondering if flex-fuel was available on the Durango. Called Dodge Customer Service on a Sunday and SURPRISE, they answered the phone. I asked the question, & the lady said she didn't know but if I'd hold briefly, she'd dig it out. Within 2 minutes she had the answer--available on the 4.7L. Seems to me that if Ford really wanted to sell vehicles, any time they got a call from a potential customer they'd jump through hoops to provide the info that potential customer wanted.

I thought I had revised my post above. I was eventually able to get the link open. Thanks again, akirby.

akirby, thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, the link will not open. Gives a message saying scripts error.