Thread: Fishin' Expedition Repairs and Mods

Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Great looking tow rig

Thanks Bud. I had to buy a Weight Distributing Hitch for it and set that up. I will post a picture of the camper on the back of the Expedition (the Expedition has a set of Load Levelers under it at the time I took the picture).

Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Great looking tow rig

This is without a Weight Distribution Hitch. Fastest I could go was 50mph, camper would start swaying steering the Expedition.

The shifter handle feels like the transmission shift lever detent is not quite right. I waited till I got the bushings in to fix along with another Multi-Function switch (I replaced when initially brought the Expedition home on a Flatbed). After watching YouTube videos I knew exactly what I needed, WRONG! Numerous videos say the Expedition is made the same as a F-150 but it is not. I didn't figure that out till I had the Dash stripped out. Here again my mind was on the repair not Blogging so a better job could have been done with the pictures.



Any time you work around Air Bags much less are removing a Air Bag take off both battery terminals and wait 30 minutes before proceeding.

.

I'm using this picture twice because it shows the underside dash intact. All of that had to be skinned out because I was expecting to drop the Steering Column.



The Plastic Trim and dash reinforcement was removed for access to the steering column bolts before I knew the Expedition was different.



You are supposed to remove the steering wheel before the trim behind it but I'm still operating on the video examples at this time.



To remove the Air Bag there is two plastic trim discs, one on each side of the steering wheel that you pop out with a pick. Behind them are 2 bolts, one in each hole, 8mm socket, they are on a rearward angle, remove them and the Air Bag is free to tilt forward. You first unplug the Horn wiring then the Air Bag wiring.



I just put the Airbag on the passenger seat while continuing to work.



The steering wheel has a T-50 TORX bolt in the center. After loosening the bolt a small 2-Jaw Puller is used to hook each side of the steering wheel to pop the wheel free. The red connector is the horn and the yellow wire connectors the Airbag.



With the Steering Wheel removed you can see the Steering Column trim extends pretty far into and under the Steering Wheel. The Multi-Function Switch (Turn Signal Switch) is under the Upper Trim Cover.



A single 1/4in socket head screw holds it in place. Once you remove the screw and pull the tab back on the opposite side the switch lifts straight up disengaging from the slots securing it in place.



There are 3 connectors on the back I used a tiny flat blade screwdriver to release them all. This switch was replaced when I bought the Expedition, it is a Wells brand, well it lasted 44K miles. I thought I was buying a different brand but once I got the switch out I realized I bought the same brand. Let's hope this tow vehicle is around another 44K miles.



The Shift Lever Trim is a little tricky getting back in place. There is a Tit on the top that fits in a tiny hole, I just couldn't see the hole at first so it must be in place before the two halves of the Steering Column Trim will mate.



The Airbag wire connectors are color coded so be sure and plug the correct color connector into the matching color socket.



Here is better pictures of the access covers to the Airbag retaining bolts. You can see the bolthead peaking out. Once everything is back together you can re-connect the battery.

Another job successfully done. Another $100's dollars saved. Awesome job as always.

Originally Posted by Rojo

Here is better pictures of the access covers to the Airbag retaining bolts. You can see the bolthead peaking out. Once everything is back together you can re-connect the battery.

Reconnect the battery and stand back, right! lol, just kidding. Everyone knows your stuff works. We seen how you operate.

I've had the old Ford Excursion on my mind lately. I'm thinking of buying one to fix as a over the road tow vehicle. Ford made that
V-10 gas Beast. The Expedition can pull our camper well with the Load Sharing hitch but not without. Maybe just dreaming.............

Originally Posted by Slab

Reconnect the battery and stand back, right! lol, just kidding. Everyone knows your stuff works. We seen how you operate.

With a little common sense, airbags aren't that bad to work around. With that being said, I have seen people do some really dumb stuff around airbags, causing them to go off at work--I'm talking about leaving the vehicle at IGN ON during an investigation and flipping the airbag control module, causing all front and side curtain airbags in a $60k truck level of stupidity. Fortunately, we don't keep these employees long (usually get caught doing something else that is a fireable offense), and airbag scrappage because of detonation is extremely rare. Sometimes we do have to purposely set them off before shipping.

Hey Rojo,

A tip i learn from training when Air bags first came out was lower your driver’s wind before disconnecting the battery. Also after disconnecting both ter.inals touch them together. After your repair connect the battery and rea h in the driver's windows with your arm behind the steering wheel and roll the key on. If the air bag was to deply you or your arm would not be in harms way.
HTH