There must be some connection.

Please help if you can I'm lost, thanks in advance too. I tried to get as much info, before posting. I hate all those threads that say "please help, truck won't work right." and expect a diagnosis.

I went out to my 97 expedition 5.4 EB this morning and noticed it not driving correctly. I also saw a flash on my dash but couldn't see what it was. I have had the check engine light on since my COP issue. never cleared the codes. I thought maybe I was just seeing something in the morning fog, on my way to work. I ended up not going into work anyway to finish up a tiny home emergency.

Later today I go out to the truck and go for a drive to the paint store to get **** done at home, and I notice my gauges flash again. Every single light to the right of the check engine flashed on. This seams to happen when slowing down/breaking and accelerating from a stop or really low speed. This is also where I noticed the shifting issue. I'll touch on that next paragraph. I noticed the lights, and then later(it would make sense that this is the last thing I noticed), the speedometer has stopped! Since it's one of those gauges you never look at anyway, I never noticed. Also the console on my roof liner with MPG, compass ETC was only reading 0mpg instant mileage. This of course makes sense, as the speedo wasn't showing anything, but it leads me to believe it's not the cluster, but the some computer issue somewhere. I can't get it to throw an error yet, but I'll try again later, and see if I can't get somewhere to have it read. I really need a tuner for just such situations, so I can more properly know what's up.

The shifting is odd too. This is the first truck I have owned, but worked with them for years as a state laborer. And I have never felt this. At times while slowly accelerating it wouldn't engage the transmission at all. If it was a manual I would say the clutch was pushed in and I was just pushing the throttle for RPM's and not acceleration. Then the transmission would engage as if the clutch just dropped and it would jerk forward, and never upshift unless I have it to the floor. And then only at RPM max. I tried all 4wd options then. The AWD function never worked properly on my truck, and wouldn't engage when I thought it should, so I avoid it. I can't comment on its function, but 4wd engaged just fine. Drove well too. It did have a problem disengaging though, only until I totally stopped did it come out. 4wd Low however would make the familiar 'chunk" noise when getting it into gear in neutral but when putting it into D or R the light would go away, and it made the familiar 'chunk' sound and feel of the gears engaging. I didn't want to drive in 4wd low just in case though, if it got stuck in 4wd low I would be screwed.

I just replaced all my COP's and it's been running like a champ. I also just ran some Lucas oil engine to clean injectors just in case. Yesterday, she ran perfectly, today Kaput. I've looked everywhere on the net, nothing exactly like this when I looked it up in google and the ford forums.
Everything seams to go at once, COP's then my suspension, and now this. At least the suspension gives me an excuse to tell the wife I need a lift kit right?

Any help is great. Thanks!

 

The gauges flashing and going crazy is usually a sign the battery is failing. Could also be the altenator not charging the battery properly. I would get both checked, or if the battery is over 3 years old, you might just change it out.

 

Not a bad idea, could that affect the speedo and gear shifting though?

 

Not sure about that one. I guess concievably, since the PCM contrals the shift points electronically and if the PCM is not getting adeqate voltage.

 

Just went for a drive. I was steady in the mid 12.5 volt with the car off, running the radio for 5 min.

When running I went around the block or so, and didn't go under 14.1v. I know it will drop lower if I drove longer or roll all the windows down at the same time etc.. but it's nothing below what I would call normal. It's about time I suppose though, it's an interstate 85 month and will be at the 3 year mark in august, but I always change them early. I can give it a shot though!

 

well well well.

This morning the wife and I had decided to carpool untill I can get my truck back to tip top. I tried to click the keyless locks on my fob. Nothing. I think the battery just died... now who knows if it's the alternator or if its the batt. Either way, something along the lines of the charging system looks to be jacked.

I've never seen a vehicle where only some lights on the dash come on like that, and for the speedo to crap out, I never thought a simple alt of batt could cause it! Anyway, I just wanted to update, and I will be checking the batt and alt soon.

Thanks for all the great advice.