30th Oct 2008, 00:10

Purchased used 2000 Expedition XL 4.6 L AWD trade-in with 74,000 miles as is (a warning I ignored) from a Ford dealer in Newark, Delaware. After 4 weeks the overdrive light started blinking while traveling in hilly areas. Another Ford dealer diagnosed the problem as "the fluid is old and burned and that caused transmission to overheat. You need a new rebuilt transmission for $3,400. We'll throw in a new radiator because you have a sludge build up."

I went to Benchmark transmission who stated that burned fluid is an effect, not a cause of the transmission overheating (and yes, I needed a rebuilt) and diagnosed the initial problem as a broken fluid pump in the transfer case that caused the transmission slippage and eventual overheating.

The worrisome part - Benchmark stated that the transmission used with 4.6 l engine is too light and will commonly fail before 100,000 miles. Funny, I remember owning a 1977 Pontiac Ventura and 1983 Dodge Omni with over 100,000 miles on their original transmissions and NO problems whatsoever. Maybe Ford ought to start building their truck trannies to their 1983 specifications???

8th Feb 2010, 15:50

I just bought a 2000 Expedition V8. It has a lot of miles on it. 186,*** I didn't pay that much for it, but now when I slow down and try to pick up speed again, it seems like that training is slipping a little. My husband said that it looks like the fluid is a little darker than it should be. I thought that these have issues with trainings way before these many mile on it. I must be wrong. And of course I bought it off the street, so Ford won't help me out unless if I want to spend LOTS of money on it.

Rachel MI.

23rd Dec 2010, 09:46

I have 2000 Expedition XLT. It is a great ride when you take care of suspension, tie rods are weak and snap when driving, must be checked at 15k miles, head gasket blew out, at 120k miles, I bought with 40k miles.

Overall I love the car. Just a little fed up with some of the issues that should've been recalls and fixed, tie rods have no grease fittings from Ford so they snap quicker, aftermarket ones do, no grease no ride. The passenger rear seat lock messes up once in a while. The dash lights go off and on once in a while. I have also changed 1 alternator, 1 serpentine belt, 1 windshield arm motor, that's all normal. Also, the trailing arms are rusted through and had to be replaced.

After 10 years, it still looks great and rides great in winter, but you hear everything when you hit potholes, but after 10 years that's going to happen.