Exhaust Odor In Vehicle – 2011-2015 Ford Explorer

TSB 17-0029	EXHAUST ODOR IN VEHICLE
Publication Date: March 14, 2017

 

FORD:

2011-2015 Explorer

 

This article supersedes TSB 14-16-NA and 14-04-NA to update the Service Procedure.

ISSUE:

Some 2011-2015 Explorer vehicles may exhibit an exhaust odor in the vehicle with the auxiliary climate control system on. Customers may indicate the odor smells like sulfur, or that exhaust odors are entering the vehicle cabin. This condition may be worsened when the climate control system is in recirculate mode and the vehicle is heavily accelerated for an extended period. Whether and to what extent any customer or occupant of a 2011-2015 Explorer vehicle experiences the exhaust odor will be affected by driving habits, weather and individual sensitivities.

 

ACTION:

Follow each and every step of the Service Procedure in procedure 1 to improve the condition.

SERVICE PROCEDURES

The body sealing steps in this procedure are critical elements in helping to manage subjective odor concerns

1. Remove the rear bumper cover. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 501-19.

1. Remove the left and right tail lamps. Refer to WSM, Section 417-01.

1. Remove the wheel lip mouldings. Refer to WSM, Section 501-08.

1. Open the liftgate and inspect for presence of drain valves in the two (2) drain holes on the left and right side of the liftgate. Are the drain valves present? (Figure 1)
   
   Figure 1 – 17-0029
   1. Yes – proceed to Step 6.
   1. No – proceed to Step 5.

1. Install a new drain valve in each of the two (2) drain holes on the left and right side of the liftgate. (Figure 1)

1. Inspect the liftgate seal for damage and proper fit/contact pattern. Adjusting the rear liftgate striker so that the rear hatch seals tighter to the liftgate seal is important. This can be done by loosening the striker and moving it to increase the liftgate sealing pressure.

1. Inspect the left and right side air extractors for proper fit to the body and operation/sealing of the rubber flaps.
   1. Replace the air extractor if it is warped or damaged or flaps do not lay flush to their sealing surface. (Figure 2)
      
      Figure 2 – 17-0029

1. Inspect and verify proper installation of the wire harness grommets and body plugs in the liftgate opening, quarter panels under the tail lamps, license plate and bumper cover and the rear underbody area.

1. Using masking tape, seal the left and right air extractor vents and the rear auxiliary climate control drain tube.
   1. Make sure to tape off only the vents and not the area around the air extractor where it seals to the body of the vehicle.

1. Start the vehicle and set the front climate control to fresh air mode and front blower speed to HI. Turn the rear climate control off.

1. Make sure all windows are up and all doors are closed in order to pressurize the cabin.

1. Use soapy water (dish soap or bubble bath works best-not bar soap) in a spray bottle to help locate air leaks.
   1. Spray the underbody seams, rubber grommets, rear wheel well seams, tail lamp seams, liftgate seals, quarter glass seals, license plate area, liftgate hinge area, auxiliary a/c seals and the area where air extractors mount in the body.

1. Air leaks will be identified by the presence of air bubbles. Mark the location of any leaks.

1. Turn off the a/c and shut the vehicle off.

1. Clean and dry all marked areas and seal using Motorcraft Seam Sealer.

1. Raise the vehicle on a hoist. Refer to WSM, Section 100-02.

1. Is the vehicle equipped with 3.5L Ti-VCT engine?
   1. Yes – proceed to Step 18.
   1. No – proceed to Step 19.

1. Inspect the exhaust tips. Are down turned exhaust tips present? (Figure 8)
   1. Yes – proceed to Step 19.
   1. No – remove the rear section of the exhaust system and proceed to Step 20. Refer to WSM, Section 309-00.

1. Lower and support the rear section of the exhaust system.

1. Clean areas on the underside of the vehicle where seam sealer will be applied. (Figures 3-5)
   
   Figure 3 – 17-0029
   
   Figure 4 – 17-0029
   
   Figure 5 – 17-0029

1. Verify the auxiliary climate control drain tape is still in place. If the exhaust system was not removed in Step 17, cover the exhaust system to prevent contamination from undercoating spray.

1. Apply a generous amount of Motorcraft Seam Sealer to the following areas:
   1. The rear horizontal sheet metal lap joints on left and right sides of the vehicle.
   1. The rear sheet metal overlap flange across the rear of the vehicle. (Figures 3-5)

1. Spray a generous amount of 3M™ Rubberized Undercoating around the auxiliary air conditioning lines and seam sealer areas. (Figure 6)
   
   Figure 6 – 17-0029

1. Remove the tape from the air extractors and auxiliary climate control drain.

1. Was exhaust system removed in step 18?
   1. Yes – inform the customer of the redesigned exhaust tips and that appearance will remain the same but the exhaust will exit the tip from bottom. Upon acceptance, replace the muffler assembly with the updated part containing the down turned exhaust tips. Refer to WSM, Section 309-00. (Figures 7-8)
      
      Figure 7 – 17-0029
      
      Figure 8 – 17-0029
   1. No – reinstall the rear exhaust system.

1. Install the wheel lip mouldings. Refer to WSM, Section 501-08.

1. Install the rear bumper cover. Refer to WSM, Section 501-19.
   1. Apply masking tape around the outer edge of the rear fender mouldings to protect the vehicle from damage.

1. Install the tail lamps. Refer to WSM, Section 417-01.

1. Return the vehicle to customer.

 

Obtain Locally

Part Number	Part Description
08883	3M™ Rubberized Undercoating

 

PART NUMBER	PART NAME
BB5Z-61280B62-B	Dual Rate Air Extractor
BB5Z-7829164-AA	Wheel Lip Moulding Right Side
BB5Z-7829165-AA	Wheel Lip Moulding Left Side
4M8Z-54280B62-A	Valve Assembly Auto Drain
TA-2-B	Motorcraft Seam Sealer
EB5Z-5230- A	Muffler Assembly

 

OPERATION	DESCRIPTION	TIME
MT170029	Use SLTS Operations If Available; Claim Additional Diagnosis Or Labor Performed As Actual Time	Actual Time

 

WARRANTY STATUS

Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage.
Warranty/ESP coverage limits/policies/prior approvals are not altered by a TSB. Warranty/ESP coverage limits are determined by the identified causal part and verified using the OASIS part coverage tool.

 

DEALER CODING

BASIC PART NO.	CONDITION CODE
54280B62	42

 

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https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2017/SB-10099076-2532.pdf

 

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