More issues with my Lincoln MKC

[FordSVTGuy]

Hey all. Got my Lincoln MKC back from the dealership and noticed two things. One, an audible metal rattle coming from the driver’s side engine bay when driving and a leak at the passenger side rear wheel area. I took of the splash guard and tried to move things with my hand to test for movement. The only thing that seemed weird to me was that the driver side cv axel has play in it where it meets the transmission. Is that normal? I tried the same thing on the passenger side and it didn’t wiggle at all…

I checked visually for the leak in the back and found a thin hard tubing that seemed to loop near the rear strut tower that was leaking a thick heavy oil that smelled like gear oil. What the heck is that about? The Lincoln does have ride control to stiffen or relax the ride feel. Could that have some oil in it? It seems too far to the side and too high to come from the rear differential…

 

[The Critic]

Hey all. Got my Lincoln MKC back from the dealership

What work did they perform?

The only thing that seemed weird to me was that the driver side cv axel has play in it where it meets the transmission. Is that normal? I tried the same thing on the passenger side and it didn’t wiggle at all…

Some amount of play can be normal. Passenger side axle is often longer and has an intermediate support bearing/shaft.

I checked visually for the leak in the back and found a thin hard tubing that seemed to loop near the rear strut tower that was leaking a thick heavy oil that smelled like gear oil. What the heck is that about? The Lincoln does have ride control to stiffen or relax the ride feel. Could that have some oil in it? It seems too far to the side and too high to come from the rear differential…

Need a picture...

 

[FordSVTGuy]

Their work was unrelated to these areas. Not sure why they started to be issues now. Will snap a pic and get it posted…

 

[FordSVTGuy]

I put my finger on the line and in the other pic you can see it curves up an towards the strut tower…I have no clue what the line is, but it is covered in oil and road grime and the oil was dripping off this line…

 

[WylieCoyote]

AWD? Vent for the rear diff? This is the same place Ford put my Mustang's diff vent tube.

 

[FordSVTGuy]

It is all wheel drive. What might cause it to leak?

 

[WylieCoyote]

If it's got clutches in the diff, they may have overheated and puked a bit of fluid out the vent. Otherwise, overfilling will also do it.

 

[mk378]

Can you follow this tube to either end? It looks like it comes from the rear differential and just goes up there and dead-ends, which is a typical vent line on trucks. Having it run up high keeps water from going into the gear case if you go fording streams off-road.

 

[FordSVTGuy]

would this be indicative of a larger problem with the rear diff?

 

[FordSVTGuy]

Quick status update. Ford dealership has this in for service now. Rear leaking issue was definitely from rear differential vent tube and was described as normal. Excellent @WylieCoyote. No other apparent issues going on. Front noise is from bad strut tower. Is being replaced under warranty. I’ll post the final update when I get the vehicle back…

 

[FordSVTGuy]

Final report. Replaced strut tower and assorted fasteners. Covered under extended warranty, with $100 deductible.

 

[dishdude]

Glad you were able to get it resolved and it was something minor. Those poor struts probably take a beating from those PA roads!

 

[FordSVTGuy]

Glad you were able to get it resolved and it was something minor. Those poor struts probably take a beating from those PA roads!

Yes, yes they do.

 

[SatinSilver]

Always good to hear a positive outcome like this.