1998 Ford Expedition Logo
Posted on Dec 21, 2008

'98 Ford Expedition - 4WD/AWD won't engage. The switch to engage the 4WD/AWD does not light up and the 4WD/AWD will not engage. No engaging noises or anything. It's as if the switch has disconnected itself from the rest of the system. I visually checked the following fuses according to the owners' manual and they all look fine: UNDER DASH 5 - 5 amp 6 - 5 amp 7 - 5 amp 17 - 10 amp 23 - 10 amp 24 - 10 amp (I thought this one or #23 would be the problem) 29 - 5 amp UNDER HOOD 17 - 30 amp Is there possibly a simple solution for this problem? A fuse I'm missing? The switch itself? It seems like it's electronic in nature rather than mechanical. Possibly related - maybe not: The heater has stopped blowing hot air through the front vents. The problems seem to have started at roughly the same time, so I thought they might have something to do with one another. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer! H. Eric Mayse [email protected]

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I had a similar problem, but not exactly the same. In my expedition 98 the A4WD worked, but the 4x4 hi or low did not. Ford dealership diagnosed it to be the transfer case shift motor. I bought one from ebay for $85 and replaced it myself and it works fine now. They wanted $450 to replace it.

Some say you can tap the transfer case motor with hammer, but gently and it may come to life. I didn't try that.

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