1998 FORD EXPEDITION trailer

4. Attach the trailer to the vehicle
and adjust the hitch equalizers so
that the front bumper height is
within 0±13 mm (0.5 in) of the
reference point. After proper
adjustment, the rear bumper
should be no higher than in Step 3.
5. Turn the air suspension (if
equipped) control to ON.
Adjusting an equalizing
hitch so the rear bumper
of the vehicle is lower or higher
than it was unloaded will defeat
the function of the load
equalizing hitch and may cause
unpredictable handling.
Safety chains
Always connect the trailer's safety
chains to the vehicle. To connect
the trailer's safety chains, cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and
allow slack for turning corners.
If you use a rental trailer, follow
the instructions that the rental
agency gives to you.
Trailer brakes
Electric brakes and manual,
automatic or surge-type brakes are
safe if installed properly and
adjusted to the manufacturer's
specifications. The trailer brakes
must meet local and Federal
regulations.
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122

Do not connect a trailer's
hydraulic brake system
directly to your vehicle's brake
system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and
your chances of having a
collision greatly increase.
Trailer lamps
Trailer lamps are required on most
towed vehicles. Make sure your
trailer lamps conform to local and
Federal regulations. See your
dealer or trailer rental agency for
proper instructions and equipment
for hooking up trailer lamps.
Using a step bumper
The rear bumper is equipped with
an integral hitch and requires only
a ball with a 25.4 mm (one inch)
shank diameter. The bumper has a
1 814 kg (4 000 lb.) trailer weight
and 181 kg (400 lb.) tongue weight
capability.
Use a frame-mounted weight
distributing hitch for trailers over
1814 kg (4 000 lb).
Driving while you tow
Do not drive faster than 88 km/h
(55 mph) when towing a trailer.
Speed control may shut off if you
are towing on long, steep grades.
When towing a trailer:
²Use D (Drive) or a lower gear
when towing up or down steep
hills. This will eliminate
excessive downshifting and
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123

upshifting for optimum fuel
economy and transmission
cooling.
²Anticipate stops and brake
gradually.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long
distances, your vehicle will require
more frequent service intervals.
Refer to the Severe Duty Schedule
in your ªService Guideº for more
information.
Towing behind another vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle behind
another vehicle, such as an RV.
Your vehicle cannot be flat towed
with all wheels on the ground.
Trailer towing tips
²Practice turning, stopping and
backing up in an area before
starting on a trip to get the feel
of the vehicle trailer
combination. When turning,
make wider turns so the trailer
wheels will clear curbs and
other obstacles.
²Allow more distance for
stopping with a trailer attached.
²The trailer tongue weight should
be 10±15% of the loaded trailer
weight.
²After you have traveled 80 km
(50 miles), thoroughly check
your hitch, electrical
connections and trailer wheel
lug nuts.
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124

²When stopped in traffic for long
periods of time in hot weather,
place the gearshift in P (Park)
and increase idle speed. This
aids engine cooling and air
conditioner efficiency.
²Vehicles with trailers should not
be parked on a grade. If you
must park on a grade, place
wheel chocks under the trailer's
wheels.
Launching or retrieving a boat
When backing down a ramp during
boat launching or retrieval,
²Do not allow the static water
level to rise above the bottom
edge of the rear bumper and
²Do not allow waves to break
higher than 15 cm (six inches)
above the bottom edge of the
rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow
water to enter critical vehicle
components, adversely affecting
driveability, emissions and
reliability.
If the rear axle is submerged in
water, the rear axle lubricant
should be checked and changed, if
necessary. The rear axle is filled
with a synthetic lubricant and does
not normally require a lubricant
change for the life of the vehicle.
Rear axle lubricant quantities
should not need to be checked
unless a leak is suspected.
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Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingDescription
16 20A Instrument Cluster (W/O DRL),
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Module, Hi-Beam Headlamps
(Power supplied through
Multi-Function Switch)
17 10A Heated Backlight Switch, Left
Power/Heated Signal Mirror, Right
Power/Heated Signal Mirror
18 5A Main Light Switch, Generic
Electronic Module (GEM),
Instrument Illumination (Power
supplied through Main Light
Switch)
19 10A Instrument Cluster, Air Bag
Diagnostic Monitor
20 5A 4 Wheel Air Suspension (4WAS),
Generic Electronic Module (GEM)
21 15A Digital Transmission Range (DTR)
Sensor, Junction Box Fuse/Relay
Panel (Fuse 20)
22 10A Air Bag Diagnostic Monitor
23 10A Trailer Tow Battery Charge Relay,
4X4 Center Axle Disconnect
solenoid, 4X2 Center Axle
Disconnect Solenoid, Function
Selector Switch, Rear Integrated
Control Panel, Recirculation
Vacuum Solenoid, Auxiliary A/C
Mode Acturator, Auxiliary A/C
Control Module
24 10A Function Selector Switch
25 5A 4 Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System
(4WABS) Module, 4WABS Relay
Roadside emergencies
132

The high-current fuses are coded
as follows.
Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingDescription
1 20A* Trailer Tow Running Lamp Relay,
Trailer Tow Backup Lamp Relay
2 10A* Air Bag Diagnostic Monitor
3 30A* All Unlock Relay, All Lock Relay,
Driver's Unlock Relay
4 15A* Air Suspension Service Switch
5 20A* Horn Relay
6 30A* Radio, Premium Sound Amplifier,
CD Changer, Rear Integrated
Control Panel, Sub-Woofer Power
(Fuse 3 & Fuse 5)
19 29
18 28EEC
POWER
RELAY
FUEL
PUMP
RELAY
FRONT
WASHER
PUMP HORN
RELAY 17 27
16 26
15 25
14 24
13
11 12
910
78
56
34
1223
22
21
20
W/S/W
RUN/
PARKW/S/W
HI/LO
Roadside emergencies
134

Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingDescription
7 15A* Main Light Switch, Park Lamp
Relay
8 30A* Main Light Switch, Headlamp
Relay, Multi-Function Switch
9 15A* Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Module, Fog Lamp Relay
10 25A* I/P Auxiliary Power Socket
11 25A* Console Auxiliary Power Socket
12 10A* Rear Wiper Up Motor Relay, Rear
Wiper Down Motor Relay
13 30A** Auxiliary A/C Relay
14 60A** 4 Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System
(4WABS) Module
15 50A** Air Suspension Solid State
Compressor Relay
16 40A** Trailer Tow Battery Charge Relay,
Engine Fuse Module (Fuse 2)
17 30A** Shift on the Fly Relay, Transfer
Case Shift relay
18 30A** Power Seat Control Switch
19 20A** Fuel Pump Relay
20 50A** Ignition Switch (B4 & B5)
21 50A** Ignition Switch (B1 & B3)
22 50A** Junction Box Fuse/Relay Panel
Battery Feed
23 40A** I/P Blower Relay
24 30A** PCM Power Relay, Engine Fuse
Module (Fuse 1)
25 30A CB Junction Box Fuse/Relay Panel,
ACC Delay Relay
26 Ð Not Used
Roadside emergencies
135

Fuse/Relay
LocationFuse Amp
RatingDescription
27 40A** Junction Box Fuse/Relay Panel,
Heated Grid Relay
28 30A** Trailer Electronic Brake
Controller
29 30A** Flip Window Relay, Hybrid
Cooling Fan Relay
* Mini Fuses ** Maxi Fuses
Relays
Relays are located in the power
distribution box and should be
replaced by qualified technicians.
Primary battery fuses
(megafuses)
Roadside emergencies
136