2004 FORD EXPEDITION suspension

Seating and Safety Restraints 145
Seating 145
Safety restraints 160
Air bags 174
Child restraints 182
Driving 197
Starting 197
Brakes 201
Air suspension 204
Transmission operation 210
Vehicle loading 229
Trailer towing 231
Roadside Emergencies 239
Getting roadside assistance 239
Hazard flasher switch 240
Fuel pump shut-off switch 240
Fuses and relays 242
Changing tires 253
Jump starting 258
Wrecker towing 264
Customer Assistance 266
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 274
Cleaning 275
Maintenance and Specifications 281
Engine compartment 283
Engine oil 285
Battery 288
Fuel information 296
Air filter(s) 310
Part numbers 325
Refill capacities 325
Lubricant specifications 328
2004 Expedition(exd)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Table of Contents
2

This acts as a reminder that these warning conditions still exist within
the vehicle.
Warning display Status
Check backup aid (if equipped) Warning displays when R (reverse)
gear is selected.
PRNDL error no backup aid (if
equipped)
Door ajar Warning returns after 10 minutes
Liftgate or liftglass ajar
Warning-tire very low (if
equipped)
Low fuel level
Check charging system
Low brake fluid level
Low oil pressure
Check engine temperature
Reduced engine power
Stop engine safely
Check tire pressure (if
equipped)Warning returns after the ignition key
is turned from OFF to ON.
Tire pressure system fault (if
equipped)
Tire pressure sensor fault (if
equipped)
Low washer fluid level
Check AdvTrac (if equipped)
Check air suspension (if
equipped)
Air suspension switched OFF
(if equipped)
Check fuel cap
CHECK BACKUP AID (if equipped).Displayed when the
transmission is in R (Reverse).
2004 Expedition(exd)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driver Controls
126

when the engine is idling at a low speed, turn off as many of the
electrical loads as soon as possible. If the warning stays on or comes on
when the engine is operating at normal speeds, have the electrical
system checked as soon as possible.
LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL.Indicates the brake fluid level is low and
the brake system should be inspected immediately. Refer toChecking
and adding brake fluidin theMaintenance and specifications
chapter.
LOW OIL PRESSURE.Displayed when the engine oil pressure is low. If
this warning message is displayed, check the level of the engine oil.
Refer toEngine oilin theMaintenance and specificationschapter for
information about adding engine oil. If the oil level is OK and this
warning persists, shut down the engine immediately and contact your
dealership for service.
LOW WASHER FLUID LEVEL.Indicates the washer fluid reservoir is
less than one quarter full. Check the washer fluid level. Refer to
Windshield washer fluidin theMaintenance and specifications
chapter.
CHECK ADVTRAC (if equipped).Displayed when the AdvanceTrac

system is not operating properly. If this message is displayed on the
message center the AdvanceTrac
system may be partially operable. If
this warning stays on while the engine is running, contact your dealer for
service as soon as possible. For further information, refer to
AdvanceTrac
stability enhancement systemin theDrivingchapter.
CHECK AIR SUSPENSION (if equipped).Displayed when the air
suspension system is not operating properly. If this message is displayed
while driving, pull off the road as soon as safely possible. For more
information, refer toAir suspensionin theDrivingchapter.
AIR SUSPENSION SWITCHED OFF (if equipped).Displayed when
the air suspension switch is in the OFF position. For more information,
refer toAir suspensionin theDrivingchapter.
CHECK FUEL CAP.Displayed when the fuel filler cap is not properly
installed. Check the fuel filler cap for proper installation. Refer toFuel
filler capin theMaintenance and specificationschapter.
DATA ERR.These messages indicate improper operation of the vehicle
network communication between electronic modules.
•Fuel computer
•Charging system
•Door sensor
2004 Expedition(exd)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driver Controls
128

If the power steering system breaks down (or if the engine is turned
off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort.
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
•Underinflated tire(s) on any wheel(s)
•Uneven vehicle loading
•High crown in center of road
•High crosswinds
•Wheels out of alignment
•Loose or worn suspension components
Speed sensitive steering
Your vehicle is equipped with engine speed sensitive steering. At higher
engine speeds associated with high vehicle speed, the steering assist will
decrease to improve steering feel.
If the amount of effort required to steer your vehicle changes while
maintaining a constant engine speed, have the power steering system
checked by your dealer or a qualified service technician.
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
The air suspension system is designed to improve ride comfort, vehicle
handling and general vehicle performance by adjusting the vehicle’s ride
height according to vehicle speed, weight added to or removed from the
vehicle and four-wheel drive (if equipped) operation. Normal vehicle
operation does not require any action by the driver.
When you enter the vehicle and the ignition is off, the air suspension will
have automatically lowered the vehicle to its lowest height to provide
easier entry. When a door or the liftgate is opened, the system
memorizes and maintains that height until either all doors are closed or
the vehicle’s speed exceeds 24 km/h (15 mph). The air suspension
system will then raise the vehicle’s height to its normal position when the
ignition is turned on, all doors are closed and the transmission is shifted
from P (Park).
When the vehicle is in motion, the air suspension will adjust the vehicle
ride height to normal operating position to maximize your ride comfort.
If your vehicle is equipped with four-wheel drive and you shift into 4WD
LOW, the air suspension will not move to it’s lowest position; instead, the
ride height is raised above the normal ride height position (at speeds
below 40 km/h [25 mph]) to improve ground clearance.
2004 Expedition(exd)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
204

If a load is added to, or removed from the vehicle, the load leveling
feature of the air suspension system will adjust the suspension to keep
the vehicle at a constant level.
When exiting the vehicle, the air suspension will automatically lower the
vehicle to its lowest height to provide easier exit. You may hear a buzz or
click from the air suspension system when the ignition is turned off. The
air suspension system will stay active for 40 minutes after the ignition is
turned off to accommodate any load changes. (The air compressor may
run when the vehicle is off; this is normal.)
The air suspension shut-off switch is
located behind two access panels on
the left rear quarter trim panel, near
the liftgate. To remove the first
panel, turn the control
counterclockwise and remove the
panel.
On vehicles equipped with
air suspension, turn the air
suspension and the ignition switch
off prior to jacking, hoisting or
towing your vehicle.
2004 Expedition(exd)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
205

To remove the second panel, press
the tab down to unlock the access
panel.
Press the bottom portion of the
switch to turn off the air
suspension.
2004 Expedition(exd)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
206

•A slight deceleration of the vehicle
•The AdvanceTrac
indicator light will flash
•If your foot is on the brake pedal, you will feel a vibration in the
pedal.
•If the driving condition is severe and your foot is not on the brake, the
brake pedal will move to apply higher brake forces. You may also hear
a whoosh of air from under the instrument panel during this severe
condition.
All these conditions are normal during AdvanceTrac
operation.
Do not alter or modify your vehicle’s suspension or steering; the
resulting changes to the vehicle’s handling can adversely affect
the AdvanceTrac
system. Also, do not install a stereo
loudspeaker near the front center console or under either front
seat. The speaker vibrations can adversely affect the
AdvanceTrac
sensors located in this area.
Aggressive driving in any road conditions can cause you to lose
control of your vehicle increasing the risk of severe personal
injury or property damage. The occurrence of an AdvanceTrac
event
is an indication that at least some of the tires have exceeded their
ability to grip the road; this may lead to an increased risk of loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death. If you
experience a severe road event, SLOW DOWN.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION
Brake-shift interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a park/brake-shift interlock feature that
prevents the gearshift lever from being moved from P (Park) when the
ignition is in the ON position unless brake pedal is depressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift lever out of P (Park) with ignition in
the ON position and the brake pedal depressed, or when the ignition is
in the OFF position, it is possible that a fuse has blown or the vehicle’s
brakelamps are not operating properly. Refer toFuses and relaysin the
Roadside emergencieschapter.
If the fuse is not blown, perform the following procedure:
1. Apply the parking brake, turn the ignition to OFF, then remove the
key.
2. Push the tilt steering lever down and tilt the steering column all the
way up.
2004 Expedition(exd)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
210

Tires, Replacement Requirements
Do not use a size and type of tire and wheel other than that
originally provided by Ford Motor Company because it can affect
the safety and performance of your vehicle, which could result in an
increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, and/or serious
personal injury or death.
Make sure all road tires and road wheels on the vehicle are of the same
size, type, tread design and load carrying capacity (for information on
the spare tire, refer toChanging the Tiresin theRoadside
emergencieschapter). If you have questions regarding tire replacement,
see an authorized Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealer.
If you nevertheless decide to equip your four–wheel drive for off-road
use with tires larger than what Ford Motor Company recommends, you
should not use these tires for highway driving.
If you use any tire/wheel combination not recommended by Ford Motor
Company, it may adversely affect vehicle handling and could cause
steering, suspension, axle or transfer case failure as well as the increased
risk of loss of vehicle control.
Do not use“aftermarket lift kits”or other suspension modifications,
whether or not they are used with larger tires and wheels.
These“aftermarket lift kits”could adversely affect the vehicle’s handling
characteristics, which could lead to loss of vehicle control or rollover and
serious injury.
Tires can be damaged during off-road use. For your safety, tires that are
damaged should not be used for highway driving because they are more
likely to blow out or fail.
You should carefully observe the recommended tire inflation pressure
found on the safety compliance certification label attached to the left
front door latch post pillar (a label may also be found on the fuel cap
filler door). Failure to follow tire pressure recommendations can
adversely affect the way your vehicle handles. Do not exceed the Ford
Motor Company recommended pressure even if it is less than the
maximum pressure allowed for the tire.
2004 Expedition(exd)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
227