Been doing alot of resaerch here and other places about awd problems,seems to be the most popular subject( atleast on machines with the hub coils)
Anyway I see alot about awd indicator bulb.I have the 04 400 sportsman with the analog needle and digital display pod.I know the awd symbol in the display comes on,but have seen videos on youtube where the actual letters by the switch light up red,was wondering are mine supposed to light up,because they do not,and if so could this be causing some of the trouble I am having.I dont see it mentioned in the owners manual

 

On later models the bulb doesn't complete the circuit. That was change around the 97-98 models. If the awd symbol come on the display,the connection is complete. Just clean the connector going into the throttle housing and you can always use an volt meter or test light to check voltage to the awd switch,but like I said if the symbol come on the speedo when you slide the switch, the circuit has been completed. If power is going to the hub coils,problem could be mechanical rather than electrical.

 

think it was after 2000. my AWD indicator bulb came on in my 2000 335 sportsman. as that was the first yr of the digital speedos with white faces.

 

Yep,I said 97-98 models,but 99 models were actually the first year on the new throttle/awd switch housing that didn't have the separate(replaceable) awd bulb. Dirt Cheap Yamaha, Honda, Arctic Cat & Polaris OEM Parts & Accessories – Cycle Parts Warehouse