Strange Issue with Expression Control Effects and Precomp

Been having a strange problem that seems to have only popped up recently... using both a brand new and an old (from CS3) project in CS4 (9.0.2).

Please bear with me as I'm having somewhat of a difficult time trying to explain this...

When I use an expression control effect to link to a property in a precomp, everything works fine until I set a keyframe and try to animate the expression control.

For example, I am creating a planet earth using CC Sphere (original I know). The earth image is 2 layers in a precomp (so I can control the opacity of the water and land sections separately). I apply the CC Sphere to the precomp, and everything is fine so far. I now have my "globe comp" set up to use in my main render comp. What I'm trying to do is control the Y Rotation of the CC Sphere effect in my main render comp, so I set up an Angle Control effect and link it to the Y Rotation of the CC Sphere effect (in the globe precomp). This works perfectly fine - I can rotate the globe from my main comp... UNTIL I set a keyframe. Once I try to animate, the Angle Control stops working and the globe will not rotate. Delete the keyframes and it works again.

I had the same issue with another project (which is too complicated to explain here) - it's a project I use somewhat often that has several precomps so I can swap out the source images. I created it back in CS3 and it always worked fine - until a few weeks ago. Suddenly the expression control effects stopped working - but only if I set keyframes. Without the keyframes they still work (so it isn't a naming issue). This project has worked for me sevral times in the past, but the last time I tried it all my controls were not working. I though it was just a weird glitch until my globe project mentioned above proved otherwise.

I am on a brand new installation of OS X 10.5.8 with AE CS4 9.0.2 (also a fresh install). No preferences or anything were brought over from my old system. I have tried purging the ram, rebooting, another system even - and same issue all around. Of course I can use a workaround and animate in the precomps, but the expression controls would make it so much easier - if only they were working properly.

Am I missing something here and trying to do the impossible? or is there something wrong here?

Thanks!
Scott