Anyone recommend a good Ford mechanic in Orange County, CA? I took my son's 87 2.9l Bronco II to my local Ford Service Dept and was told it was too old for them to work on it, and in addition, probably would not have the parts!


The symptoms are as follows:


Black smoke spewing out the exhaust
erratic idle (sometimes)
surging/bucking tranny


I am thinking vacuum leak and dirty injectors...


So far, the following maintenance has been performed:


New plugs, rotor and cap (plugs actually looked pretty good/dry)
New oil & filter
New air filter
New fuel filter
A/C charged ('bout time!!)


Tranny filter and fluid scheduled for tonight, however, dipstick shows full and still red in color...


Planning a cross country trip in the beast next week...




TIA

 

Castners auto service in Placentia will do right by you. My BIL used to be part owner of Yorba Linda auto parts and recommended Castners to me many years ago.

Since it's running so rich have you tried removing the vacuum hose from the fuel pressure regulator? If the diaphragm in it is leaking it will suck raw gas directly into the intake.

 

Thanks for the info!! I will first check the FPR and if that does not fix it, I'll give Castners a call....and just a mere 5 miles from my house!!!

 

Sounds like a plan, post back with what you find.

 

Vacuum line was full of gas, so I'm suspecting bad diaphragm in the FPR...good call!! Thanks again for your quick replies!!

 

And thanks for the update, glad it was such a quick and simple fix. And you saved around a hundred bucks by doing it yourself.

Have a good trip.