Let me start by saying I'm new to this site, and am blown away by the amount of information on Ford trucks. This site is one stop shopping for Ford information.

This summer I bought my '96 Bronco with the 5.0 engine. (This replaced my '90 Bronco. - These are great trucks). We had our first snow storm a couple of weeks ago. which gave me a chance to use the 4 WD. Well, I found myself getting stuck in the snow, and began questioning whether the 4 WD was operating. I jacked up the front today, and in 4 WD drive (with automatic hubs) the wheels did not turn in drive. (In 4 WD low, I can hear it 'clunk' in, and the truck is definitely 'gearing down'). My question is, how do I trouble shoot the problem. I've read as much as I could, and found that putting in Warn locking hubs are recommended. I am considering this, but would like to get the 4 WD auto hubs operative in the meantime. I appreciate any help you can provide.

The second problem is that the truck did not start in the last cold snap. It turned over fine, but would not start. Once the weather warmed up later in the day, it started fine. I had been noticing that in the cold weather it had needed two tries to start. It appears as if there is no ignition in the start position, but the engine 'grabs' and runs when the key returns to the run position. Possibly in the cold weather there is not enough engine momentum to start once the key is released. How would I trouble shoot this problem.

Thanks again for any help you can provide.

If these problems have been dealt with before, please give me a link to prior posts.

 

Was looking at Warn hubs on e-bay. Is there a difference between the standard and premium hubs?

 

Premiums are worth the extra money, they have a all steel design, and you turn them 7/8 of a turn to engage them, very strong hub too. As for the engine, might want to try 5w-30 during the winter monthes. 5w-30 is just as a think as 10w-30 at operating temp, but you get more oil to the bearing, plug the motor turns over fast with 5w-30 in it.

 

Thanks for your response fordman I will try the 5w-30 on my next oil change..

Are any special tools needed to convert to the manual hubs. I have the one socket for the bearing nut, but read that other tools may be needed.

 

Depending on what kind of hubs you have, you might need a conversion kit to put manual hubs in. There were several different kind of auto hubs, none of which can really be fixed when they break.

As for the starting problem, I would give the truck a complete tuneup. Cap, rotor, plugs, wires, ait filter, breather filter, PCV valve and fuel filter would be an excellent start. You will probably be amazed at how much better it runs and starts.

 

Thanks for the help. I'll take your suggestions, and will see if this solves the problem.

 

you may be having problems with the start up because of the battery too. sometimes when its real cold up here early in the morning i have to pull out the jumper pack. but when it warms up later on in the day the truck will start no problems

 

I didn't consider the battery, as it seems to crank at normal speed hot or when cold. The voltage registers normal.

It just seems that the engine won't catch while starting until I let go of the key, and then it starts. If I hold the key in the start position, it just keeps cranking. But when I quickly 'flip' the key, it will start. I'd like to check the ignition switch, but I'm not sure how to diagnose it, or rule it out as a problem.

Thanks for the responses. I'm gaining quite a Ford education.