First time Bronco owner
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First time Bronco owner
Just purchased a 1988 Bronco (eddie bauer) - 95,187 miles, clean, great looking truck. I've been looking through things lately and I have found some of what seems to be usual...power windows not operating correctly, passenger power locks do not work...among other things.
One thing that I noticed today that worried me, is I was looking at the dashboard instruments and noticed a very thin layer of smoke (exhaust) hovering behind the steering wheel. Where can this be coming from? Is there a seal that goes from the steering column to the firewall that could have gone bad?
Also, I let the truck run for about 10 minutes and noticed smoke coming out from underneath...took a look and it appeared to be coming from the engine compartment, buring oil from off the headers perhaps...I'm not sure. Should I be worried about these kinds of things or can they be fixed with a tune-up and all around look over. As you can see I am quite illiterate when it comes to vehicle maintenance, any help would be appreciated.
One thing that I noticed today that worried me, is I was looking at the dashboard instruments and noticed a very thin layer of smoke (exhaust) hovering behind the steering wheel. Where can this be coming from? Is there a seal that goes from the steering column to the firewall that could have gone bad?
Also, I let the truck run for about 10 minutes and noticed smoke coming out from underneath...took a look and it appeared to be coming from the engine compartment, buring oil from off the headers perhaps...I'm not sure. Should I be worried about these kinds of things or can they be fixed with a tune-up and all around look over. As you can see I am quite illiterate when it comes to vehicle maintenance, any help would be appreciated.
Last edited by genueix; Mar 20, 2004 at 02:47 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: minnesota
sounds like your valve covers are leaking oil. replace the valve cover gaskets and your leak should go away. power window motors go bad alot. replace both (one in each door) when you do them. power door locks are a pain to replace. they are rivited inside the door way down at the bottom.
I hope you like your bronco as much as i like mine!
I hope you like your bronco as much as i like mine!
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,406
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From: Wheatland, Mo
Hovering...? Then quit farting so damn much! Those green exhaust clouds can peel the paint off the truck!
Sorry...couldnt resist.
If you mean from under the hood and filtering its way to in front of the windshield, then I would agree with JerryGLX. Let the truck warm up til it starts to happen the open the hood and look at the back of the engine. You should be able to see where its coming from.
Now you said the dash board instruments, do you mean INSIDE the truck? Are you sure its not smoke from say...electrical burning? I would grab a flashlight, run the truck and look under the dash for something burning. The smoke will show up real good thru the light. Could be something is shorting out. If it is exhaust or something from the engine, then the previous owner could have ran something through the firewall like wiring and then never plugged the hole right, so the smoke is finding its way inside. If you cant find it yourself, then it would be worth the time and the $30 to have a mechanic find it and tell you what the prob is.
Sorry...couldnt resist.
If you mean from under the hood and filtering its way to in front of the windshield, then I would agree with JerryGLX. Let the truck warm up til it starts to happen the open the hood and look at the back of the engine. You should be able to see where its coming from.
Now you said the dash board instruments, do you mean INSIDE the truck? Are you sure its not smoke from say...electrical burning? I would grab a flashlight, run the truck and look under the dash for something burning. The smoke will show up real good thru the light. Could be something is shorting out. If it is exhaust or something from the engine, then the previous owner could have ran something through the firewall like wiring and then never plugged the hole right, so the smoke is finding its way inside. If you cant find it yourself, then it would be worth the time and the $30 to have a mechanic find it and tell you what the prob is.
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Concerning the smoke inside the cabin...by hovering I mean I am just sitting in the driver's seat looking at the instruments, I was in there cleaning the plastic over them and noticed it. I don't think it has to do with the heater core because I don't have it on and the cabin smells like exhaust. I thank you for all the input you guys have provided me, I'll take a look at it next week before I bring it in for a tune-up anyways (since I just bought it...I'm bringing it in).
Also, I noticed the front disc brakes have a fair amount of spotted rust on the disc...it has been raining and snowing a lot lately and I haven't driven the truck around since then...so this seems normal - but I thought I should still ask. Lastly...I just remembered, on both sides in the front wheel wells, I can see where the tires have been making a fair amount of contact with the chassis (it's polished down to the metal, about ~1.5" wide spot)...is this normal on Broncos, the tires aren't an especially big tire. Thanks again!
Also, I noticed the front disc brakes have a fair amount of spotted rust on the disc...it has been raining and snowing a lot lately and I haven't driven the truck around since then...so this seems normal - but I thought I should still ask. Lastly...I just remembered, on both sides in the front wheel wells, I can see where the tires have been making a fair amount of contact with the chassis (it's polished down to the metal, about ~1.5" wide spot)...is this normal on Broncos, the tires aren't an especially big tire. Thanks again!
Last edited by genueix; Mar 21, 2004 at 04:11 PM.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,406
Likes: 52
From: Wheatland, Mo
The rust shouldnt be much of a prob unless it starts getting real bad and causing pack of braking power. But you notice it going long before it does.
As for rubbing, I had the same issue with 31x10.5 BFG AT/KOs, on the factory rims. I got a set of Chrome Mods, $40 each, and no rubbing. The offset of the rim will make a diff. just depends on the tire size.
As for rubbing, I had the same issue with 31x10.5 BFG AT/KOs, on the factory rims. I got a set of Chrome Mods, $40 each, and no rubbing. The offset of the rim will make a diff. just depends on the tire size.
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