i just bought my 1st car 86 bronco2 the overdrive seems not to be working. Its a 2.9 efi 4x4 automatic. in drive at about 55 rpm is
2500. since I put every cent I had into buying it I need to find out how to fix it myself.Also The engine compartment seems to get awefully hot even the hood is hot! the temp gauge on the dash goes at the highest a little above normal should I trust the gauge?

 

Your RPM's are not that far off. My 1990 BII auto with OD 2.9l runs about 200-2100 RPM's at 55. Try letting of the throttle a little when you get to 55 and see if it shifts and the RPM's drop this may just be where yours run. The hood and engine compartment getting hot is not out of the ordinary unless you are talking paint peeling hot.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 27-Jul-01 AT 00:54 AM (EST)[/font][p]Thanks alot for the advice Just got the B2 2weeks ago. We had a problem with trans not shifting into 4 high, took it for a free trans check and they said the overdrive plug wasnt connected and when they plugged it in it wasnt working. My dad fixed the problem with 4 high, the gear shift plate was out of adjustment. he couldnt find a diagram of the OD connection but will take your suggestion on letting up to see if rpm drop. With the heatthe paints not peeling off and we are going to flush the radator this weekend so guess it should be ok.

 

Here's a tip from somebody with the same. You say you have 55 at 25? That's right on with mine. You shouldn't have any problems there. If you don't buy it, go out for a drive on a roadway that is somewhat isolated so there aren't any other cars around and drive. Listen for all the gear changes and make sure you're going on flat road fast enough that you're sure the OD would have kicked in by then. About your overheating, thermostat. That's pretty much it. Go to your local autoparts store and pick up a Fail-safe. They're only $7 +bush's pay check. Make sure it's the Fail-safe brand and not the other crap. If it still gets hot, check/replace your temp sensor and see if that helps. Mine had the same problem and I found out that when you're cruising, your gauge will read normal, but your engine is hot. What clued me in is I drove it freeway from one city to another. Shut the car off for like 2 min and then just turned the key to on. The gauge nearly shot through the roof. Come to find out that my thermostat had failed closed and nothing was flowing through. I replaced it with a fail-safe and it cooled right off, but I chose a temp to low and it failed on me. I learned this in the middle of winter when the engine didn't heat up. That's what they do is fail open so coolant still flows. Pick about a 180 or 185 thermostat and that should help. Hope it works out for you.