'87 B2 -- Common problems?
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From: Rural Norfolk, England
'87 B2 -- Common problems?
Hi all,
As I mentioned in my first post in the welcome area, I've just acquired a 1987 Bronco II, the first time I had one of these little trucks. Mine is the 4WD, 5-speed manual transmission and 2.9 EFI V6 version.
I'm already working on a few little "tidying up" jobs and a general service. I have a little noise on the low gears under acceleration, which from browsing through this forum I understand is fairly normal for a BII at over 100,000 miles. It's not bad enough to worry about though.
One other "must do" job is to replace the temperature sender as the gauge isn't working. I gather that the 2.9 V6 engine is particularly sensitive to excess temperature?
Other than general servicing which would apply to any vehicle, are there any other specific failings and problem areas on an '87 BII to which I should pay particular attention?
Thanks,
Paul, Norfolk, England.
As I mentioned in my first post in the welcome area, I've just acquired a 1987 Bronco II, the first time I had one of these little trucks. Mine is the 4WD, 5-speed manual transmission and 2.9 EFI V6 version.
I'm already working on a few little "tidying up" jobs and a general service. I have a little noise on the low gears under acceleration, which from browsing through this forum I understand is fairly normal for a BII at over 100,000 miles. It's not bad enough to worry about though.
One other "must do" job is to replace the temperature sender as the gauge isn't working. I gather that the 2.9 V6 engine is particularly sensitive to excess temperature?
Other than general servicing which would apply to any vehicle, are there any other specific failings and problem areas on an '87 BII to which I should pay particular attention?
Thanks,
Paul, Norfolk, England.
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From: Atlanta GA
> are there any other specific failings and problem areas on an '87 BII
Yes, the TFI module on the dist. fails frequently. Buy a replacement ($30 Wells), the tools to change it (long socket and 1/4" ratchet), some heat sink grease, and keep it in the glovebox. I suggest do a test remove since yours might have plugs over the screws and it is tough to do the 1st time.
Yes, the TFI module on the dist. fails frequently. Buy a replacement ($30 Wells), the tools to change it (long socket and 1/4" ratchet), some heat sink grease, and keep it in the glovebox. I suggest do a test remove since yours might have plugs over the screws and it is tough to do the 1st time.
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Ditto. i've had my BII for 150,000kms (now 265,000kms). When the TFI fails it fails completely with no warning and you are dead in the water. You will get cranking but no spark. I've put two in during the time i've had the truck and failure was the same both time. The second time I had the TFI replaced the mechanic that did it said that most of the time it's the grease that fails- dries up, and the TFI module overheats. I've added refreshing the grease behind the TFI module to my list of annual chores. There's more once you get lots of miles on these trucks, but nothing onerous. You're much better off with a 5 speed than the A4LD.
Last edited by BCTom; Aug 5, 2006 at 02:09 PM.
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Depending on the climate the B2 was subject to, you may want to look at the body mounts. Where I live it is very hard to find the B2's without rusting out problems with body mount brackets. The center ones on each side seem the most suseptable (probably due to being inline with the front wheels and thus all the stuff thrown back while driving.
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From: Yokosuka, Honshu, Japan
Originally Posted by BCTom
Ooops one question for you Paul. How did a B11 end up in the UK?
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From: Rural Norfolk, England
Thanks for the tips. I'll look into keeping a spare TFI module and take a good look at the body mounts. I was planning on getting underneath to pressure wash and then underseal while the weather is still good anyway, so that will be a good time to check that area.
U.S. vehicles aren't all that common on the roads here, but there are some of us who like them, and there have been plenty of privately imported cars over the years. As mentioned, some also get shipped over by servicemen and then sold when they finish their tour of duty and return to the States. I had a '79 Chrysler once which had been used as a staff car on one of the bases.
I have no paperwork to give a clue as to the history of this particular vehicle, beyond that it was registered and put on U.K. plates in 1991. It could have been privately imported at that time, or it might have been on a base from near-new and then sold off in 1991. The VIN shows it as being built at Ford's plant in Louisville, Ky.
Ooops one question for you Paul. How did a B11 end up in the UK?
I have no paperwork to give a clue as to the history of this particular vehicle, beyond that it was registered and put on U.K. plates in 1991. It could have been privately imported at that time, or it might have been on a base from near-new and then sold off in 1991. The VIN shows it as being built at Ford's plant in Louisville, Ky.
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Posting Guru
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From: Yokosuka, Honshu, Japan
Have you tried getting a carfax history report on the VIN? That might shed a little more light on the situation.
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From: Rural Norfolk, England
By the way, are the original Ranger/Bronco II tail light lenses particularly susceptible to sunlight?
My lights seemed to be very clouded, especially given that the vehicle has been in England for at least 15 years of its life. Just curious about that one, as I wanted to replace them anyway. Someone had tried the common trick here of "Europeanizing" the lights, converting the original backup lights to independent turn signals by hacking out the clear plastic and sticking amber from something else in. I was able to get replacements from Ohio: $22 for the lights and $40 for shipping! Still, at least all the lights are back the way they should be now!
My lights seemed to be very clouded, especially given that the vehicle has been in England for at least 15 years of its life. Just curious about that one, as I wanted to replace them anyway. Someone had tried the common trick here of "Europeanizing" the lights, converting the original backup lights to independent turn signals by hacking out the clear plastic and sticking amber from something else in. I was able to get replacements from Ohio: $22 for the lights and $40 for shipping! Still, at least all the lights are back the way they should be now!
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From: Rural Norfolk, England
Hmm... Didn't think to try anything like that. T-Cut maybe?
I needed to replace due to the hacked backup lenses anyway. I can't figure why somebody even did that. If he really wanted to make the modification to convert the backup lights to independent amber turn signals, why not just leave the lenses alone and fit an amber bulb? (We can get single-filament bulbs equiv. to a #1156 in amber here - They're used as the front signals behind clear lenses on many newer cars.)
I needed to replace due to the hacked backup lenses anyway. I can't figure why somebody even did that. If he really wanted to make the modification to convert the backup lights to independent amber turn signals, why not just leave the lenses alone and fit an amber bulb? (We can get single-filament bulbs equiv. to a #1156 in amber here - They're used as the front signals behind clear lenses on many newer cars.)