Ford Bronco 1988 Owner's Manual
Table of Contents
Introductory Information ............................... 1
Safety Restraints ............................................ 11
Starting Your Bronco .................................... 59
Warning Lights and Gauges ....................... 73
Instrument Panel Controls .......................... 89
Steering Column Controls ........................ 105
Features .......................................................... 119
Electronic Sound Systems ......................... 149
Driving Your Bronco .................................. 175
Roadside Emergencies ................................ 237
Customer Assistance ................................... 255
Accessories .................................................... 267
Servicing Your Bronco ............................... 275
Quick Index .................................................. 355
Index ............................................................... 363
Introductory Information
At Ford Motor Company, excellence is the
continuous commitment to achieve the best
result possible. It is dedication to learning what
you want, determination to develop the right
concept, and execution of that concept with care,
precision, and attention to detail. In short,
excellence means being the standard by which
others are judged.
Our Guiding Principles
Quality comes first. For your satisfaction, the
❑
quality of our products and services must be
our number one priority.
You are the focus of everything we do. Our
❑
work must be done with you in mind,
providing better products and services than
our competition.
Continuous improvement is essential to our
❑
success. We must strive for excellence in
everything we do: in our products — in their
safety and value — and in our services, our
human relations, our competitiveness, and
our profitability.
Employee involvement is our way of life.
❑
We are a team. We must treat one another
with trust and respect.
Dealers and suppliers are our partners. We
❑
must maintain mutually beneficial
relationships with dealers, suppliers, and our
other business associates.
1
Integrity is never compromised. Our conduct
❑
worldwide must be pursued in a manner that
is socially responsible and commands respect
for its integrity and for its positive
contributions to society.
This Guide
Congratulations on the purchase of your new
vehicle. This guide has information about the
equipment and the options for your new vehicle.
You may not have bought all of the options
available to you. If you do not know which
information applies to your vehicle, talk to your
dealer.
This guide describes equipment and gives
specifications for equipment that was in effect
when this guide was approved for printing. Ford
may discontinue models or change specifications
or design without any notice and without
incurring obligation.
NOTES and WARNINGS
NOTES give you additional information about
the subject matter you are referencing.
WARNINGS remind you to be especially careful
in those areas where carelessness can cause
damage to your vehicle or personal injury to
yourself, your passengers or other people. Please
read all WARNINGS carefully.
RWARNING
2
Finding Information in This Guide
After you have read this guide once, you will
probably return to it when you have a specific
question or need additional information. To help
you find specific information quickly, you can
use the table of contents or the index.
The Quick Index at the end of the book
provides a page number following each item
which indicates where detailed information can
be found.
This guide has a table of contents at the
beginning of the book to show chapter titles.
To use the Index, turn to the back of the book
and search in the alphabetical listing for the
word that best describes the information you
need. If the word you chose is not listed, think
of other related words and look them up. We
have designed the Index so that you can find
information under a technical term.
Canadian Owners — French Version
French Owner Guides can be obtained from your
dealer or by writing to Ford Motor Company of
Canada, Limited, Service Publications, P.O. Box
1580, Station B, Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G3.
Record Booklet
The Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet lists
the services that are most important for keeping
your vehicle in good condition. A record log is
also provided to help you keep track of all
services performed.
3
Your vehicle is covered by three types of
warranties: Basic Vehicle Warranty, Extended
Warranties on certain parts, and Emissions
Warranties.
Read your Warranty Information Booklet carefully
to find out about your vehicle’s warranties and
your basic rights and responsibilities.
If you lose your Warranty Information Booklet, you
can get a new one free of charge. Contact any
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer, or refer to the
addresses and phone numbers on the first page
of this owner guide.
Buying a Ford Extended Service Plan
If you bought your vehicle in the U.S., you can
buy a Ford Extended Service Plan for your
vehicle. This optional contract provides service
protection for a longer period of time than the
basic warranty that comes with your vehicle.
You do not have to buy this option when you
buy your vehicle. However, your option to
purchase the Ford Extended Service Plan runs
out after 18 months or 18,000 miles. See your
dealer for more details about the Ford Extended
Service Plan.
If you purchased a Canadian vehicle and did not
take advantage of the Ford Extended Service
Plan at the time of purchase, you may still be
eligible. See your dealer for the details.
4
UTILITY-TYPE VEHICLES
As with other vehicles of this type, failure to
operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss
of control or an accident. Be sure to read the
Additional Special Driving Instructions for Utility
Vehicles in this book and the special supplement
included with four-wheel drive vehicles entitled
4-Wheeling with Ford.
RWARNING
Do not use this vehicle as an ambulance.
Number (VIN)
Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is the
same as the warranty number that appears on
your owner card. You should include this
number any time you write to Ford Motor
Company about your vehicle.
The Vehicle Identification Number is attached to
your vehicle in the following places:
on the metal tag attached to the top of the
❑
instrument panel on the driver’s side — you
can see the tag by looking through the
windshield from outside your vehicle.
5
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN/Serial Number)
on the Safety Compliance Certification Label -
❑
this label is attached to the left front door
lock facing or the door latch post pillar. It is
required by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration and is made of special
material. If someone tampers with it, it will
be destroyed and/or a destruction pattern
will appear.
The label contains the name of the manufacturer,
the month and year of manufacture, the
certification statement and the Vehicle
Identification Number. The label also contains
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle
Weight Ratings, wheel and tire data and
information codes for additional vehicle data.
For further information about the Safety
Compliance Certification Label and the
information contained on it, refer to the Index.
Federal Highway Administration
Regulation
Regulations such as those issued by the Federal
Highway Administration or issued pursuant to
the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA),
and/or state and local laws and regulations may
require additional equipment for the way you
intend to use the vehicle. It is the responsibility
of the registered owner to determine the
applicability of such laws and regulations to
your intended use for the vehicle, and to
arrange for the installation of required
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equipment. Your Ford dealer has information
about the availability of many items of
equipment which may be ordered for your
vehicle.
Your new vehicle goes through an adjustment or
break-in period during the first 1,000 miles
(1,600 km) that you drive it. During the break-in
period, you need to pay careful attention to how
you drive your vehicle.
Avoid sudden stops. Because your vehicle
❑
has new brake linings, you should take these
steps:
— Watch traffic carefully so that you can
anticipate when to stop.
— Begin braking well in advance.
— Apply the brakes gradually.
The break-in period for new brake linings
lasts for 100 miles (160 km) of city driving or
1,000 miles (1,600 km) of highway driving.
Wheel lug nuts must be retightened to proper
❑
torque specifications at 500 miles/800 km of
new vehicle operation. Proper torque
specifications are provided in this guide. Also
retighten to proper torque specification at 500
miles/800 km after any wheel change or any
other time the wheel lug nuts have been
loosened.
Use only the type of engine oil that Ford
❑
recommends. See Engine oil recommendations
in the Index. Do not use special “break-in”
oils.
7
Vehicle
Washing and Polishing Your Vehicle
Wash the outside of your vehicle, including the
underside, with a mild detergent.
DO NOT:
Wash your vehicle with hot water
❑
Wash your vehicle while it sits in direct
❑
sunlight
Wash your vehicle while the body is hot
❑
Pollen, bird droppings and tree sap can damage
the paint, especially in hot weather. Wash your
vehicle as often as necessary to keep it clean.
Take similar precautions if your vehicle is
exposed to chemical industrial fallout.
Paint damage resulting from fallout is not
related to a defect in paint materials or
workmanship and therefore is not covered by
warranty. Ford, however, believes that continual
improvement in customer satisfaction is a high
priority. For this reason, Ford has authorized its
dealers to repair, at no charge to the owner, the
surfaces of new vehicles damaged by
environmental fallout within 12 months or 12,000
miles (20,000 km) of purchase, whichever comes
first. Customers may be required to bring their
vehicle in for inspection by a Ford
representative.
Polish your vehicle to remove harmful deposits
and protect the finish.
8
Cleaning Chrome and Aluminum Parts
Wash chrome and aluminum parts with the
same detergent you use to wash the vehicle
body, such as Ford Premium Car Wash
Concentrate. You can use Ford Extra Strength
Tar and Road Oil Remover or equivalent to
clean grease, oil, and tar from chrome-plated
parts, including wheelcovers, aluminum wheels,
bumpers, or anodized aluminum parts.
Cleaning Plastic Parts
Some of your vehicle’s exterior trim parts are
plastic. Clean with a tar and road oil remover if
necessary. Use a vinyl cleaner for routine
cleaning.
Do not clean plastic parts with thinners, solvents
or petroleum-based cleaners.
If you have your vehicle rustproofed, remove
oversprayed rustproofing with a tar and road oil
remover. If rustproofing is not removed from
plastic and rubber parts, it can cause
deterioration.
9
Safety Restraints
The use of safety belts helps to restrain you and
your passengers in case of a collision. In most
states and in Canada the law requires their use.
Safety belts provide best restraint when:
the seatback is upright
❑
the occupant is sitting upright (not slouched)
❑
the lap belt is snug and low on the hips
❑
the shoulder belt is snug against the chest
❑
the knees are straight forward
❑
To help you remember to fasten your safety belt,
a warning light may come on and a chime may
sound. See Safety Belt Warning Light and Chime in
the Warning Lights and Gauges chapter.
See the following sections in this chapter for
directions on how to properly use these safety
belts. Also see Safety Restraints for Children in this
chapter for special instructions about using
safety belts for children.
RWARNING
Make sure that you and your passengers
wear safety belts. Always drive and ride
with your seatback upright and the lap
belt snug and low across the hips.
11
RWARNING
Passengers should not be allowed to ride
in the cargo area. Persons not riding in a
seat with a fastened seat belt are much
more likely to suffer serious injury in a
collision. Cargo should always be secured
to prevent it from shifting and causing
damage to the vehicle or harm to
passengers.
RWARNING
Never let a passenger hold a child on his
or her lap while the vehicle is moving.
The passenger cannot protect the child
from injury in a collision.
RWARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury in a
collision, children should always ride with
the seatback upright.
RWARNING
Never wear the shoulder belt under the
arm. Never swing it around the neck over
the inside shoulder. Never use a single
belt for more than one person or across
more than one seating position. Each
seating position in your vehicle has a
specific safety belt assembly which is
made up of one buckle and one tongue
that are designed to be used as a pair.
Failure to follow these precautions could
increase the risk and/or severity of injury
in a collision.
12
Lock the doors of your vehicle before driving to
lessen the risk of the door coming open in a
collision.
Your vehicle is equipped with a dual locking
mode retractor on the shoulder belt portion of
the combination lap/shoulder safety belt for
front seat passenger and a locking “cinch
tongue” for rear seat outboard passengers.
Dual Locking Mode Retractors
Vehicle Sensitive (Emergency) Locking Mode
In this operating mode, the shoulder belt
retractor will allow the occupant freedom of
movement, locking tight only on hard braking,
hard cornering or impacts of approximately
5 mph (8 km/h) or more.
The front seat belt retractor can also be made to
lock by pulling/jerking on the belt.
Automatic Locking Mode
In this operating mode, the shoulder belt
retractor will be automatically locked and remain
locked when the combination lap/shoulder
safety belt is buckled, and does not allow the
occupant freedom of movement. This mode
provides the following:
A tight lap/shoulder belt fit on occupant
❑
Child seat/infant carrier installation restraint
❑
RWARNING
Rear-facing infant seats should never be
placed in the front seat.
This mode must be used when installing a child
seat on the front passenger seat and rear
outboard seats where dual locking retractors are
provided.
13
To switch the retractor from the “emergency
locking mode” to the “automatic locking mode,”
perform the following steps:
1. Buckle the lap/shoulder combination belt.
2. Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and
pull downward until all of the belt is
extracted, and when allowed to retract, a
clicking sound will be heard. At this time,
the belt retractor is in the “automatic locking
mode” (child restraint mode).
3. A clicking sound will continue to be heard
as the belt is allowed to retract. This
indicates that the retractor is in the
“automatic locking mode.”
NOTE: When the combination lap/shoulder
belt is unbuckled and allowed to
retract completely, the retractor will
switch back to the vehicle sensitive
(emergency) locking mode. See the
detailed instructions under Safety Seats
for Children in this chapter.
Locking Cinch Tongue
The “locking cinch tongue” will slide up and
down the belt webbing when belt is in the
stowed position or while putting seat belt on.
When the “locking cinch tongue” of the
lap/shoulder combination seat belt is latched
into buckle, the “cinch tongue” will allow the
lap portion to become shorter, but locks the
webbing in-place to restrict it from becoming
longer.
Your vehicle is equipped with safety seat belts
containing a “cinch tongue” at the rear outboard
seating positions.
14
Before you can reach and latch a combination
lap and shoulder belt having a “cinch tongue”
into the buckle, you may have to lengthen the
lap belt portion of it. To lengthen the lap belt,
pull some webbing out of the shoulder belt
retractor. While holding the webbing below the
tongue, grasp the tip (metal portion) of the
tongue so that it is parallel to the webbing and
slide the tongue upward. Provide enough lap
belt length so that tongue can reach the buckle.
NOTE: If you grasp the tongue by the tongue
cover to lengthen the belt, the tongue
cover will grab the webbing, making it
difficult to slide.
15
To fasten a “cinch tongue,” pull the combination
lap and shoulder belt from the retractor so that
the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt
crosses your shoulder and chest. Be sure the belt
is not twisted. If the belt is twisted, remove the
twist. (For instructions on how to remove a
twist, see the How to Untwist or Unjam a Safety
Belt Retractor section in this chapter.) Insert the
belt tongue into the proper buckle for your
seating position until you hear a snap and feel it
latch. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened
to the buckle by pulling on tongue. Adjust the
lap belt portion of the safety belt by pulling up
on the shoulder belt until the lap belt fits snugly
and as low as possible around your hips.
Lab and shoulder belt fastened
16
Belts
While your vehicle is in motion, the combination
lap and shoulder belt adjusts to your movement.
However, if you brake hard, corner hard or if
your truck receives an impact of 5 mph
(8 km/h) or more, the combination lap/shoulder
belt locks and helps reduce your forward
movement. The front seat belt systems can also
be made to lock by jerking on the shoulder belt.
NOTE: The rear belts cannot be made to lock
up by jerking on shoulder belt.
After you get into your vehicle, close the door
and lock it. Then adjust the seat to the position
that suits you best.
To fasten the belt
Pull the combination lap/shoulder belt from the
retractor so that the shoulder portion of the belt
crosses your shoulder and chest. Be sure the belt
is not twisted. If it is, remove the twist. Insert
the belt tongue into the proper buckle until you
hear a snap and feel it latch. Make sure the
tongue is securely fastened to the buckle by
pulling on tongue.
17
RWARNING
Use the shoulder belt on the outside
shoulder only. Never wear the shoulder
belt under the arm. Never swing it around
the neck over the inside shoulder. Never
use a single belt for more than one
person. Failure to follow these precautions
could increase the risk and/or severity of
injury in a collision.
To tighten the lap portion of the belt, pull up on
the shoulder belt until it fits you snugly. The
belt should rest as low on your hips as possible.
Due to folding rear seats, sometimes the buckles
and tongues toward the center of the vehicle
may be hidden by the rear edge of the seat
cushion. Pull them out so they will be accessible.
18
While you are fastened in the seat belt, the
combination lap and shoulder belt adjusts to
your movement. However, if you brake hard,
turn hard, or if your vehicle receives an impact
of 5 mph (8 km/h) or more, the lap and
shoulder belt will become locked and help
reduce your forward movement.
Adjustable Lap Belts Without Retractors
On the center position of the front and rear
three-passenger bench seats you will find a
lap-belt without a retractor, but does have a
locking adjustable tongue. Shorten this belt and
fasten it to buckle when you are not using it. To
lengthen the belt, tip the tongue at a right angle
to the belt and pull the belt over your lap until
the tongue reaches the buckle.
Fastening occupant safety lap belts
To fasten the belt, pull the belt across your hips
and insert the tongue into the correct buckle on
your seat until you hear a snap and feel it latch.
Make sure the buckle is securely fastened by
pulling tongue.
19
Adjust the belt so that it fits snugly and as low
as possible around the hips:
If you need to lengthen the belt, unfasten it
❑
and repeat the procedure above.
If you need to shorten the belt, pull on the
❑
loose end of the webbing.
To unfasten the belt:
1. Push the release button on the buckle. This
allows the tongue to unlatch from the
buckle.
Unfastening the front outboard lap/shoulder belts
Unfastening the rear outboard lap/shoulder belts
2. While the belt retracts, guide the tongue to
its stowed position. If you do not guide the
tongue, it may strike you or part of the
vehicle.
20
Instructions for securing child safety seats with
combination lap/shoulder safety belts having
“cinch tongues” are provided later in this
chapter.
How to Untwist or Unjam a Safety Belt
Retractor
If you should jam the lap belt retractor by
allowing the belt to retract when it is twisted,
you can free the webbing with this procedure:
1. Pull on the belt with both hands to tighten it
on the retractor spool.
2. Feed the belt back into the retractor until it
is completely retracted. Repeat previous step
if necessary.
3. Pull the belt out of the retractor as far as it
will go and untwist the belt or remove the
object that is jamming the belt. Let the belt
retract.
4. Then, pull the belt out and let it retract
several times to make sure that the belt
works properly.
21
Procedure to Correct a Twisted Safety
Shoulder Belt at the “D” Ring (if so
equipped) Front and/or Rear Outboard
Seating Positions
NOTE: The restraint system shown in the
following figures may be different than
the restraint system in your vehicle.
However, use these figures and this
procedure to correct a twisted safety
shoulder belt at any outboard seating
position that has a “D” ring.
22
1. Grasp the belt webbing at the “D” ring. See
Figure 2.
2. Rotate and fold the belt webbing over itself
as required to remove the twist.
3. Feed the folded portion of the belt through
the “D” ring.
4. When completed, the safety belt should look
like Figure 3.
23
Safety Belt Extension Assembly
For some people, the safety belt may be too
short even when it is fully extended. You can
add about eight inches (20 cm) to the belt length
with a safety belt extension assembly (part
number 611C22). Safety belt extensions are
available at no cost from your dealer.
Use only extensions manufactured by the same
supplier as the safety belt. Manufacturer
identification is located at the end of the webbing
on the label. Also, use the safety belt extension
only if the safety belt is too short for you when
fully extended. Do not use extension to change the
fit of the shoulder belt across the torso.
RWARNING
Failure to follow these instructions will
affect the performance of the safety belts
and increase the risk of personal injury.
24
Check your safety belt system periodically to
make sure that it works properly and isn’t
damaged. If the webbing shows any wear, nicks
or cuts, have it examined by a qualified
technician to determine if replacement is
necessary. Always have your safety belt system
checked after a collision by a qualified
technician.
All safety belt assemblies, including retractors,
buckles, front seat belt buckle support assemblies
(slide bar) (if so equipped), child safety seat
tether bracket assemblies (if so equipped), and
attaching hardware, should be inspected after
any collision. Ford recommends that all safety
belt assemblies used in vehicles involved in a
collision be replaced. However, if the collision
was minor and a qualified technician finds that
the belts do not show damage and continue to
operate properly, they do not need to be
replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in use
during a collision should also be inspected and
replaced if either damage or improper operation
is noted.
Cleaning the Safety Belts
Clean the safety belts with any mild soap
solution that is recommended for cleaning
upholstery or carpets. Do not bleach or dye the
belt webbing because this may weaken it.
System (SRS)
Driver air bag
Your vehicle is equipped with a driver side air
bag supplemental restraint system located in the
steering wheel and identified by the letters
“SRS” in the center of the wheel.
25
The driver air bag is a Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS), provided in addition to the driver
lap/shoulder belt, and is designed to
supplement the protection provided to a
properly belted driver in moderate to severe
frontal collisions. The supplemental air bag
system does not provide restraint to the lower
body.
The Importance of Wearing Safety Belts
RWARNING
Safety belts must be worn by all vehicle
occupants to be properly restrained and
help reduce the risk of injury in a
collision.
RWARNING
All occupants of the vehicle, including the
driver, should always wear their safety
belts, even when an air bag Supplemental
Restraint System is provided.
There are four very important reasons to use
safety belts even with an air bag system. Use
your safety belts to:
help keep you in the proper seating position
❑
(away from the air bag) when it inflates
reduce the risk of harm in rollover, side or
❑
rear impact collisions, because an air bag is
not designed to inflate in such situations
reduce the risk of harm in frontal collisions
❑
that are not severe enough to activate the
supplemental air bag
reduce the risk of being thrown from your
❑
vehicle
26
The Importance of Being Properly Seated
In a collision, the air bag must inflate extremely
fast to help provide additional protection for
you. In order to do this, the air bag must inflate
with considerable force. If you are not seated in
a normal riding position with your back against
the seatback, the air bag may not protect you
properly and could possibly hurt you as it
inflates.
RWARNING
Do not place objects or mount equipment
on or near the air bag cover on the
steering wheel or in front seat areas that
may come in contact with a deploying air
bag. Failure to follow this instruction may
increase the risk of personal injury in the
event of a collision.
How the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint
System Operates
The air bag supplemental restraint system has
two main parts. One part is the air bag system
with the driver air bag and inflator located in
the center of the steering wheel. The second part
is the electrical system, which has impact
sensors, and a diagnostic module, and backup
power supply. The diagnostic module monitors
its own internal circuits and the supplemental air
bag electrical system readiness, including the
impact sensors, the system wiring, the air bag
system readiness light, air bag power, and the
air bag ignitor.
27
The location of the air bag and warning label
The air bag system uses a readiness light and a
tone to indicate the condition of the system. The
readiness light is in the instrument cluster. When
you turn the ignition to the ON position, this
light will illuminate for approximately six (6)
seconds and then turn off. This indicates that the
system is operating normally. NOTE:
Maintenance of the air bag system is not
required.
A problem with the system is indicated by one
or more of the following: the readiness light will
either flash or stay lit, or it will not light, or a
group of five beeps will be heard.
RWARNING
If any of these things happen, even
intermittently, have the air bag system
serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer immediately.
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