1996 Ford Bronco

SUV

5.8L 351Cu. In. V8 GAS OHV Naturally Aspirated

Automatic

1FMEU15HXTLB92251

Clear

Gasoline

You are bidding on a 1996 full-size Ford Bronco Eddie Bauer 4WD with a 5.8 liter V-8, VIN #1FMEU15HXTLB92251. It carries every dealer option available in 1996 (aside from the multi-disc CD player that was offered). Mileage is just under 242 K. This truck has been used as an everyday vehicle since it was originally purchased. A majority of the mileage can be attributed to regular, long-distance highway travel. I am the second owner. I purchased the Bronco in 2008 (at roughly 155K miles) specifically because it was so evident how well the original owner had maintained it. Vehicle condition? This is the tale of two trucks. Aesthetically, the Bronco is in very good condition—as good as one can expect from a vehicle of this vintage. As for the interior, the leather front seats show some regular wear, with the driver’s seat having two small tears (roughly 1.5-2” long), and the passenger’s seat has a small puncture hole (which could probably be glued as a fix). The rear bench seat is in very good condition, sporting only a couple of minor dimples (but not tears) from formerly-installed child car seats—the guess here is that those indentations will subside over time. The exterior is very impressive for a vehicle of its age. The truck was repainted in 2012, at which time the rear wheel wells were cut out and patched with aftermarket sheet metal patches designed for full-size Broncos and F-Series trucks. At the same time, the tailgate shell was replaced with a new shell, with most of the interior tailgate parts replaced as well. There are several small paint chips on the hood (especially on the front of the hood, likely from road debris) as well as a roughly 1”-square scrape on the quarter panel just rear of the driver’s side door. There are a few scratches along the top of the tailgate. Paint is slightly chipped in two places along the rim of the passenger door. There is a minimal bubble above the passenger’s side wheel well where the sheet metal was patched. More bubbling is visible above the driver’s side wheel well, though it is not especially pronounced. There are surface-level scratches/scuffs along several parts of the body. There is a slight chip (about 1/2" diameter) in the lower central region of the windshield--it has been there for roughly two years and has shown no signs of spreading. The chip does not in any way obscure visibility. There is some rust protruding through the passenger's side rear bumper--roughly 2" in diameter. The wheels are showing some signs of oxidation. The Eddie Bauer spare tire cover is functional and looks good overall, though it shows signs of being 19 years old. The Bronco's top has never been removed. My mechanic has advised me that the Bronco is no longer suitable for everyday driving if I am not able to spend money on replacing some rusting parts. Rear spring leaf shackles on the driver’s side have been replaced in recent years, but the passenger’s side is showing signs of corrosion—both in the front and rear. As much as I’d like to stick this truck in the garage and hold on to it, I lack both the cash to have the work done and the know-how to do it on my own. I do not represent the Bronco to be fit for everyday driving. The Bronco has reached the age that it should be treated as a “weekend” vehicle. Prospective buyers are advised that upon purchasing the Bronco, a professional mechanic should examine the vehicle before the vehicle is driven. Again, my mechanic did not feel that the Bronco was a lost cause. He simply advised me that if I wanted to continue regularly driving it, I should have work done on it first. The good: · The engine is original—and it absolutely purrs. It has been run on synthetic oil throughout (I have run it on Mobil 1). Plugs were replaced roughly 1,000 miles ago. My last Bronco was a 1989 XLT with the 5.0 liter engine. The difference between a 5.0 and a 5.8 is remarkable. · Transmission is original and is smooth. · Equipped with leather seats and trim, A/C, power windows, power locks, powered driver seat, cruise control, anti-lock brakes, automatic transmission, push-button 4X4, keyless entry, and driver-side airbag. · Tires (Michelin LTX 31 10.5 R15) have substantial tread remaining—roughly 20,000 miles of wear. They need to be rotated—road noise has been higher lately. · Stock stereo and speakers were replaced in 2010 with Kenwood equipment. Head unit (Kenwood model KDC-HD545U; AM/FM with single CD player and MP3 input) is detachable-face and is equipped with Bluetooth (Kenwood model KCA-BT300) and a remote control (though why anyone would need a remote control inside of an automobile is beyond me). Stock speakers were replaced as well: front (Kenwood KFC 1662S) and rear (Kenwood Excelon KFC-X683C). Roughed-out pre-out and power lines for an amplifier and/or a subwoofer can be found behind the rear seat. I have color-coded the wires with electrical tape (red = battery hot lead, blue = head unit power lead, black = ground). Installation instructions (Crutchfield) for audio equipment will be provided. High volume is never my goal—high-quality sound for my music certainly is. I wasn’t going to accomplish that with the stock audio equipment. · Previous owner had installed an engine block heater (plug is lodged in the grille). I have not attempted to use the block heater. · Ball joints and shocks (all) were replaced in 2013. What doesn’t work: · The tailgate key switch to raise/lower tailgate window does not work. The window raises/lowers fine from the dash switch. · The rear window defroster does not work. · The driver’s side visor mirror light does not work. The wires leading to it are disconnected and could be reconnected. However, the mirror cover (which switches the light on) has broken off. I never bothered to mess with it, but the cover will be found in the center console. · The driver’s side, rear bench seat seatbelt is tied off and currently unusable because the seatbelt’s mooring (located in the rear wheel well of the driver’s side) had broken loose due to rust. Prospective sellers are advised to not use this seat belt prior to re-anchoring the seat belt connection. · The driver’s side door is slightly warped—the bottom of the door (on the rear side of the door) protrudes roughly 3/8” from the quarter panel. I do not know why because the door otherwise closes cleanly—my mechanic explained that body parts may warp over time. · Aside from the replaced shocks and ball bearings, the ride is still a bit rough, though still driveable. Some front end work may be needed to smooth the ride. · There is a slight exhaust leak located somewhere near the motor. A “tap-tap-tap” can be heard ONLY when the truck is under load (i.e., climbing steep hills). · The “check engine” light is currently lit—and has been for some time now. I’m guessing that one of the fuel sensors is acting up. I have noticed no difference in performance. · The power window switch (located on driver’s door) cracked off its post several weeks ago. I carefully super-glued it; I have not used it since (since the mirrors were already adjusted for me). I do not know whether the glue will hold (epoxy would have been preferable, though I didn’t have any on hand at the time). The part (F65Z-17B676-AB), commonly used in many Ford vehicles of similar vintage, may be found online for between $15 and $20. Other random information: · The passenger’s side door may have been replaced sometime along the way before I owned it (based on the fact that the key does not unlock the door). I always use the keypad to automatically unlock the doors anyway. · The Bronco is equipped with LoJack, though I never activated it. · The Bronco has an after-market theft alarm that I disengaged after purchasing the vehicle in 2008. · After-market floor mats, though not shown in the photos, are included, as are the original Eddie Bauer floor mats. · All service/repair documentation will be included in hard copy. · Original window sticker and 1996 Ford Bronco marketing pamphlet will be included. · Driver’s side Eddie Bauer running board was removed roughly one year ago because rust on the securing brace was threatening its structural integrity. The running board will be included in the sale, though a bracket will need to be fashioned in order to re-attach it to the frame (if the buyer decides that he/she wants the running board). The driver’s side running board will likely need attention soon as well for the same reason. My opinion is that the truck looks better without the running boards. All service conducted after I purchased the Bronco in November 2008 was done by a non-dealer mechanic. I will provide all service receipts since November 2008, and the prior owner had provided me with all of his service receipts, which I will pass on as well. Good luck with your bidding. Please contact me with any questions that you may have. If you are in the geographical vicinity and would like to inspect the Bronco prior to bidding, please contact me. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE