The Red "R" . . . and Some Other Small Mods . . . Power Steps!!

[Scoop]

Well moving the ACC sensor caused it to sense a blockage and shut the ACC off. Not all the time, but occasionally. So I pulled the grille again and removed 2 of the shutter slats that were in front of the sensor. Haven't driven it yet to test the "fix", but I'm hoping this will solve the issue. When I reassembled I cut and installed the plastic trim pieces on the bumper - it looks more finished now!

Still need to hook up the fog lights . . .

 

[Scoop]

So far so good. I don't want to jinx my fix but about 50 miles of driving yesterday and no sensor fault! Fingers crossed that removing the slats worked.

 

[Scoop]

I drove it in freezing rain yesterday and got the sensor fault. BUT I've gotten it before in freezing rain conditions when it was in the stock position. Pretty sure removing the 2 slats has solved the problem.

I have converted a couple local Jeepers to the Bronco and one new owner has asked me to install the same winch plate and ACC relocation bracket on her new Bronco. I wanted to solve this issue before I did her installation. I think I'm good to go now!

 

[Scoop]

I hooked up the stock Ford fog lights that come with the Capable Bumper to one of the upfitter switches. My Bronco came from the factory with the optional Modular Bumper which has no stock fog lights, thus I have no stock fog light switch! The original owner swapped front bumpers with his new Bronco before he sold it to me.

I really like the upfitter switches. I'm using 3 now: Raptor lights, winch isolator and now fog lights. They make adding anything electrical very easy.

I'm undecided on adding ditch lights. I already have some LED pod lights that would work well as ditch lights but not sure I like the look. Although they would probably work well for driving at night here in the mountains - need to watch for deer on the road.

 

[ep67bro]

Looks great Gary. I really like the up fitter switches on Fords. I use one set on my bronco for fog lights I put in the Mod bumper and in my superduty I used one switch for rear spot lights to aid in backing my boat trailer in my driveway at night. They do make it really easy to add things to the truck.

 

[sprdv1]

Looks fabulous brother.. Greta to see you at the round up

 

[Scoop]

A couple more mods today. Prepping for a trip to Salida and Buena Vista CO next week. We'll have 7 Broncos, 6 Jeeps and 3 "others" on the trip. We're breaking up into 2 groups each day to make the rides more manageable.

Tie rod braces:

Ditch lights:

Still need to adjust the lights.

I had a third project for today - installing shock mount skid plates. But I need to buy some correct size metric sockets. So they will need to wait for another day!

 

[Scoop]

I ended up borrowing the correct size metric socket (27 mm) to remove the lower shock mount bolts. Only hard part was holding the spacer washers inside the skid plate while you hold the shock in the right position and insert the bolt! It requires 3 hands to manipulate everything. Had to come up with a "work smarter, not harder" solution - clear packing tape to hold the washers inside the skid plate. Worked like a charm!

 

[Rob1962]

Had to come up with a "work smarter, not harder" solution - clear packing tape to hold the washers inside the skid plate. Worked like a charm!

View attachment 928022

View attachment 928023

Non factory tape.... there goes the warranty!

 

[Scoop]

New windshield! Safelite came to the house and replaced my windshield today. The tech said the new Bronco windshield is very easy to replace. It took him about an hour and a half - including recalibration - to complete.

NOTE: If you have yours replaced you need to request/demand an OEM windshield. OEM ones have locating pins to keep the windshield inn place without using the tape they normally have to use. Also, he said the aftermarket was having issues making the new Bronco windshield fit correctly.

 

[toddz69]

Glad to hear your replacement well. My friend and coworker has a twin to your truck and it took them two tries to get his replaced correctly - and then the new one got a crack in it a week or two later. Seems like the 6G's are just like EBs with getting whacked with their upright windshields...

Todd Z.

 

[ep67bro]

My wife had a very large rock hit her windshield on her 22 BD over the weekend. I got to get hers replaced now. About how much did to cost to have Safelite do it? I found with our work trucks they were at least 25% more than independent shops. But the last one my local guy did he scratched the crap out of the paint around the glass so I dont want to use him again.

 

[Scoop]

My wife had a very large rock hit her windshield on her 22 BD over the weekend. I got to get hers replaced now. About how much did to cost to have Safelite do it? I found with our work trucks they were at least 25% more than independent shops. But the last one my local guy did he scratched the crap out of the paint around the glass so I dont want to use him again.

It was covered under comprehensive. $100 deductible is what I paid. No charge for the 140 mile round trip from Pueblo.

Now I need them to do my wife's RAV4!

 

[Scoop]

I've started my install of the Rough Country E-Boards. Motors, mounts and boards are installed and the harness underneath is in. Still need to install the magnetic door sensors and LED lights. Install was pretty straight forward except the instructions were for a Bronco with carpeting. Mine has the wash out interior which makes a difference in how I needed to route the wires from underneath to the interior. It actually was easier but took a while to figure it out.

Part of the install requires removing a number of interior trim pieces to route (hide) wires. Ford has build the bronco with many snap-in plastic parts. They are a pain to remove and prone to having the tabs break off. "Car guys" 50 years from restoring a 6G Bronco are going to SOL trying to do a stock restoration!!

I'm thinking I can modify the stock rock rails to replace the RC boards. But that's a project for another day!!

 

[Scoop]

I'm still working on getting the RC E-Boards to work with the door sensors. It's a nice product, but the instructions are lacking. Some of the photos provided as guidance are not even taken from a Bronco installation - obviously from a Jeep! Everything is installed but the door sensors are not working. I'm thinking it's a grounding issue but I'll need to remove some interior trim pieces to check it out. (The pic showing where to connect the ground is one of the Jeep pics!)

 

[ntsqd]

It's interesting that your winch mount looks a LOT like the 'subframe' in an old school Warn winch bumper that I was given for use on the Wagon.

 

[Scoop]

It's interesting that your winch mount looks a LOT like the 'subframe' in an old school Warn winch bumper that I was given for use on the Wagon.

Agree. I had an old Warn bumper on my 84 Bronco. There is a definite similarity.

I finally finished the install of the power steps. I had not installed the door sensors and magnets to operate the the steps by opening the individual doors. I was operating the steps using the on/off switch provided with the kit. Actually the trickiest part of the installation getting the magnets in the proper positions to operate the door sensors. Got that done today it the steps work great.

I would like to hook the on/off switch to one of my upfitter switches but I need to research how I need to do it. Not sure if it will require using a relay. Also not sure if the switch provides 12V or if it breaks a ground to shut the system off. When opening a door the sensor appears to control a ground connection. So again, I need to research exactly how it works. Anybody know?

The switch provided simply attaches to the dash using double sided tape. I'd rather not do that.

 

[ntsqd]

Classically dome light door switches control the grounding. Just the other day, when I was still in high school, I got to learn that one the hard way.

No idea about these late models.

 

[Scoop]

A little testing with a test light has convinced me that the on/off switch controls a ground, not power. So I'm thinking an aux switch to a relay that controls a ground wire should work. Think I'll give it a try!

 

[Scoop]

Well I think I outsmarted myself! (Or the Bronco outsmarted me!!)

I got the on/off switch to work using an upfitter switch and a relay, sort of. Works perfect as long as the Bronco is running or has accessory power on - keeping power to the aux switches. But once power is removed from the aux switches the electric steps default back to seeing the on/off switch in the "on" position. Oh well. It was such a nice install!