FINALLY! The 96 is back on the road!

[Spartan]

I parked the 96 XLT (5.0 awd) about a year and a half ago due to a torn up passengers side spindle. Basically, the bearing would not sit flat, and it caused the truck to eat wheel bearings at an alarming rate (about a set every 6 months). After searching around for a LONG time, I finally got a decent spindle.

Over the last year, Ive messed around with fixing little things here and there, like the shift indicator, changing dash bulbs to LEDs, and replacing the worn out front seats with a set of leather ones. I finally got the spindle and new wheel bearings in last weekend, and also dropped the fuel tank (for the 3rd time) to figure out why my fuel gauge was pegged full. The fuel gauge turned out to be the sending unit module not grounding to the assembly body like it should have. This was a brand new Spectra Premium pump. Now the fuel gauge workes like it should after adding a washer and an additional ground strap.

I changed the battery (dead as a door nail) and it started back up without issue! This has to be the most reliable vehicle Ive ever owned.... it just won't die. It currently has 175K on it.

I recently found out the bulbs i need to replace the fog light and rear defrost illumination, as well as the headlight switch. As soon as I get those bulbs in this week, ill be doing a write up of pretty much everything ive don recently, since none of it showed up in searches.

Have a great one!

 

[koda2000]

I've never owed a '96, but the later AWD and 4WD Exlporers don't have front wheel spindles. Do you mean you replaced a bad the steering knuckle (the part that the hub/bearing assembly bolts to)?

 

[Spartan]

This is a 2wd model. The spindle is the part that the the hub/bearing assembly slides on to and runs on.

 

[Happydish]

How did you fix your shift indicator? Was it not moving at all? Or just 'off'. Mine's like a half step off to the left if that makes sense, always shows being between gears.

 

[Mr. Alligator]

TO ADJUST P-RN-D-L INDICATOR: Behind the dash panel, which is at the driver's knee position, you can find the end of the short shifter cable indicator. There is a plastic adjuster wheel that lets you adjust the position of the shifter indicator bar.

If you understood exactly where it was, you could reach up blindly behind the dash panel to adjust it, and might not have to take your dash panels off. But I have no pictures.

If you take the plastic lower dash cover and the metal dash panel just above that plastic cover, you will find it and should be able to find and adjust the indicator easily.

You will be happy you did this.

Good luck.

 

[koda2000]

The first sentence in your original post was...

"I parked the 96 XLT (5.0 awd) about a year and a half ago due to a torn up passengers side spindle".

I guess you saying it was a "5.0 awd" made me think that it was an AWD. Did I miss something?

 

[Spartan]

Whoops, that was me typing it wrong, sorry!

I changed out the door yesterday, ad gave it a wash. Good news Is that on Saturday I get my new bulbs for the center stack switches and headlight switch, so I'll post the results when they go in!