Ok Gals and Guys.... brief history of the van.
Bought it used from a guy who hadnt used it much, when I bought it it needed the coil packs replaced and an other sensor. Done and no CEL after that.
Great work van. Then about 2 years ago it blew out the second plug back from the front on the passenger side. I found a garage that was supposed to install one of those heila coil things into the port and all good. 2 years later I find out they didnt do that, they got a "repair" kit with a self threading coupling and a longer spark plug and installed that. I found this out when she blew out the first plug from the from on the drivers side. Took it to a different place and they inspected it and I told them I wanted the same thing done as the last time and they told me what was actually done. Anyways. After picking her up from the first repair the CEL came on and I was told it was trash from the plug being out and me driving it to the garage and it would clear. It never did, but it didnt effect the overall reliability of the van. When the second one blew out I was used to it and never mentioned to the mechanics that the CEL was on.
Oddly enough the CEL went out about two weeks after the second time. Then I realized the CEL didnt even light up when I started the van. The bulb had burned out.
Fast forward to this past week.
I usually stay on top of my oil changes and get them done within every 5000 (I use Mobile 5000 mile oil) and change both oil and filter at every change (filter is motorcraft). When I fill up the fuel I usually put in a bottle of Sea Foam once every month or so.... not like clock work. This last time I filled up I added the sea foam and added 30 gallons of fuel. right after I noticed her be a little hesitant. Now there is a roughness to her during idle and driving. and a rough sound as well.
I decided to pull the codes to see if anything else was hitting... This is what I got:
P0443: Evaporative Emission Control System Purge Control Valve Circuit
P0171: System Too Lean (Bank 1)
P0174: System Too Lean (Bank 2)
P0455: Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (gross or large leak)
I have no idea where to start to get this fixed. Please point me in a direction. I understand that one of the above could be as simple as my gag cap needing replaced, but i would like direction as to where I should start spending my money and hope to end up saving some over all.
Thanks,
Woolf

 

no mechanics in the house?

 

It might help to get a reply on stating the engine your asking about, and the mileage on the vehicle.

Just year and model don't say much.

So.......Post - year, engine, mileage and the codes you pulled.

Also........not everyone is on this channel everyday, getting a reply might take a few days. Most of us have day jobs too.

You might want to post this on the Modular V8 forum also??

 

Plugs blowing out.. I'd wager it is a 5.4.

As for you codes, the evaporative system collects gas vapors from the tank and passes them into the engine to be burned via the purge control valve, and since you have a code for that it would be the logical place to start.

 

Conan, you would be correct, it is a 5.4 gas engine. Mileage is about 250k.

Codes are above.

Oddly enough I have had another issue with the van... Got in to go somewhere and turned the key and it acted as if the battery was dead. I switched it off but the dash and radio stayed on. turned the key again and no resistance in either direction.
As it turns out there is a rod that goes from the key to the "starter switch" which is installed lower down under the steering column. I replaced the "starter switch" but the rod that connects the key cylinder to the starter switch has apparently broken and will not pull the switch out of the run position. So now I have to start the van by manually pushing the switch into the start and run positions and then into the off position when I want to shut her off. Easiest vehicle to steal in the world. All a thief needs is a #30 torques screwdriver and a minute to steal any of these fords that are made with this "start switch" mounted like mine. Seriously flawed engineering here.

 

When I got lean codes from my 97 5.4, the PCV elbow on the back of the intake was rotten.
I did not get the EVAP codes, though.