I have a 1993 Ford Aerostar, 3.0L. I have not had any problems with it until a few weeks ago. I started it, and then it died right away. I thought it was a little strange, but I started it again, gave it a little gas, and it was fine. Drove fine. Got to where I was going. Left about 10 minutes later, same problem. During that next week (I drive 25 miles one way to work), it got to the point where it didn't wanted to stall after start and would have to constantly give it gas to keep it running. As soon as I would put it into reverse or drive, it would stall. It would stall in stop and go traffic. It would stall stopped at a light. Drove fine as long as I didn't have to stop or At that point, the check engine light never came on. Boyfriend thought it was spark plugs and distributor cap so those were replaced. Same thing was happening, but getting worse. I would basically have to drive with one foot on the gas pedal and one on the brake on stopping so vehicle didn't stall. When started (if I can keep it started), it will initially start out with the idle just fine. But after the first 5 seconds or so, the idle drops and all the gauges drop with it (oil & voltage). Was also running very rich and using a lot of gas. Boyfriend thought it was the O2 sensor, so he replaced that yesterday. This morning, it started just fine and idled OK. Drove it to the gas station, it restarted fine. Drove it about 5 miles and it stalled at a stop light. Restarted fine, but as driving on the highway, the check engine light came on, then went out, then came on, then went out, then went on and stayed on. What are some possible things that could be wrong. I suggested to my BF that he check the IAC valve and fuel pressure regulator, MAP or MAF sensors, but he just told me that I should stay out of it because I'm a girl and I don't know anything about cars. I was going to go buy an OBD-I code reader from Walmart, but he told me that it wouldn't be worth it. I plan on stopping at Autozone on the way home from work today (if it makes it) to see if they can read the codes for free. Any suggestions on what could possibly be wrong?

 

Try replaceing the IAC valve. That would be my #1 guess. Sounds like you need a new boyfriend, like one that respects your thoughts and feelings.

 

Or a boyfriend who knows what hes doing replace the IAC .

Remove the two screws securing it to the top of the throttle body and pull the connector.

 

You have the right plan for starters, stop at Autozone and see about getting the codes read. One thing to check whenn you start it and it does not want to idle, try giving a rap with you hand to the mass air senser, it is on the air inlet tube inbetewn the air filter and the engine. There is a electic plug going into it. If the engine smooths down, that maybe the senser that is going bad. That is how my wife fond the problem with her 90 Aero. She also fixed it herself, so don't let your boyfreind slow you down on working on your Aero.

 

Tell the BF you know for sure its the mass airflow sensor (MAF) and you're going to clean it yourself and fix this problem once and for all. Proceed to Walmart and pick up a spray can of electronics cleaner. Tell the BF to watch as you loosen the screw clamp holding the air tunnel closest to the air cleaner box and pull that tube away. Pop that spray tube on the cleaner nozzle with a sneer. Look into the opening leading to the air cleaner and see the fine elements suspended there. Announce to the BF, "Aha just as I thought" and proceed to give those elements a few good sprays through the wire mesh screen. Use BF's belt buckle to pop open a beer and enjoy while waiting for the elements to dry off. Reconnect the air tube and fire up your Aerostar to the amazement of BF. Wipe dirty hands on BF's shirt for good measure. He'll be putty in your hands from now on.

 

Please stop telling people to go to #%$%mart. Just say "Get a can of electrical cleaner" Where they get it is their business, but #$%mart's price is not any lower, or marginally lower, and you have to sacrifice your honor to buy there. To me, and a lot of other people, it is not worth it. I only buy at &^$mart when the parts I am looking for are not available anywhere else. Every time you buy there, that is more money in some rich brat's bank account, and less money in the pockets of a more legitimate business.

 

the Group has you on the right course. Autozone for free code read. post here and we will help. try cleaning IAC and MAF with electrical contact cleaner you picked up from Autozone.
show boyfriend kitchen oven and dish sink that need cleaning and hand him apron, does wonders for men hesitant on auto mantainance.

WallyMarts electrical spray cleaner made from Chinese bird flu virus droppings?
wonder if they fumigate and virus killer dip all that imported junk from China?

 

My apologies for the deviation, but some housekeeping is in order.

khantyranitar - in the initial post, she was already going to Walmart for a code reader. The suggestion (and its only a suggestion, not a command) was meant to be one of convenience. This is not the forum to air personal vendettas regarding corporations.

 

I also might be something as simple as a Dirty Air Filter. I've had them run that way on me. Drive awhile then die, start right up, Run fine or die again. Remove the air filter and see if it stops the problem. If so replace.

Aerocolorado:

Sounds to me like He/She works for Safeway. They are the only ones I know of that rants and raves like that about Walmart.

It's just a case of supply and demand........People demand lower prices and Walmart supplies them.

It's funny how they don't complain about........ Say the .98/1.00 stores like they do about Walmart.

Jay

 

khantyranitar,

She asked for help with her ride, not where to go shopping. I for one am almost always impressed with women who can talk about their vehicles with men. I am not amused by men who rant about shopping.

jjessen,
The real advise you got here is echoed by me. If this does not get you up and running do not hesitate to come to this forum for more assistance.

 

OK. Yesterday, left work and drove to Autozone. Check light engine kept coming on and going off the whole way there. It also feels like when I get to in between 45-55 mph, that it starts to run a little rough as well. Anyway, get to Autozone, and they cant run the test for my vehicle because someone walked off with their tester. So, yes I went to Walmart, and bought one. This is both of our first times using a code reader, so we are going to try and do it again as soon as I get home from work tonight...and also he put off going out there until after 10:00pm and it was dark...but the codes that we got off of it were as follows:

KOEO 111 pass code
Memory 171, 172, 173, 189
KOER 172, 213

So now what do you guys think?

 

MAF sensor. Clean it just like Aerocolorado suggested.

 

I had same problem about 9 months ago and replaced everything mentioned above, and found out last it was my fuel pressure regulator.

Good luck
Spudster

 

Glad he is your boyfriend, and not husband. Don't marry a "man" who thinks he knows it all. His attitude went out of style in the 1940s. Since everyone here has you on the right track in fixing your Aerostar correctly, take a hard look at his guy. His attitudes will only get worse, over time. Good luck, and never let someone belittle you for your thoughts, especially when you have read about the possible causes of your stalling issues. Ed*
*Who after 2o years of marriage, I still learn from my wife on a variety of issues.

 

Well, Saturday morning, I went to WALMART and bought some electronics cleaner and an air filter. Went to Autozone, talked to the guy, and left with a fuel pressure regulator. Since the code reader was telling me that it was running rich, I was going to concentrate on the possible reasons for that. And I figured that there would be nothing wrong with replacing some parts that weren't necessarily broken yet. Brought it home, my BF (who's name is Ed by the way) said that he would take a look when he woke up (it was already noon at this point). I left with my friend for a while and we had a bet as to whether or not he would be working on the van when I got home (it's his sister). Got home about 4, and the hood of the van was up and his tools were out there, but he wasn't. Told my friend that I was glad we didn't bet for money since it appeared that he was out there.

Well I walked in the door and he was inside with his son making paper airplanes. And the first thing he tells me is "I didn't put that part on because that's not what's wrong with your van. All that thing does is regulates the fuel pressure, I read on it". So I told him that he better go read again, because that's not exactly what it does. Later he wanted to go for a test drive to see if he could see what I was talking about what the van was doing. He drove my van like a maniac for a few miles and then tried to tell me that "if it's what he thinks it is, then it has nothing to do with the motor". I asked him what he thought it was and he told me something about the stabilizers!!! I said, "what would the stabilizers have to do with the check engine light coming on?" Anyway the whole time driving around we were driving around with the doghouse off and by that time was getting a real big headache. He never replaced the part Saturday.

So Sunday came and I got up bright and early and thought, then I'll do some stuff myself. I cleaned the throttle body, etc., took off the air cleaner housing/tube and cleaned the MAF sensor, replaced the air filter (which he told me he had already checked and it was clean....HA) and then just started looking at everything to put the illustrations that I had seen in the Haynes manual into prospective. I saw the fuel pressure regulator, and remembered that the guy from Autozone had told me to take off the vacuum line and if there's gas in the line, you need a new one. So I took off that vacuum line and guess what? You guessed it, there was gas in the vacuum line. If I could have figured out how to get that little part out of there without taking off anything else, I would have done it myself. But I couldn't...not from lack of trying though. I even went to my friend's house, her husband is a mechanic and has all the tools, etc (he's not home, he's in Michigan for the race). I gave up when my daughter called to be picked up from her friends house. But when I got home, I was very dirty. He asked where I was, I told him and then looked at him and said, "and by the way, the regulator is bad." He asked how I knew and I told him that I took the vacuum line off and it was wet with gas and it wasn't suppose to be. So then he said he would replace it in a while.

3 hours later, he finally goes out there. Then he calls me out and said that I need to show him where the gas is in the line because he doesn't see any and he's just not going to replace it for nothing. So I just turned the ignition on and apparently that was enough for him to FINALLY see. He didn't start working on it until after 9:00pm and I was asleep by 10:00pm as I was tired of arguing with him and I had to get up for work in the morning.

But when I got up this morning, he was sleeping in the chair, my van was put back together, and she fired right up this morning and ran perfect the whole way to work. No check engine light. No stalls. No low idle. It ran better than when I first got it because of the oil change, spark plugs, distributor cap, air filter, etc.

But I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all your help and encouragement. If I would have listened to dippy, my van still wouldn't be running.