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I have a 90 E-350 108,000 mi. Had a broken exhaust riser (small pipe above the exhaust on the passenger side) I replaced it and everything I could get at while I was in there, Alternator, water pump, plugs, cap rotor etc. Now it starts and runs fine at idle, but if I give it a little gas the whole thing starts to run ragged. And if I try to drive it it will go thriough power surges, high , low, high, low,,, feels like im on a roller coatser. Has no power to speak of and will bearly top 30 mph. I was thinking a vacuum leak but this seems way beyond that. looking at the posts I started thinking of plugged cat. Any ideas where to start? Does this seem familiar to anyone? I'm not much of a gearhead but I do need my van.
I'll give it a try tomorrow, would the broken riser have caused this? or is this why the riser broke? Back pressure & all? and assuming the cat is blocked up is there somthing I did to cause it? or is it just an age related thing?
Kaum, before you go tearing it apart, try this: On the edge of the cowl above the engine (Under the hood) to the left of the airbox, you will see a little black box with a couple wires and a single vaccuum tube going to it. That is the MAP sensor. start the van, pull off that vaccuum tube and see if you are getting vaccuum there. If not, you found the source of your problem. follow the vac tube and it will lead to a manifold port where the vac tube may have dislodged.
It happened to me, and my symptoms were exactly like yours. in fact that tube has come off mine more than once. good luck!