I went out to move our 2002 E150 conversion van the other day and it would not stay running unless I kept my foot on the gas and then the idle speed would race REAL high and then would idle back down and chug along and try to stall out. I finally limped it to another spot in our driveway and went out to get some work done away from the house. When I came back from working I started the van and it ran just fine.
I went out this morning to take the van out for a trip to my parents for Easter dinner and the van would not idle unless I kept my foot on the gas but this time after I let my foot off the gas the van idled at, in my best guess, about 5,000 RPM and would not come back down to idle. I had to turn the ignition off for fear of blowing the motor up. I tried to start the van several more times and it raced to a very high RPM and would not come back to idle causing me to shut off the ignition off for fear of damage to the engine.
The engine is the small V8, 4.6l I think.
I need to use the van to pick up my Uncle on Tuesday.
He is visiting from England for a few months.
PLEASE help me figure this problem out.
TPS?????
MAF????
Computer???

Thanks all, Phil

 

I went out to look at the van this morning and started to take apart the air cleaner assembly. It turns out that a mouse or mice had chewed up the filter element and the chewed up pieces had clogged the whole assembly.
I took it all apart, what a PITA, and cleaned it out with a shop vac.
I would post a pic but I see I am not allowed.
I'm now off to Pep Boyz to get a new filter.

Phil

 

...I don't think I or anyone else would have guessed that to be your problem.
Is this the stock air cleaner setup with the flattish intake snorkel under the edge of the hood? (I have an '02 E150).

Determined little buggers to have gotten in there.

George

 

It sure is the stock setup.
I had the same problem on a motorcycle a few years back.
The darn mice made a home over the winter in my airfilter box, I couldn't figure out why the bike wouldn't run right until I took it apart and found the air cleaner chewed up.

I hate meeces to pieces!!!!

Phil

 

I think I'd put a piece of window screen over the intake or something like that. Or use filter elements that are less tasty

Probably would work just to get a piece of flexy fiberglass window screen and rubber-band or clamp it around the intake snorkel.

Did you suck any mice thru the engine (yuk)?

George

 

I'll probably get some metal screen and put it over the intake tube.

I probably did suck a few critters through the engine, serves 'em right for making a home in my van

Phil