I've got a 1990 e-350 460 7.5l cargo van. Practically bulletproof. Lately It's been giving me this problem. This problem started small, but over time it gets worse. I'll be driving on the road, or in idle, it doesnt matter, when Everything stalls! I lose all power, electrical, engine... Everything! Sometimes it will pick itself back up in about 2-5 seconds. But lately it dies, and takes anywhere from 5-10 minutes to cool down before it will start again. Another thing is after she stalls and Im waiting to cool down, I get my electrical back, but sometimes the blinkers and hazard lights don't work, and I have to bank on the side the steering column to get them to kick on. Sometimes when Im on the road and she is about to stall, I bang on the steering column with my fist and she'll kick back on... I don't know if this is just coincidence or not, as it doesnt work every time. It always starts fine when I first crank her on, but after she gets hot (she runs hot anyway) thats when I get the problem. I have eliminated the alternator and battery. I have a feeling its the TFI/ICM, but before I replace that, I want to rule out the Ignition Coil. Also when I opened up the engine, I noticed one vacuum wire that completely lost connection... Any thoughts? I just replaced the Fuel Pump and Filter, spark plugs recently. I know I'm getting gas, because it will do this at night when it's 60 degrees outside (California)... Any Thoughts?

 

Find the electrical problem and the engine problem will be cured. For some reason the engine will not run without electrical power to the computer, ignition, etc. Check cables, including grounds. However this sound suspiously like a bad alternator. If you have not pulled it and had it tested then you don't know that it is OK. I doubt very much if it is the TFI/ICM as without power they are NOT going to function.