1998 3.8L Starts but stalls
dan1945
10-13-2005, 06:52 PM
My Windstar is high mileage [192,000] and I was planning on selling it last month when this problem developed. It will start with some difficulty, run at about 800-1000 RPM for about 20 seconds and then begin loosing RPM's and finally stall. It seems to flood if accelator pedal is pressed before turning over engine and will not start at all if accelarator pedal is touched while starting. After several cycles of attempts to start, idle, rough idle and then stall, it seems to start a little easier and after several more cycles, will eventually run up to about 3500 RPM when the accelator pedal is depressed. So it seems that as the engined begins to warm, it does a little better but immediately stalls under any kind of load.
The fuel pump and fuel filter were replaced about a year ago, maybe 5000 miles back. Since this problem developed, I've replaced the fuel filter and checked the air cleaner and line. Since January past, I have only driven the van around town. For the last 3-4 months, my gas mileage has been aweful, around 10 mpg, about half what it once was for similar driving.
My friend plugged his Palm Pilot analyser in to my test plug and got NO codes of any kind, I mean NONE. He thinks it may be the ECU/ECM. I found a cheap source for a used ECM but I need to locate the ECM on my car and get the Ford part number off the label. There seems to be two different part numbers, depending on when the car was made and I need to be certain to order the correct unit.
My questions:
1. Can someone tell me where the ECU is located. I looked at a small diagram online that says it is on the passenger side under the dash but I cannot locate it unless it is inside a cover of some sort. Better yet, if someone has a pic they can send to me, that would help me a lot.
2. Does anyone have any suggestions of things to try?
This car has very little value, NOT RUNNING, and not much more RUNNING. That's why I have driven it around town for so long, squeezing all I could out of it. Thus, I don't want to spend a lot of bucks on it since I want to sell it anyway. I WILL SAY that until this problem, it's gas mileage nearly matched my 2004 Toyota Sienna [over 20 in town and 23-25 road] and the 3.8L engine runs circles around the Sienna engine, having much better pep, especially getting on the freeway. I don't baby an engine but don't abuse them either but I have always been amazed at how strong this engine is. I have never had a minutes trouble with the transmission either.
Does anyone know if the new Ford minivan engines are as strong as the 3.8L on my Windstar? I think the new models are larger and heavier. I bought the Sienna for it's larger size and have been very disappointed with it. The engine is just too weak for the weight, the gas mileage does not meet the EPA ratings and the quality is just not up to what one expects from a Toyota.
Thanks ALL!
Dan
The fuel pump and fuel filter were replaced about a year ago, maybe 5000 miles back. Since this problem developed, I've replaced the fuel filter and checked the air cleaner and line. Since January past, I have only driven the van around town. For the last 3-4 months, my gas mileage has been aweful, around 10 mpg, about half what it once was for similar driving.
My friend plugged his Palm Pilot analyser in to my test plug and got NO codes of any kind, I mean NONE. He thinks it may be the ECU/ECM. I found a cheap source for a used ECM but I need to locate the ECM on my car and get the Ford part number off the label. There seems to be two different part numbers, depending on when the car was made and I need to be certain to order the correct unit.
My questions:
1. Can someone tell me where the ECU is located. I looked at a small diagram online that says it is on the passenger side under the dash but I cannot locate it unless it is inside a cover of some sort. Better yet, if someone has a pic they can send to me, that would help me a lot.
2. Does anyone have any suggestions of things to try?
This car has very little value, NOT RUNNING, and not much more RUNNING. That's why I have driven it around town for so long, squeezing all I could out of it. Thus, I don't want to spend a lot of bucks on it since I want to sell it anyway. I WILL SAY that until this problem, it's gas mileage nearly matched my 2004 Toyota Sienna [over 20 in town and 23-25 road] and the 3.8L engine runs circles around the Sienna engine, having much better pep, especially getting on the freeway. I don't baby an engine but don't abuse them either but I have always been amazed at how strong this engine is. I have never had a minutes trouble with the transmission either.
Does anyone know if the new Ford minivan engines are as strong as the 3.8L on my Windstar? I think the new models are larger and heavier. I bought the Sienna for it's larger size and have been very disappointed with it. The engine is just too weak for the weight, the gas mileage does not meet the EPA ratings and the quality is just not up to what one expects from a Toyota.
Thanks ALL!
Dan
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