Econoline 150 Fuel Problem?

My 2001 E150 ( 80k miles ) will not continue to run. It starts ok but stalls when put in gear. There seems to be an 'ebb' and 'flow' in gas and thus power. My suspicion is that the fuel filter is clogged. Any ideas? Where is the fuel filter and can it be easily replaced.

Please help!

Roger

your fuel filter is located inside the frame rail, on the same side as the tank

Thanks, I'll see if I can find it. I did notice a similar thread in which the diagnosis was a bad idle air control. Other than replacing either one or the other, is there any way I can determine which is the problem. For example, I understand the IAC is normally closed. Any way I can force it open....perhaps tap on it to see if it opens when I turn on the ignition?

Please advise.

Thanks, I'll see if I can find it. I did notice a similar thread in which the diagnosis was a bad idle air control. Other than replacing either one or the other, is there any way I can determine which is the problem. For example, I understand the IAC is normally closed. Any way I can force it open....perhaps tap on it to see if it opens when I turn on the ignition?

Please advise.

I was able to remove the IAC and clean it with spray carb cleaner. It was pretty easy to do, just 2 bolts and an electrical connection. Mine (4.2L V-6) was located right on top of the intake right behind the air cleaner. My mechanic advised me that this was a common thing to go wrong and most often only needed to get the carbon buildup cleaned out to correct it. Replacement part if necessary was only about $45. Many autoparts places will connect their scanner to your van and can get the read out of what is wrong from that....

Excellent! Thanks very much. I'm gonna give it a try this weekend. Can I best get to the IAC from under the hood or through the interior engine canopy?
Please advise.
Leroge

On my van you reach it by going under the hood and removing the air cleaner. The IAC is located just above where the air cleaner attaches to the manifold. Mine is on the front of the engine/intale manifold. I have also done this on my old P/U and it was easily located on the manifold as well. It can't hurt to clean it, and it might solve your problem. If it is extremely dirty you may need to let it soak, or bite the bullet and get a new one.

I was able to locate the AIC and is easily accessible by removing the interior canopy. On my 2001 E150 the IAC is mounted on the back side of the engine/intale manifold and thus it is tough to even get to from under the hood. I'm wondering if this is the root problem. I can easily start the vehicle an it will remain at idle but seems to be 'struggling' for air. I am convinced it is not struggling for gas cause I can smell the gas in the exhaust and if I step on the gas peddle the engine will rev up but continue to struggle for air. Could this be a sensor problem? Note that the 'service engine' light does not come on at anytime. This problem initially surfaced about a month ago but immediately subsided as I reved up the engine and proceeded to drive. The other day, however, I cannot overcome the problem.

Any further thoughts? I really appreciate your help. I am really reluctant to get it into a shop for repair.

Roger

I don't have any more ideas other than getting it hooked up to a scanner. Maybe there is someone else out there with another suggestion??

You were right on!!!! Not knowing too much about engine technology, I was reluctant to pull the ICV but I got it a go. There was some carbon in the ICV, but I couldn't tell how far the 'valve' should 'move' up and down. However, I did notice that by partially covering the air intake once the ICV was removed, the engine started and worked somewhat at idle. I stopped by an AutoZone and priced a new ICV for $55 but I wasn't convinced it need to be replaced given your advice to give it a cleaning. So I bought a can of carb cleaner ( $1.79! ) and soaked the interior of the ICV throat. After remounting the ICV and turning over the engine, I was extremely delighted to see that the engine worked like a champ at idle! LIKE A CHAMP!!!! So much so that I just returned from a 400 mile trip without any problems.

I really appreciate your advice! Surely this would have cost me $200-300 in that the van would have had to be towed from my garage and surely some cost of diagnosis would have been involved....much more an inflated cost for a replacement ICV. This experience was a great example of the value of the Internet in seeking advice for problems that a shop would likely charge an arm and a leg to fix.