98 Windstar Intermittent Poor Idle/Stall

[Larry Michel]

Hello Everyone,



Need some help with another Ford product-98 Windstar. About 79K, 3.8L engine. Idle quality can be real rough intermittently. Will also stall at stop lights after city driving for more than an hour-that one is hard to duplicate. Have been able to duplicate rough idle by warming it up, shutting it off, letting it sit for 10 minutes and restarting. Sounds like its running on 3 cylinders. Have gotten lean codes on both banks on one occasion. Got an O2 sensor out of range once on another occasion.



So far have replaced the AIC motor-no change. Checked the intake for leaks with carb clean, no leaks found. Took the top half off of the intake cleaned up the idle passages off of the EGR ports and checked the EGR, no changes.



Any clues what I might check next?



Thanks, Larry

 

[Todd Z]

Check the head gaskets, Do a compression test.... 3.8 is a known head gasket blower especially after 60K..

Todd Z

 

[Scott Atwater]

You have a very common problem much like our tracs with the PCV elbow getting mushy.

Ford has the new pipe and elbow for about 10 bucks. It is located at the upper manifold and runs to the PCV valve at the front valve cover. It very easy to spot and you can hear it whistle when it is running. This will explane your lean codes because air is being drawn into the engine past the MAF and leaning out the mix.

 

[Larry Michel]

Thanks for the help-I have replaced the PCV hose, no change there either. I'll have a look at the compression.