1997 Ford Aerostar

Tiny
IH560NUT
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 FORD AEROSTAR
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,555 MILES
I have a check engine light on which is saying left bank is running lean according to Auto Zone. The van starts good and seems to run just fine. Sometimes when you slow down to stop; it makes a howling noise. I shut off the AC fan and switched the system to off still noise. I accelerate to go and the noise stops. I don't notice the noise at highway speeds just in town travel stop and go. What should I be looking at to further diagnose this problem?
Thursday, June 10th, 2010 AT 11:31 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
It sounds like a vacuum leak. If it is bad enough, you could hear a hissing and it will cause a lean mixture. Check under the hood for disconnected, damaged or dry rotted hoses.

Let me know what you find.
Joe
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Friday, June 11th, 2010 AT 11:44 PM
Tiny
IH560NUT
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
This is what I have found. The Air charge sensor has been stripped of its threads so that is where my noise is coming from. I put silicone around the threads and my noise lessened and the idle evened out no surging. I haven't found another air inlet tube yet but I will be using an adhesive compound to make the fix more stable.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2010 AT 8:29 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
That is what is causing your lean mixture. Let me know if you have other questions.

Joe
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Thursday, July 1st, 2010 AT 9:02 PM

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