Good afternoon,

I have a 1988 Ford E-350 Motorhome with a 351 (5.8) and the three speed automatic transmission. I am trying to figure out how to fix an OBD1 Code 85. As near as I can tell it is a problem in the Canister Purge Circuit. I've replaced two other sensors that were throwing codes 32 (EGR Valve Position Sensor) and 23 (Throttle Position Sensor), but I cannot find any sensors in this circuit. The vacuum diagram lists a canister purge solenoid, but when I traced out the lines there was not one to be found, and everything looks factory to me. I also cannot find the replacement part listed as existing at AutoZone or O'Reilly's.

So, did the motorhome version not have this part? If so is this just a ghost code that I can safely ignore?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

First question,
do or did you notice anything unusual with the trans shifting?

The code description suggests a 3-4 solenoid circuit failure. That is referring you to the trans 3-4 shift solenoid circuit. It could be the solenoid or the wiring to the solenoid or the ECA signals to the solenoid from the ECA. (Vehicle Computer). The canister purge operation is influenced by the vehicle speed and other inputs.

 

Hi hanky,

The transmission on this motor home has always been the smoothest shifting transmission I have ever owned. I have not had any problems with the transmission.

I cannot find any parts references to a 3-4 solenoid circuit. Please post a link to the information you are referencing? I have not come across this explanation for a code 85 in any of the literature I have. I do have some more 1988 specific literature on order, but it will not be here until the end of the week.

I know there is no canister purge solenoid on this RV. I just got done replacing all the vacuum lines between the carbon canister and the throttle body (they were badly dry rotted), and there is no canister purge solenoid. Maybe they put the wrong vacuum line sticker on my E350 at the factory...lol

 

Ford commonly screws up. My '85 had a 302. Ford insisted that none did that year. My in-laws had bought it new in '85, so I knew it had not been changed.

 

I'm sure we have heard of the "Monday morning" or "Friday Night" car. These were supposedly those built either before the worker woke up or about when the worker was in limbo thinking about the weekend activities.Anyone that has worked on an assembly line can really tell some fantastic stories Also anyone that has worked for a dealership can provide some interesting episodes of correcting mistakes done and passed on the assembly line..

 

I was a mechanic for a dealership in the early 70s. At least 1/2 of the cars we got did not have the radios hooked up. We figured that assembly worker was lazy.

 

Damn, theres still mostly little stuff every now and then but nothing that bad, granted I would take a unplugged radio over some of the weird electrical issues we've had to deal with.