My 1989 Econoline has the 302 motor with port injection. Was Starting fine, was running great, then last two trips out, after about 15 or 20 mins of driving, the engine suddenly dies and will not start. Engine turns over fine, but no start. let 30 to 60 mins pass, and try starting again, and yes it fires up fine, no miss, no stuttering, and takes right off down the road no problems.
So eventually, I was able to drive it 2.5 miles home and park it so I could work on it. I removed the ECM from the side of the distributor and had it tested. Test showed to be fine, only slight possibility it could be failing. I had replaced it 10 years ago. So, to take a chance, I replaced it again. The rotor looked clean and nice so did the inside of the distributor. I also cleaned the MAF { or MAP, which is it?} sensor. I also cleaned what little carbon I found from the throttle body. Engine starts up fine, idols smoothly, although a bit faster than when it was a younger motor, but still dies when accelerating, and the engine is not up to full operating temp. yet!
When attempting to re-start the motor,, it takes a long time of cranking , and only starts when I press the accelerator to the floor and hold it there, while cranking the engine over. Then it starts and blows smoke out the exhaust pipe just like carburetor equipped cars, did years ago, when they flooded. To me, this is odd, when this is a fuel injected engine!?

Also know, once started, The engine stays running, and revs up flawlessly in neutral or park, responding well to the accelerator, but when placed in drive or reverse, the engine dies.

Due to fuel prices, The van often sits for a month or two with me driving it once a month. I hope, I really hope this wouldn't be an indication the pickup coil , inside the distributor, could be failing! For that would be a awful job to perform! Yanking the distributor! yikes! I have 8 gallons of fresh gasoline in the fuel tank.

I'll check fuel pressure soon. I changed the fuel filter 3 years ago. The van has not been driven much since, at most probably 200 miles a year.

Now, being that the van is now 31 years old, and I no longer required to have annual inspections, And should the EGR be bad, DO I really need to have the EGR attached? or could I remove it and engine be just fine? And I am referring to physically removing it from the throttle body, and placing a steel plate with gasket, over the opening on the throttle body.
Could I also by pass the MAF, [ or MAP] and the engine still run good?

 

Something you might check, the fuel pressure regulator, pull off the vacuum hose attached to it, and if fuel comes out of the hose the regulator is defective and needs to be replaced..

 

Thanks Hanky, I will check for fuel at the vacuum hose connection. I greatly appreciate your reply! Would you happen to know what the fuel pressure should be?

 

KOER, Key on engine running, should be 30-45 psi