HI All, I have an 88 E150 with the 5.0 fuel injected engine. It won't start without a huge struggle let alone idle unless I keep my foot on the gas. Even then it dies. It's the fuel injection system with a low pressure lift pump in the tank, a fuel diverter valve along the frame rail, canister fuel filter and then the high pressure pump up at an angle in front of that. I've had a look at the fuel lines to see how I can separate them to check for good fuel spray from the high pressure pump. The fuel diverter valve on the frame rail looks like it is leaking - does this have a filter inside it and an O ring seal? if so what part number please? Also in removing the engine cover there is a yellow vacuum line from the relay block on the left rear of the engine (I assume they are relay blocks) that goes round the back of the engine and isn't connected to anything. Does anyone know what it should be connected to and where please? Thanks for all the help, Nick ​​​​​​​

Yellow vacuum line on the 'relay block

Where should this be connected to?

Fuel diverter valve

Fuel filter

What are the fittings on the fuel filter and how to remove them?

Purple wire with white stripe under the dash - what does this connect to?

 

I know you said it starts hard and wont idle.

When was the air filter checked/replaced?
When it does run, is it throwing out a lot of black smoke from the exhaust ?

If you go to any auto parts supply store and ask for a fuel filter for your vehicle, you will see the nylon retainer clips that need to be lifted and removed , then the lines will come off the filter..
You should pull the fuel pump fuse , allow engine to run out of fuel , then there should be no fuel pressure in the fuel line trying to give you a fuel bath when you remove the lines from the filter.

 

BTW there is a better forum to post this named "Ford Econoline E-Series"

 

 

Compare your fuse block with the one shown above check and see if any fuse missing. Your P/W doesn't look like a factory wire.


Diagrams-ALL index page above, Locations-ALL index page below.

 

Please add "zoom-out" pic. Yours zoomed in too close can't tell, don't want any guessing.

 

Hi - Air filter is clean - looks new - and I haven't started it enough to see any black smoke but the tailpipe is clean - so no fuel deposits. It it even getting fuel?

 

HI Heiko - thanks for all the replies. very useful. Didn't know there was a specific Econoline forum - thanks.
These are all the pictures I have at the moment. - the van is down the car club in Ireland and I'm in the UK now for 10 days.
So it looks like I need to buy some of those hairpin clips -? I guess the 1/4 inch line is for the smaller engines? Do the clips break when you remove them or are they re-usable? I have to say I'm more familiar with GM stuff and they have similar clips on their fuel lines.
The pink white wire looks close to the handbrake release where there is a bare connector.
Thanks Nick

 

Usually, a fuel filter problem affects hi speed/ load performance, not necessarily idle and if the engine was getting too much fuel it could be difficult to start and produce a lot of black smoke. Since we don't have that problem we might look at the EGR valve for being stuck open from excessive carbon. That condition would produce hard starting and poor or no idle.
That yellow stripped hose very likely goes to the EGR valve.

When it will not start , remove one or two spark plugs and tell us if they were wet or dry.
If wet, getting fuel. If dry not getting fuel. Which result are you getting ?

 

5/16 or 3/8 or 1/4, get a digital caliper and measure the OD (outside diameter) of the tube, you might need to sand it down first.
Those hairpin clips shouldn't be one-time-use but they are inexpensive and I'd buy new just in case.