Vacuum leak too??? 2000 windstar 3.8

[eddiem68]

First the facts:
2000 Deathstar 119,000 miles.
Check engine light has been on since 60,000 miles.
Misfiring (flashing engine light) at 118,000 miles. SO...

I ordered the Dorman upper intake and valve cover kit. $108 from JC Whitney. DPFE sensor $39 from Amazon. New Plugs and wires.

The job took less than 3 hours. NO codes. No Stuttering or lose of power. I took it on a 300 mile round trip. Great Performance and the MPG was back to normal about 25. Success!!! EXCEPT...

The next day, after switching the A/C from Floor to MAX the blower went to Defrost vents only.

All the posts and books say Vacuum leak. Where? I checked all the connections. I even took off upper plastic intake Plenum.

How many vacuum connections are there? Is there a picture or a diagram?

How do I check the vacuum at the control switch? Which color tube should have suction at the vacuum harness?

[eddiem68]

Success!!!! I found this little red tube,on the passenger side, that is supposed to be inserted in a double vacuum boot with another tube.

That was it!

[mark_gober]

Originally Posted by eddiem68

Success!!!! I found this little red tube,on the passenger side, that is supposed to be inserted in a double vacuum boot with another tube.

That was it!

Eddie,

Passenger side.....inside the vehicle or under the hood?

Mark

[eddiem68]

Yes. Under the hood, passenger side of the engine. It is within view and reaching around the back side the plastic intake. A double boot. The top tube is a larger diameter and directly under it should be a smaller tube inserted in the same boot.

[olopezm]

Hi Eddie,

Thanks to you I found the same problem with mine, but the double boot connected to the engine is OK, my problem lies on the other side of the red tube where it is connected to a T fitting, this 'T' has two connectors a straight one with a black tube which runs to the firewall and an 'L' shaped connector, this one is my problem, I can't find where it should be connected. I was wondering if you could please take a look at yours and tell me if you have the same 'T' and where it is connected too.

Thanks in advance.

[olopezm]

Ok, I found this picture on the web but when I went and look on my van all I can see is two bolts facing down and holding the climate control box in place and I don't see any connector on it .

[eddiem68]

olopezm, Let's keep the "red" tube discussion here. That's is the tube for the A/C vacuum pressure to run the vent "motors". I looked at mine this morning and it does go to a "T" type boot connector. I couldn't see or feel past there because of plastic ducting that goes into the passenger compartment.
So I can't help without taking something apart on mine.
I did have a better look, and more room to work, when I took off the cowl with the windshield wipers and wiper motor.

1. Remove the wipers. Flip up the plastic covers. Each wiper has 1 large bolt. 15mm? carefully pry, tap or pull them up and off. Don't break teh plastic cowl underneath.

2. The plastic cowl is held on by 4 plastic screws, phillips head. AND pop clips near the windshield. Wiggle and slide the cowl left and right near the windshield while pulling up. Some of the plastic clips will break. Mine did. Only 2 broke

3. There are a bunch of small mm bolts, including some under the passenger cabin air filter if you have one.

4. When those are all off, the bottom metal part of the cowl tilts up. The wiper motor on the drivers side is still connected. I uses a piece of wood to hold it up.
That gives you some room to work and see. (helps to change back spark plugs too)

For the most room you can disconnect and remove the wiper motor, then the whole part can come out.

It's a lot of work and parts coming off to track down a vacuum tube. My wife thought I was nuts when she saw all the parts on the driveway with me standing on a chair halfway inside the engine. But I got it done!

[olopezm]

Ok, thanks man I blocked it with one of the bolts that hold the cowl in place and the vents and engine performance are back to normal; I still need to find the nipple to that thing but in the meantime I can live with it...