1995 Windstar problems

I thought I already posted this, but I guess it didn't take.

My van is a 3.8L and I am having horrible acceleration problems. When I try to accel. I hear either a sucking sound or blowing sound, don't know which. It sounds like someone is blowing the engine off with a high pressure hose. I was thinking the exhaust gasket might be blown. But would that reduce compression? Or would it be something else? Hopefully not a head gasket.

Another problem I'm having is that my brake lights aren't working and neither is my cruise control. I know that they can sometimes have the same problem with them. Like a switch or something.
Anyway, any help would be appreciated. Thanks

If you can hear air leakage, you're halfway to finding your problem. I'm guessing a loose hose or the like -- not a head gasket. To amplify and locate the leak, use a flex hose or rigid tube borrowed from the wife's vacuum cleaner. While the engine is running and hood opened, probe all about the engine area while holding one end to your ear. Don't get into the moving belts, etc.

I'm not at all familiar with your model's electrics but would guess that the brake light and cruise control issues are caused by a switch. There is a switch (probably) that senses brake linkage movement at the floorboard/steering column area. There may also be a fluid pressure switch mounted on the master cylinder. One/both of these, as well as fuses, etc could be the culprits.

The cruise control grounds thru the brake light circuit, so, if BOTH brake lamp bulbs are bad, neither the cruise nor the lights will work.

I believe you have a vacuum leak between the air filter and the engine somewhere. That's the only place you would get noise ONLY when accelerating. If it were a "vacuum leak" from a hose, it would hiss like mad at idle in "P", and NOT under acceleration.

I agree with ModMech's much better description of possible problems.

The vacuum leak is almost certain on the upstream side of the throttle plate. On my particular model, ('99 3.8) there is still an "opportunity" for it to be a small diameter tube.

Have you replaced the air filter lately? On my model, I have found it best to remove the whole air filter "cartridge" assembly -- that's from throttle body (one clamp) to the fender well -- some 24" or so of plastic body.. Doing the filter replacement "in car" has usually given me a bad connection somewhere. Whereas, if I do the work on a shop bench, I can see and fit everything together properly. However, your model may be different.

I found the cause of the air leak, there was a hose that came off that went to the DPFE module, and it darn near burned a hole through the wire insulation that was near it. It did melt a hole in the plastic tube that connects the intake assembly to the air filter. I don't know if I should replace the tube or not. Should I?

I need to replace the enginealso, it is knocking now. Does anyone know where I can get a good used 3.8L 1995 engine somewhere close in NE Ohio? I checked most of the yards around here, but the lowest miliage engine I could find was over 112,000 miles on it.
Thanks for the time.