1998 AWD ignition problems?

Hello everyone,

I have a '98 Astro with 79K miles. I love the van and has been trouble free for the 5 years I've had it. UNTIL, I made the last payment!

Ok, started running rough. And began intermitent start up problems. Oil gage bouncing all over the place. Fuel gage now shows full all the time. Motor seems to "surge/missfire" at low speed/constant speed.
I'm thinking bad wires/ground/fuel filter/fuel pump.
Replaced fuel filter. No change

Got a check engine light and gave me a code 1404.
Checked the EGR, didn't look too bad, no carbon chunks. Cleaned it and reinstalled it. Same problem re-occured, replaced the EGR.

Start up problem continued. Checked coil, and plug wires. Arcing on coil wire. So I replaced the coil, and all the wires, distributor cap, rotor, cam sensor. Cleared code.

Start up problem solved. But Check Engine light back on, same code.
Surge/missfire continues. Now I take it to my mechanic. He does some snooping around and finds that the computer system has been updated and reflashes computer. Cleans grounds. Vacuum check-good, fuel pressure-good, egr testing-good. Clears codes.

Engine light back on, same code. My mechanic friend suggests replacing plugs, and so I do that. Problems persist.

Last night I'm looking at engine with the dog house off and all lights off in garage so it's really dark. Enginge looks like a disco! arcs/flashing every where, plug wires, around coil itself, at plugs.

What the heck is going on here??!!

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

Thanks for all the help poeple. Couldn't of figured it out with out you!

Thanks for all the help poeple. Couldn't of figured it out with out you!

I would replace the fuel pump. It is an integrated unit with fuel level sensor made by Carter. I have a '98 Safari (same pump I'm guessing) that has the same fuel gauge issue. The pump assembly costs about $300, make sure you get the lifetime warranty.

The missing is likely due to low fuel pressure. The ECM does not monitor this so you will need a fuel pressure gauge to be sure.

Also replace distributor cap and rotor if you haven't already and the ignition wires can be damaged when replacing the spark plugs causing missing problems. You will need a ignition scope to find which one.