[Blue Bowtie]

Welcome Aboard!

Aside from regular scheduled maintenance (adhere to the factory schedule) there are not a lot of nuisance problems with these vehicles.

Changing the transfer case oil to synthetic EP oil is important to prevent engagement shudder found on many of these vans whose maintenance has been neglected.

The hard nylon vacuum tubing/hoses on the engine tend to become brittle with age and should be replaced. A common symptom of this is lack of HVAC controls.

The idlers arms on Astro/Safari vans tend to wear quickly if not lubricated regularly. The heavy weight of the vehicle places a lot of stress on the steering, and the idler is often the first item to exhibit wear and create a sloppy or soft steering feel.

Repair whatever is causing the MAF error. It could be an electrical connection, vacuum problem (EGR or PCV), dirty MAF sensor, intake duct leaks, or any number of other problems related to the MAF. The MAF itself may not be the problem, and simply replacing a $300 sensor without diagnosis is a waste of time and money.