Codes 1537 and 1538...

[mptc]

I have a 1998 Windstar, 3.8 V6. The infamous "Service Engine Soon" light came on and the codes retrieved were P1537, P1538 and P1450. I know the 1537 and 1538 to be the IMRC Banks 1 and 2 stuck open. I disconnected the vacuum hose from each valve and there was no suction when the engine was reved up to 3,000 rpm. I took a small hose and attached it to each valve and with a little suction (like drinking milk through a straw) I was able to move the actuators for each bank. I am thinking is must be the solenoid that operates the IMRC banks. Is this a correct assessment? In addition, I have replaced this same solenoid back in March of this year. How long should these things last? As far as the P1450 code (unable to bleed fuel tank vacuum), can this be related to the first two codes?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

mptc

[mptc]

I have discovered the problem. Indeed I did not have any vacuum to the diaphrams for the IMRC banks. But the problem was beyond the solenoid. I followed the vacuum hoses all the way up to the vacuum reservoir (right front fender well) and found that small "rodents" had chewed through the red vaccum hose completely. I also found a small chew hole on the back side of the black vacuum hose. I spliced it and everything works fine. I had the same problem with our Olds Cutlass Ciera, only it was rabbits and the speedometer wiring.

Has anyone ever experienced this before?