Intermittent stalling, smoke, low RPM, high RPM

RAKHG

MEMBER
1994 FORD E-SERIES VAN
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
111,000 MILES

My van seems a little different every time I turn the key. All of the symptoms come and go, some days are worse than others.

Within the last week it has stalled immediately after starting, stalled at idle at a stop, stalled idling in motion, stalled when I accelerated.

When it stalled during acceleration sometimes it just barely kept going the engine quiet, and would buck a bit as I pressed the gas, sometimes I would press the gas and no power, then it came back and instead of low rpm was stuck at high rpm for five minutes.

Only once so far the car started to smell like fuel, smoke out the tail pipe, check engine light, five minutes later stalled. Took a few minutes before it would start again and the symptoms disappeared.

The temperature gauge seems to be stuck at 0. Even with that though, would it cause all these different symptoms?

Two mechanics later and no one can figure it out yet. Symptoms are super inconsistent.

Help!

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,581 POSTS

Temperature gauge stuck on zero could mean that the engine coolant temperature sensor is faulty. That would mean the PCM thinks it is -50 or so. That information means the system will dump extra fuel in and makes the engine choke on the fuel, that would make you smell gas and cause black smoke if it is running rich enough.
Put a scan tool on it and see what the ECT is reporting. Then see if it is the sensor or if it is a wiring issue. Loose or damaged wiring can cause a lot of problems, most will be intermittent and varied like you are seeing.