Van Trouble

I put Big Duck on the front hitch to push her into her new Boat Port. The view with the trailer in front of the van is much better and the ability to maneuver is outstanding. What I didn't consider tho, is with around 700 pounds on that front hitch ball, the back end was bound to get a little light. It wasn't really all that bad - the back end broke loose several times but I was able to back up and get a little momentum to get 'over the hump'. Worst case I would have put the equalizer hitch on the front and used the arms to transfer some of that tongue weight to the rear wheels. I did learn tho, from slight skidmarks in the grass, that my limited slip rear end appears to be working.

During the final positioning of the boat in it's new home, the van motor started loping, then running rough, then the check engine light came on. I pulled the codes - 2195 and 2197; they told me both banks were running lean.

Ford Truck Fanatics suggested the codes indicated a vacuum leak.

I couldn't tell much from under the hood, even after I removed the air cleaner.

I hate pulling the engine cover on the inside of the van but I had to do it.

 

Now I had a better view, and quickly noticed an open port on the intake (black nipple).

I searched for a hose hanging loose, but none was to be found, so I capped the open port. My idle came back, but now I noticed I had no heater or a/c control - it was always on defrost. Now I knew there had to be a hose somewhere that needed to back on that port, but none was in sight. I thought maybe the hose had come completely off and was lying on the road somewhere?

After a good night's sleep. I got out my flashlight and started rummaging around the open engine. There just weren't any unconnected black rubber vacuum hoses hanging around even though a vacuum diagram on the internet said there should be one on that open port.

I then started touching/tugging on everything close to the open port. I found a loose pair of wires which when freed from the intake manifold, terminated 90° into what appeared to be a spark plug boot - but there was no electrical connectors in the boot. Am I an idiot or what? This was the missing vacuum line(s). I was looking for a rubber hose, these were two small plastic lines encased in a split loom jacket...the red one exposed for a short section. It's shown here reattached. You can bet there'll be a zip tie on that boot before I put things back together.

Now to get that engine cover back in place...uuug.

Another thing I noticed while poking around, which threw me off, was this exposed 1/2 of a port that looks like something is missing:

Apparently it's not used, but it is kind of strange.