Matt;
        Good grounds are important. It may not fix this problem but it
may prevent others. If you have a good Digital VOM check the voltage
potential between chassis and engine ground with the motor running and
all electrical consumers on. Ideally it should be zero. I found three
quarters of a volt between engine and alternator cases! Those wasted
electrons can make a big difference at the headlights. It can also
confuse the ECU if it adds or subtracts from a sensor reading.

Good Luck and Drive Safely
Ken Lewis
86 Crewcab 220K+ miles
http://Neksiwel.20m.com/

On Fri, 23 Aug 2002 17:15:49 -0400 Matthew Libby <MLibby1@CFL.RR.COM>
writes:
> Previously ----
>
> fter my previouse wan problems this is what happened today!!
>
> Today is was DRY so I tried an experiment.  Several times on the way
> home I unplugged and replugged the 02 sensor in and out  Id it like
> every 5-10 minutes.  With 02 sensor slight bucking every once in a
> while.  Without, the idle kicked up a little, bucking gone, but
> acceleration slightly slower.  (Previoius with 02 sensor connectd i
> was getting 19-20mpg)  Then comes the weird thing.  A few minutes
> after the last time I replugged the sensor, horrible bucking, whuite
> smoke out exhasut, then black smoke.  Shut off, disconnected 02
> sensor.  Van restarted, ran fine.  ANy Ideas??
>
> SO today i wenot for a longish ride 2+ hours, all was good first
> hour+, then The same thing, sputtering, black smoke...  And the 02
> sensor is disconnected???? Any ideas.. The ground wire to the engine
> is pretty cruddy, but could that cause my problems?  PS- The 02
> sensor wire is the single spade one right, the big one is the
> preheat correct???
>
> Matt
>

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