My 1997 Ford Aerostar cargo van with about 130,000 miles on the 3L V6 failed a function test on the smog test (though it produced only half of the allowed smog) and I ended up getting a new cam sensor installed. That was the code which came up on the computer. After this sensor was replaced, the car's pollution output was the same but the Engine Check light worked at last. (The previous owner apparently removed the Engine Check light.)
The car suddenly began to have trouble starting on cold mornings. About the same time, I had run it close to empty several times so I added some fuel injector cleaner to the next tank of gasoline, thinking maybe it was just a little dirt from the bottom of the gas tank. It also warmed up a lot over the next week so I didn't have a reason to start the car up on a cold morning.
The next symptom: it began to overheat when idling during warm weather. The temperature guage went way up near red if the car sat at a red light while it was hot outside. It rapidly cooled when we got moving again.
I've asked mechanics to explain how replacing a bad cam sensor could cause these symptoms and there seems to be no answer. The Ford dealer's answer to everything is to buy a new car.
Any ideas on the overheating? I really want to know if this engine's headed for major trouble.