If this is one of the 'blink out' stalls, where it just quits for a moment then will restart ok, then it's mostly likely electrically related. I would really listen the next time this happens to hear for some soft clicking, which would suggest that the PCM just rebooted itself after a power reset. If this is the case, really check for grounds and the bulkhead connectors. A lot of corrosion could've developed there.

 

Have you solved the issue? I had a similar problem on an older E350. It turned out to be the pickup coil inside the distributor.

Symptoms were run for a while ok, then engine would die, it would not restart. After a while it would start again and run for some more time and then die... One thing I noticed is that at least in my van, the pickup coil failure was preceded by the ignition module getting powdery white specks. My take on this, when the pick up coil began to crack it created an electrical malfunction that for whatever reason affected the outer casing of the ignition module. As the crack became worse, the powdery white speck increased until the day the crack became so severe, the engine began to die.

I replaced the pickup coil and this solved the problem. I did not have to replace the ignition module for it to work. Just the coil. Eventually though, I did replace the module and I can report that there is no white powdery speck buildup on it.

 

we solved the rough idle problem but not the ultimate problem of stopping...??? Its a mystery at this time...We were looking at the coil and module but they check out on the diagnostic and the van stopped when the engine was not really hot the last time...I only drove about 8 blocks and it stopped cold in the middle of the street...

 

If the vehicle still has the original ECA in it ,they had a problem with a cracked signal return in the printed circuit board of the computer. If there is another ECA available to switch it could save some time and trouble.