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Just avoid the 3.8L. And after my personal experiences with the Ford Motor Company, I would avoid Ford all together... But that is story for another day... Whatever you do, good luck!
2004 Honda Accord EX-L Graphite Pearl
2007 Honda Civic EX - Atomic Blue
2013 Honda Civic LX - Crimson Pearl
The passenger window will no longer roll down via button on either door. I
don't see in the manual how to child proof it. Previously it would roll down
fine. I think I did a combination of turning the car on and holding both
buttons down to let some of the heat out, but I can't reverse it.
Any ideas? I haven't checked the fuses yet, but I suspect that they're fine,
as the other window rolls down.
Any help is much appreciated.
E
On the other side, congrats on the new van. Keep it until the warranty runs out then dump it like a hot potato. I shouldn't really say that. You are one of the few that I have read where Ford has treated you fairly well (after much work I am sure!). I wish my story had a replacement van! I would feel much more comfortable in a van that I knew was warranted. Instead I continue to pay off the home equity loan (that I is major upside down compared to trade value) in the repaired 95 WS on its fourth transmission and second engine. I trust it as far as I can throw it. Just last night my wife (and three small children) was driving back from IL when she decided to stop for gas. After getting off the exit, she went to press the brake and there was NOTHING. Went right through an intersection. Nearly got hit by a pickup. The culprit was a rusted brake line (near the Master Cylinder I might add). Gosh, I really just wish this would get bought back...
Good Luck!
2004 Honda Accord EX-L Graphite Pearl
2007 Honda Civic EX - Atomic Blue
2013 Honda Civic LX - Crimson Pearl
What more specific whas the problem whith the
ABS system and the Traction Control on your
Windstar 98 Gl?
Is there anyone else who has this problem.
I live in Sweden and i´m getting my Windstar on friday. I am just a little bit nervous if this
are a good car or not.
Exusce my poor English.
Hope for answers!
Honken from Rejmyre in Sweden
If you look on the ntsa database for technical service bulletins :
www.nhtsa.com/cars/problems/tsb/servicemmy1.cfm
and you look under Ford Truck/Windstar/1998,
you will see that there are a few complaints about the TRACOFF light intermintenly flashing, but as I saw, they could not fix it.
Thanks for the tip.
Honken
My city mileage was down to 10mpg recently until I happened to speak to the service rep. at the Mitsu dealer next door to the Ford dealer. We also own a 2000 Galant(fine car). He told me that a hesitation had been reported on some older Mitsubishi's and that rang a bell with me since I too have hesitation with the Windstar(32,000)and also experienced the same with the 3.0L Dynasty I had. There is an electrically controlled choke mechanism mounted right above the butterfly plate. You can take it off yourself and spray carburetor/choke cleaner in it and Voila!, no more hesitation! It had gotten real bad on my Dynasty and after the cleaning performance improved. I just wish I'd get the mileage on the van like I did on the Dynasty. I even moved up to premium gas on the van so that it could clean the injectors better than regular. Three tanks of premium so far and I have yet to see if the mpg improves.
Ford called us last week to tell us that the 2001 Windstars won't be out until January. They look so much better than the '00 models. But we'll have to stick with a '00 since our lease is up soon. I'd prefer a new MPV but the wife still wants her Windstar. The MPV is packaged nicer with features and costs a lot less.
I agree with some of the other contributors here in that Ford has not been consistent with options and features inside. For instance, tell me why in the world could the overhead console work in the 3-door '98 but it can't work in the same model for '00? It has to be only in the 4-door.
I'll be glad to get rid of this van. Like my neighbor say's "Dodge sucks" but I had less trouble with my Dodge than this Ford!!
Thanks
Vistion is saying they did have a bad batch of single CD / tape AM/FM radios.
My dealer just put in new one (took 3 weks to get)
doing SAME thing.
Vistion is calling my dealer to see if serial# on new radio(and the one they removed) is also from bad batch.
The dealership I am dealing with is a reputable (i think) one in which I know the used car sales manager personally. He said to avoid the '95 & '96 models and that in his opinion, the 1999 with modifications to the engine & transmission has solved most of the problems.
I would appreciate the board's thoughts on the '99 WS.
Thanks
I think they have introduced a different set of problems though. The transmission is controlled by a computer that is suppose to learn your driving habits (or so I'm told). We had a concern with ours in that it would do harsh shifting in the lower gears (1st to 2nd and vice versa). They replaced a sensor that helped but didn't get rid of the problem all together. When shifting from park it would periodically bang into reverse (we had this with the 95 as well, they have made it better in the 2000, it feels tighter at least). The engine was noisier then the 95. We found that if you do tight turns at coasting speeds (like trying to manuever into a garage) the engine tends to surge. If your not ready for it it can be a problem. We brought it to the dealer several times to see if they could fix it, no luck, thats normal according to them. We thought when we got the 2000 these issues might be gone, they are not. The gas mileage was horrible, 17 around town, 20 highway (if we were lucky). Don't believe the 500 to 600 miles on a tankful.
On the plus side, the extra slider is nice. If we had to do it over again we would go back to the bench seat in the middle (its tough for 2 kids to stretch out on long trips with buckets).
Now Bob Davidson will have to get this resolved for me once and for all. It is NOT the dealers fault, it is the supplier of the radio (VISTION) and whatever local repair facility used by FORD.
Then they said they could "fix" my orig unit locally, that did not work either. Waiting to hear from dealer now, who is obviously furious with the radio suppiler at this point...
I have a 2000 SE I purchased and I have not noticed a loud "clunk". I would ask the dealer to let you sit in a new one on the lot, start it, and put it in gear.. Then YOU decide!!! Good luck!
Personally I love my Windstar (this is my 3rd one)
the ride is unmatched by any other I have been in, but some do not like the "floating" ride, I do.
Yes, the engine is a bit noisy on acceleration and FORD has had head problems, but that's why they have ext'd warranties for $675 bucks for 5 yr /75000. Can't beat it. Dealers are usually great! And FORD's arbitration process does seem to work (reading some of the posts on this site). Good Luck
Someone around here posted a fix a while back. They were told to set the parking brake after shifting to park when they stopped. I didn't notice much difference when I tried this.
I hope that does it once and for all....
My lease agreement looks like a legally binding contract. It was signed by the dealer and by me, so there is no question about it's being legal. There is no wording on the agreement about pending approval by FMC. I've contacted the Better Business Bureau and the local Attorney General's office, but so far have not gotten any resolution to the problem.
Does anyone have any suggestions? If others have the same problem, would a class action suit be in order?
Let them look at the agreement and if it is enforceable as stated, let him handle it.
I know this may cost you a couple hundred bucks, but the lawyer can probably get that back for the aggrevation being caused to you.
Check it out... let us know..
lease company. Vehicle has 60k on it, they are asking $14,900 for it. Anyone have any commentson this, positive or negative. Thanks!
Dreamer
Thanks for any help to fix this problem.
It's better than what Chrysler and GM have to offer, but no where near in the same playing field as Honda and Toyota. If I had to do it again and I may well be I'd buy one of those. I'd wait till the mad rush subsides and opt for the Odessey or Sienna.
JC
Suggestions:
Keep a well documented file containing dates, names, and subject matter, of everything that transpires.
Require that Ford Motor Credit make its demands directly with you and in writing.
Confirm with your legal counsel that your contract is a binding contract on all parties.
Notwithstanding legal advise to the contrary, do nothing but make your lease payments on time.
Another option, if your not too crazy with the vehicle you leased, offer to return it in exchange for "written" full satisfaction of the lease agreement.
Contract renegotiation in consumer lending is a very rare occasion. Imagine what Ford Credit's reaction would be to your request to "renegotiate" the terms of your lease or loan.
"I just took a 10% pay cut and would like you to cut my payment by 10%"
Finally, was the interest rate an important part of the transaction? Would you have done something differently if the rate had been 9.9%?
Good luck!
Jerry
The van had 24,300 miles on it and has buckets for the second row seating, PW, PDL, alloys, cruise, tilt, cloth seats, privacy glass, lugg. rack, etc. I was able to pick it up for $17000 and before someone asks, YES, I extended the warranty to 100K miles. I considered this a pretty good price given edmunds lists the retail value at $18,500. What do you all think? Thanks
The second offer was to reduce the price of the van and re-write the contract. This option would still cost me more in the long run, but only about $200.00 over the life of the loan. I figured it would probably cost more in legal fees and other hassles and annoyance.
On the recommendation of my lawyer and the Better Business Bureau,I accepted the offer. However, the BBB has launched an official investigation and may very likely revoke the dealership's membership as a result of the many complaints they have heard from the dealer.
So if anyone is considering buying a car from Chapman Ford in Wilmington, DE, you should think twice and be sure they get the numbers right before you sign anything.
By the way, assuming that the Edmunds holdback percentage is correct, I figure the price I paid is actually about $800.00 below the true dealer cost (after holdback). And given the condition of my trade-in, I don't think they will make that up when they sell it.
Someone prove me wrong. Thanks for your input!