Ford Windstar

5greyhounds · October 2002

You should be able to get the same color since they are all made of fabric and thus should not have any glare. I know mine are always fabric.

johnskev · October 2002

As I'm just starting to fish through the 600+ posts on the Windstar, I notice some definite digust with the 1995 Windstar, but I haven't come across any specifics as to the problems. Could someone let me know what they know of? (Don't worry, I continue to drill through the postings, I'd just like to see it all in one post.)

I was just given one by a relative, who had no problems at all, but also had never driven much if any highway miles. I'm in a metro area, so I'm driving a good number of highway mile and also some decently curvy roads. I notice that on curves, even though I'm holding the steering perfectly still, the wheels feel as though they're moving slightly. It feels extremely unsafe. I read through all the TSB headlines and nothing jumped out at me. Is this one of the big problems with the 95 Windstar? Any help is appreciated.

crkeehn · October 2002

The 1995 were the most problematic of the Windstars. All Windstars seem to have a list of common problems, especially electrical problems. A lot of them are not major but can be real irritants. The 1995 model added problems with the head gasket and transmission. This was not unique to the Windstar but any Ford with the pushrod 3.8L engine and AX4S tranmission. A lot of the problem with the head gaskets arose from the transverse placement, the engine had been designed for longitudinal placement. The rear bank was generally the one that had the gasket fail. Edmunds used to have an excellent article on the problem with the 3.8L engine, unfortunately it disappeared into the ether a couple of years ago.

The AX4s transmission has also been problematic, the 1995 one had an aluminum forward clutch piston that would fracture and fail over time. In 1996, the forward clutch piston was made out of stainless steel which made the transmission more reliable.

Add to the mix an ongoing problem with the speedometer heads that make the needle go wonky, Ford wants 500+ dollars to replace it.

crkeehn · October 2002

A lot of Fords seem to have problems with the tie rod ends. You might have yours checked. I had a 1996 Windstar and I don't remember the wheels feeling that way, but with my Escort, the wheels started feeling a bit vague and clunky and it turned out to be the tie rod end.

stever · October 2002

There's a separate Ford Windstar problems discussion for your browsing enjoyment too.

Steve, Host

crkeehn · October 2002

And as his post stated, there are lots of posts to sift through. He was asking for the Reader's Digest version.

BTW, it's a real shame that Edmunds had to remove the article on the Ford 3.8L engine. It was the first and only substantive discussion I have seen on the problematic engine.

stever · October 2002

Can't say as I remember the article myself, but I searched the site for it (and googled) and didn't see it. Now you have me curious.

Hey, I think I found it!

Ford's 3.8-Liter V-6 Head Gasket Problem - Straight Talk

Steve, Host

crkeehn · October 2002

I think You've Got it.

Is it archived, I had the article bookmarked a couple of years ago and it dropped off the screen.

stever · October 2002

Good question - I suspect the url got changed during one of the site overhauls. I don't think it's archived so much as just off the radar - not on any of the "lists." I finally found it by searching for Windstar in the search engine on the Review page and scrolling down 30+ articles.

That was fun -- next challange?

Steve, Host

5greyhounds · October 2002

I had a 95 GL that was totaled at 135K. The head gasket was replaced but there is a recall on it so if it goes bad it should be covered. The transmission is another story, but mine never was a problem. I never had the tie rod problem but did have to have the spedo replaced. The only electrical problem was with the contacts on the sliding door and that was fixed with a pencil eraser (cleaned them off). This is something that needs to be done on an annual basis anyway. They get dirty. It only let me down once and that was when the ground wire broke at 100k. I was lucky there, it broke in my garage. I replaced it with a 99 SE and so far (35k) all is well.

banddexpress · November 2002

can get a 02 windstar lx with 30k power seat cd player quad seating front rear air for 15k does that sound good?

stever · November 2002

2004 Ford Windstar

Talk about it in the Ford Windstar - 2004 Redesign discussion.

Steve, Host

davids1 · December 2002

So you say!!!???

stever · December 2002

Davids1, he's just a troll spamming all the vans discussions. Ignore him :-)

Steve, Host

davids1 · December 2002

I know. I've gotta have some fun.

stever · December 2002

lol, I just wish it was more fun cleaning up the messes....

Steve, Host

doobie · December 2002

1999 REVERSE SENSOR STOPS WORKING WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE.

THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED BY FORD SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. I need help.

Please advise.

quickfords · December 2002

I just purchased a 1998 Windstar GL for my wife and it has a piece of (enter choice word)radio. The van originally had AM/FM/CD with rear audio controls. I am looking for a replacement. Does ANYONE have a working OE unit laying around?
Thanks for the help.
By the way... it has over 107,000 miles and is great shape! Got it for WAY less than wholesale due to mileage. But it is perfect for her and the rugrats.

greg32 · December 2002

Has anybody had to replace the side view mirror on a 1996 Windstar? The mirror is broken but the black frame that held the mirror is still attached to the housing. The part from the dealer has the black frame with the mirror so we need to remove the old frame. Is there a trick to removing the frame?

Thanks

stever · February 2003

"Ford's Windstar minivan gets a serious revamp -- and a new name -- for the 2004 model year. To be shown this week at the Chicago Auto Show, the '04 Ford Freestar will now follow a new Ford policy of naming most of its vehicles with the letter "F"; heritage cars like the Thunderbird and Mustang won't be affected. For 2004, the Windstar/Freestar gets a reskin outside and a more thorough reworking inside with a richer interior, a flat-folding third-row seat and a more powerful engine."

Source: Edmunds.com Vans newsletter (link)

Steve, Host

stever · February 2003

More details on the '04 Freestar are coming out from the Chicago Auto Show:

2004 Ford Freestar

Steve, Host

mullins87 · July 2003

I posted this question over in the "Ford Windstar Problems" thread, but I saw this one and thought I'd give it a try. Does anyone know of a rear swaybar offered for an '00 Windstar?

hault · July 2003

FORD stated they installed a "new" transmission in the Windstar in 2001 called "4F50N". Is this just a modified version of the transmission used in 2000 and earlier or a "new" design ? Have the problems decreased ?

stever · July 2003

It's probably a variation on the existing tranny but I suppose it could have come from the parts bin. Hard to believe that it's too new though, since the Freestar and the 2004 Mercury Monterey are coming out soon.

Steve, Host

crkeehn · July 2003

The 4F50N is apparently a development of the AX4N transmission.

hansienna · July 2003

BUT, the 265 Foot Pounds of Torque will compensate for less HP than Odyssey, Sienna or Grand Caravan/Town & Country that all have more HP than the New Ford minivans.
When will Ford, GM, and DC use 5 speed Automatic Transmissions? The Odyssey, MPV, Sedona, and 2004 Sienna now have 5 speed for better acceleration and fuel economy.

jasdmw · July 2003

Was in the area of the Ford plant today and saw 2 Freestars on the road, both white and both with dealer plates. One was a Sport model, the other a basic, but with no "LX" or anything like it on the tailgate. For those of you expecting big visual changes, I'm sad to report you are out of luck. They looked pretty much the same as their predecessor. The headlights have changed, are farther up the fender but not as much as the Sienna (a good thing). The grill on the Sport was painted black. The door handles on the Sport matched the body colour, those on the other van were black. This is about all I could get in the minute or 2 that I saw them.

Have a realtive that works there. Reports they have increased the sheet metal thickness and have an entire new line to assemble the body panels. Results should be better; stiffer structure as a result of the increased steel and many many more welds. Maybe explains why the engine is larger; more weight to drag around.

samnoe · August 2003

The Freestar will have about 300 Lbs. more than Windstar. So the extra hp from the 4.2L engine is necessary. The 3.9 will lose some hp, 193 down from 200 (in the 3.8), but both will have much more Lb-ft of torque, to beat the competition. And these horsepower and torque will be available at a lower RPM than the current Windstar.

stever · August 2003

Freestar vs Windstar and

Upcoming 04 Ford Freestar

Steve, Host

samnoe · August 2003

The Windstar's wipers doesn't cover a big enough part of the windshield, as the Honda Odyssey, etc. So I changed their sizes.

It comes by default: for drivers side 24", for passenger side a 20" wiper blade.

I put size 28" for drivers side, and 21" for passenger side. It now covers a much bigger part.

Is it something wrong if I change it from the factory defaults?

ramou · August 2003

Actually that doesn't sound like a bad idea, I know what u mean since I just returned from a 1990 mile rainy Smokey Mountain trip all the way to rainy Florida. I just wonder if the weight may be bad for the wiper motor in the long run, I'm not sure if those motors are made to handle all sizes or not. O well try it and see, most likely it's not a problem. Do the new wipers swipe outside the windshield or only on the windshield?

samnoe · August 2003

I measured it out before I decided which size to buy. It always bothered me that quite a big part of the windshield is NOT covered, and I was sure that it could use a bigger size. I measured it before to be sure it swiped only IN the windshield, not outside, and it's now perfect. I would recommend for everybody to do the same. This is especially useful for the snow. It's also helpful if you need to look out at the traffic light, you don't have to push yourself down (as I was doing 'til yesterday) to look at it.

As for the weight, it's almost the same as the smaller size, and I'm almost sure this is NOT a problem at all.

mullins87 · August 2003

What ramou was referring to is not the weight of the wiper blade itself, but of the added "weight", or strain, placed on the wiper motor created by the extra drag of the longer blade.

When you mentioned the larger wipers, my first thought was of this extra drag. I'd bet everything will be just fine as long as you don't try to move a considerable amount of snow or ice.

61anthony · August 2003

I have a 2000 SEL with the chrome trim. In April, I noticed that the plastic coating was peeling off. Not having too much faith in my dealership, I didn't mention it, thinking that it was just a coating. Once summer came (and naturally just beyond warranty) the affected areas turned black. The dealership said they would have replaced the entire grill had it been within warranty but now there was nothing they could do.

Has anyone else had this problem? It looks like the surface has tarnished and was wondering whether anyone has had any success cleaning it up. The film that peeled was clear, so I don't think the "chrome" has peeled, only the protective coating.

wijoco · August 2003

Unfortunately, there hasn't been any true "chrome" trim on cars in a reeaaaaal long time. I'm going to venture an educated guess here based on the norm for auto trim these days, but someone please let me know if there is an exception on the "chrome" on this Windstar. What you have is a plastic grille with a chrome "applique" that adheres to the underlayer, which is probably that black stuff. Something wasn't done right wherever that piece was manufactured, hence the "chrome" layer peeled prematurely. Dealer is right-nothing you can do but replace it. There's nothing there to buff out, really. Now you could gently sand the remaining chrome area, mask it off, and spray a few coats of dull silver or black or body color or whatever you feel looks better than peeling chrome. I can only guess what the dealer wants for a painted replacement grille!

ramou · August 2003

Thanks for explaining that to Samnoe the way you did. That is exactly what I ment to say but I guess I didn't describe it as well as you did, thanks again.

tmant · August 2003

Yes, the grill is a black plastic material with the chrome layer on top. I think it is noticeable on some sections of the grill (the parts that aren't normally seen from a distance) when you look closely, but mine has been fine.

cptplt · August 2003

Having had a 95 and now a 00 (ok, ok some people have learning problems!!) I finally found something really nice to say about the WS! The cabin pollen air filter is a cinch to change unlike most other cars I have had! One nice simple hatch to pop off under the hood! Wow, now if only they had spent half as much time emgineering the rest of it and the production of it so its not always going worng elsewhere!

roadrascal · September 2003

Yes- the cabin air filter on my 2001 Windstar is easy to get at. The one on my '99 Taurus is a real pain- you have to remove 1/2 of the windshield cowl to access the filter. Nice design...

5greyhounds · October 2003

If you go to The Car Connection (http://thecarconnection.com) there is a review of the Freestar. The final word is it is much better than the Windstar but is very middle of the pack and but should still sell well.

samnoe · October 2003

What is that? In all Ford manuals they're talking about auxiliary parking lamps (look at bulbs replacement). Has someone an idea what that is? (It's besides the regular parking lamps) - It seems like an upgraded option, b/c they always say it 'auxiliary lamps - if equipped'...

cptplt · October 2003

anyone know how much is correct for a windstar??

tmant · October 2003

Not sure which lamps it refers to, but some Windstars do have more lights that others. My 2000 SE has the cornering lamps that the LX does not have. I believe the interior lights varies between the models too.

samnoe · October 2003

I know. But besides the cornering lamps, they have something called 'Auxiliry parking lamps'. I have no idea what it is.

stever · November 2003

Check your tires lately?

Don't Ignore the Rubber on the Road

Steve, Host

frozennorth · November 2003

for cptplt: it's 100 foot pounds.

cptplt · November 2003

thanks for the torque info. I knew it had to be a bit more scientific than what the tech at the dealership told me "hand tighten , then 1/2 turn more"!!!!!

steaker · January 2004

We just bought our first Ford Windstar (used 1999) and I since we are both newbys to car maintainence, I was wondering if there are any step-by-step procedures for the following, and if, being somewhat mechanical, I can do these myself ?

(1) Radiator Flush ? What are the step-by-step procedures for this ? What hints and tips should I know before starting this ? Any reason I should NOT attempt this ?

(2) Tranmission Fluid Change/Flush ? What are the step-by-step procedures for this ? What hints and tips should I know before starting this ? Any reason I should NOT attempt this ?

(3) Fuel System Tune up ? What are the step-by-step procedures for this ? What hints and tips should I know before starting this ? Any reason I should NOT attempt this ?

Are there any good web sites that provide this info ? or is this the best site for it ?

Feel free to e-mail me any/all info. THanks in advance for all your help.

Jimmmy
magicfan@mail.com

steve500 · January 2004

My wife has a 2000 SEL with 60,000 miles on it. We've had no problems, no noises and are very happy with it.

There is one thing that I would like to improve if I could. That's the suspension. It's too soft. Anybody have any experience or advice on how to improve this. I'd like it to be a bit stiffer, but not jar our teeth as we drive.

stever · January 2004

I don't do any of that stuff unless the manual recommends it. I'm a bit of a deferred maintenance person though.

Check out Edmunds Maintenance Guide and browse around the Maintenance & Repair board.

Steve, Host

Ford Windstar

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles