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Ford Windstar Problems
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I would have your alternator, battery, and serpentine belt checked.
When was the last time you changed the alternator? You might want to go ahead and test the voltage on the battery. It could be starting to go bad.
OK, the tailgate is an easy fix. pull off the panel on the inside. I had to crawl back there (lay the rear seat down first) and pull it from the inside since the door wouldn't open. There is a little yellow plastic clip that attaches to this little rod and snaps into the handle. There is your problem. Make sure it's snapped into the handle and then put it around the rod and use a screw driver to help latch it. If it's broke then you will need to replace it. Mine wasn't broke, though, just cam undone. I'm assuming the heat caused it.
Then you're ready to reattch the panel. Pull all of the yellow push screws out of the hatch itself and ttach then to the panel. You might need a screw driver and pliers to make it easy. Then you snap the panel on all around and your done.
http://www.mycarstats.com/
By the way, I'm a 32 year old single mom. I learned a whole lot about cars because I was tired of paying the mechanics to rip me off. The only time my van goes into a shop is when I am physically unable to do the repair myself. Most mechanics hate when you tell them what the problem is and how much you're willing to pay to fix it. Especially when you where a dress. LOL
I also love it when they try to tell me something else is wrong and I tell them that I already checked it and it checked out fine.
I for one don't have enough money to keep throwing it at a mechanic. Being a single mom makes money a little tight. It takes 2 incomes these days to survive.
I will never buy another Ford. LOL
2. Rearview mirror false off - Again a high temperature (and sometimes low temp) problem. There is a professional mirror adhesive at autozone you can buy. The cheap stuff won't work because of a coating on the windshield.
3. Sway bar snaps - Go to a junk yad and pick up another one (about $45), buy a repair manual for your model,order the link kit from Auto zone ($14), Do it yourself for much cheaper than the dealership. Then you might want to file a complaint here http://www.nhtsa.gov/
4. Reverse (or any other gear) won't engage - This is where you will need a sledgehammer. File a complaint at http://www.nhtsa.gov/ and then take it to a mechanic for a complete transmission overhaul unless you can drop a tranny and fix it yourself. The overhaul will cost about $2000. Basically the pistons in these lovely tin cans are made of alluminum and break apart. Have them replaced with custom parts (not Ford) if you can. The custom parts are made out of steal.
5. Check engine light comes on and the van shutters right around 40MPH or 1500 to 2000 RPM's (codes P0301 to P0306). You may also notice gas in your oil - If you are unsure of the gas in the oil then remove your dipstick and sniff it. If you smell gas then guess what? This seems to be a bad computer. A mechanic will tell you it just needs a tune up and then it will need wires, then a coil pack, then it will need fuel injectors, finally they will tell you that the computer is bad too. When you first take it in request that they put a new computer in to test if that's the problem before you pay hundreds of dollars in useless repairs.
6. To lean or too rich (codes P0171 to P0175)- You have a bad MAF sensor. It is in line with the air intake and right near the air filter housing. It has wires hanging out of it. Pick up a new one at your trust auto parts store, buy a manual while your there, and take the 10 minutes you would spend stressing over how much the repair would cost by a mechanic and just replace it.
Please feel free to ask me any questions. I will answer what I can from personal experience with my lovely Ford Windstar. I will be purchasing a Dodge Caravan when I trade this one in. If you want to know if you should purchase that Windstar you saw cheap in the paper then ask yourself why it's so cheap. If you can't come up with an answer then read the thousands of posts on this forum. If you still don't have an answer then go to http://www.nhtsa.gov/ and read the complaints, TSB's, investigations, and recalls for the Windstar. If you then decide to purchase it then I have some ocean front property in Iowa for you to take a look at. I'm selling it real cheap.
This would be a great question for the folks in the Smart Shopper Forum. You might also want to ask your question there.
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Could you provide me the "new" Part Number of the "redisigned" valve cove? May be you have it from the dealer when they said "it needs the redesigned valve cover that will prevent oil from traveling into the intake manifold via the PCV Valve and ruining the internals of the intake manifold".
Could you comment me how is working the car after the works done (2005)?
Could you provide me the part number of the PCV valve used?
I have a Windstar 2000 and I belaeve it is the problem.
Thanks a lot
Arnaldo M
Do you know how mutch it cost? (MAF sensor)
Thanks a lot
Arnaldo M
Do you konw the kit number?
Please let me know.
Thanks
Arnaldo M
Could you inform me how mutch it cost? What technical bulletin is it?
Thanks
Arnaldo M
My daily driver, '96 Windstar with the 3.8L is knocking really loud. At first, it only happed around 2500rpms, but now it's gotten very bad. It knocks really loud from 2000-3000rpms. It happens when I'm on the gas or off.
Does anyone know what it is? It definately sounds like it's coming from the bottom, maybe the right side. It's got 157,000kms on it and we've had it since Day 1, and done oil changes every 5000kms.
Thanks in advance.
- Jon
Trying to repair this evening as neighbor's wife just broke down with alternator problem.
Thank you,
K Bunting
Anybody recommend any?
I saw a actron cp9135 at auto zone that looked ok.
Thank You
Mike
I replaced air bleed motor and it fix the the problem .
It me a few min to replace it. Bought the part at Autozone
and it was around $40.
I only had to pay for the parts...just under $1000
You've probably noticed new discussions appearing all over the forums. What's happening is that we are closing generic, everything-in-one pile discussions like this and creating smaller discussions that deal with specific areas of interest. You'll find a number of discussions listed at the top level of this group: Ford Windstar
When you're ready to post, please check the discussion list there for the appropriate discussion to post in. If you don't see a discussion that fits your question or problem, feel free to create one. We can deal with accidental duplication of topics as things progress.
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Using the "Read New Posts" link will mean you won't miss anything on the Windstar board. If you see a discussion that doesn't interest you, all you have to do is click on the "Remove Track" link within the discussion.
Thanks for your understaning and help in making this group a great resource of information for Windstar owners!
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Need help getting around? claires@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Tell everyone about your buying experience: Write a Dealer Review