Ford 3.8 head gasket, AXOD transmission failures Windstar Taurus Sable - Ford secret warranty?
These items seem to have an incredible failure
rate (I have heard of both occurring at 15,000
mile. So far, there hasn't been an official Ford
recall that I know about. Has anyone successfully
gotten Ford to fairly address the issues ? How ?
PS- I just got a 1993 Sable with only 24 K miles
and the transmission is chattering on acceleration
after it gets hot ! Help.
rate (I have heard of both occurring at 15,000
mile. So far, there hasn't been an official Ford
recall that I know about. Has anyone successfully
gotten Ford to fairly address the issues ? How ?
PS- I just got a 1993 Sable with only 24 K miles
and the transmission is chattering on acceleration
after it gets hot ! Help.
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Check this out.
Comments?
day of ownership, it has been a disappointment.
1. Front brakes squeak. Replacement of pads every 10-12k miles. Rotors replaced 2x. (They had to resurface the rotors each time). Ford claims the squeak is normal.
2. Ashtray broke 3 times.
3. Transmission clunk noise from Park to
Drive.(not normal).
4. Speedometer assy made noise. Est cost to repair $500.00.
5. Tierod ends replaced at 40k.
6. AM/FM radio went out.
With all these problems and possible long term
Problems (transmission and head gaskets) I traded in the vehicle (at 45K)and purchased a Honda.
It took Ford two weeks to fix the problem. They said they couldn't get to it right away because I did not have a appointment.
They also refused to give me a rental car for the duration of the two weeks repair time. I have met two people who went through the same mess with Ford. Now thanks to this web site, I read there could be transmission problems as well.
Is there a solution to this mess? should I sell? I would feel bad about selling a Ford Lemon to someone else.
The transmission was replaced under warranty in April of 1996.
The Oxygen sensors were replaced 2 times before the headgasket recall.
The dealership wrecked it while they had it in for the headgasket recall.
the thing is 300 miles away right now in a transmission shop having the transmission rebuilt.
The check engine light has ALWAYS come on during long trips -- over 3 hours -- but no one can determine what the problem is.
This is the shortes possible version I can come up with of 4 years of CONSTANT breakdowns, ENDLESS major maintenance problems, empty promises, and the end to any brand loyalty I've ever had toward Ford.
I have also had the check engine light phenomena. After about 3 hours of highway travel, usually after a pit-stop, upon returning to highway speed it comes on like clockwork. The engine hesitates a little then the light comes on. I have tried changing to a higher octane fuel for trips like this, it doesn't help. I am beginning to wonder if it is related to driving with the cruise on.
Anyone else have this problem?
So far, no failures, but antifreeze smell persists, and antifreeze is being lost slowly somehow. Now at 40,000 miles. Was considering a new windstar, but after seeing these comments, will consider another choice.
I had the usual problems...power door lock failures, vent motor doesn't work, power windows broke. Also, the AC fan motor at 800
miles.
Pulled up to the stop light, all was fine. It turned GREEN, pressing the gas, motor rev-ed, and finally inched along. Up to 3500 RPM, and I could push it faster than it was going. After about
100 feet, I 'caught up' and was drivable.
Of course, time-line was 37 mo., and 44K miles. Totally out of warrenty. In checking out the NHTSA site, I discovered there were many complaints regarding the AUTO transmission. Also I think the Office of Defect Investigations did a study (DP98-004 ?) and the 'action was denied.' I'm calling them tomorrow to see where I can get a copy of the report.
Called dealer... all he could tell me was that "you have a catastrophic transmission failure" after I paid the $130 to read the computer
codes. It needs a new/rebuild transmission.
Interestestingly, I called a local shop and described the symptom.. stopped at light... transmission slipped... and right away he
told me about the aluminum piston inside that is more than likely cracked. This is consistant with the info off the government web site. (Maybe he reads it too..)
Resolution: unresolved. Ford is 'working with me' to try to resolve.. but needs a week to get back to me. In the mean time, the wife has been to a HONDA dealer twice. She wants to sell this LEMON and get the new HONDA... thinking the head gasket will go any minute. The ABS light has started to come on frequently.
What it is is a small bottle of fluid with a brush (like a fingernail polish bottle) that you use to paint on where the element has been scratched off. The paint contains a conductive material that will complete the circuit and the defroster should work again.
I haven't personally used this, so I don't know how well it works. But it is worth a try.
Dave
ajar is constantly on. Everytime I stop, the beeping noise comes on. The Quality department must have been on vacation when they made mine.
Looking the the new Chevy Silverado's.
Andre
Dealer contacted Ford for me and although well after warranty, Ford authorized a new block. After a month wait, I got my van back. The alternator immediately began to wail after a month's hiatus and the transmission acted just as described by Zapf03 (Post #26 above). The dealer wouldn't take any responsibility for that, so I'm looking forward to dumping this pig soon!!!
No more fords here . . . can't wait to unload this one.
Only 15 months ago, in July of 1998, I spent $3,600 to replace the engine in my ’95 Windstar only to turn around and find out that it now has bad head gaskets. The engine replacement was due to a thrown piston rod, which I suspect was caused by antifreeze possibly getting into the crankcase because of faulty head gaskets. Unfortunately, I had know way of proving this. When I did reluctantly purchased the engine, I was told that it would come with all of the corrections that recalls had been issued for (the head gasket recall, as I understand, was issued in May of 1998).
This most recent problem started with a check engine light coming on. When I had my local dealer diagnose the problem, I was told that the oxygen sensor was bad. No big deal except that I had the same oxygen sensor replaced only 5 or 6 month’s prior. Keep in mind that this was on an already replaced engine! Upon further diagnosis as to the cause of the oxygen sensor going out, I was told that head gaskets were bad and that the antifreeze leaking was contaminating the sensor. I of course brought up the fact that the engine should have had new head gaskets since it is only 15 months old. This is when I was told that the engine doesn't have the new head gaskets required by the recall.
As you can imagine this is becoming a battle between the dealership and Ford about who's responsible. The engine has 23,000 miles on it, which puts it outside of the 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty. I have told my local dealership that the warranty should be of no concern because the proper head gaskets should have been on the engine in the first place. I also pointed out that even if they try to get out of it because of the warranty not being in effect, the fact still remains that the engine was recalled for this very problem. So far I have been told that Ford is sticking to the recall limits which were 60,000 miles or the work had to be completed by December 31, 1998. Therefore it no longer applies since the vehicle has 86,000 miles. This is absolutely ludicrous! The engine only has 23,000 miles. Why they are looking at the miles on the vehicle when evaluating this situation I'll never know.
Any advice?
Is it the same 3.8L V6 engine that powers Thunderbird? My nephew blew gasket on it at 69K. I guess I shouldn't have harassing him that there are other ways to impress girls from his college...
Fix Or Repair Daily or Found On Road, Dead
Could this be true??
The Windstar has returned from trips to the east coast with a filthy interior (3 boys 6,4 & 2) and cleans up like *new*. Very durable interior materials used in the Windstar. I am a fan.
Geoff Lockett
Defiance, MO
If you are considering buying a Ford, just remember that this company KNEW they had a problem with head gaskets since 1991, yet they didn't make any corrections on that design until about halfway through the 1996 model year. Quality wasn't job 1 then. I seriously doubt that it is now.
For information, just check out the NHTSA web site and look in the consumer complaint database. For 1991-1996, look at Taurus, Sable, Cougar, Thunderbird, and Mustang...with the problem "Engine gaskets - valve cover". Judge for yourself based on the windstar posts here. Happy reading.
Thanks
You're not alone. Send an e-mail to Chuck Catanese (ccatanese@worldnet.att.net.) He can put you on a list of Ford head gasket "victims", with some success stories of folks who fought this and won. Good Luck
http://home.att.net/~ccatanese/ford
I would like to be able as Ford Motor Company policy and advertises states value benefit of driving a vehicle (95’ Windstar) that I could trust.
However with the problems I had with the 3.8 engine defective head gaskets failures costing me the expenses of $3609(to install a Ford rebuilt engine) I cannot have this trust and loyalty to my Ford Product. It turned me into a very negative attitude toward the van and Ford Motor Company.
I tried to resolve these problems with the local Ford dealer, Ford Customer Assistance Center, and the Dispute Settlement Board. However, nothing has resulted in offer for Ford to provide the Customer Service, and to stand behind their product.
I feel with this being such a widespread problem on the 95’ Ford Windstar that there should be someway to come to a mutual settlement adjustment on this problem.
They should be more responsive to this engine problem and be supportive of the owner with this problem.
I was shocked when looking into the failure of the 3.8 in my 93 t-bird of the number of NHTSA complaints there were about this engine...with the cause of the problem identified as early as 1991. You being a mechanic most likely did know about the cause of the problem in the late 80's.
The real problem is that it cost $2,000 to fix the head gaskets, but you're not really sure of any other damage that might have been caused by blowing the head gaskets at 70 mph on the freeway. Having read stories of people who paid two grand to fix the gaskets and three months later throw down three grand to replace the engine with a rebuilt one, I dumped the car before it cost me any more. Hell, the trade in value was only $3500.
Can someone tell me if Ford's computer is depending on this temperature sensor to be operational and am I losing oil because of a clogged EGR or some other enviromental system on line? By the way where are these valves located.
Our Windstar doesn't use oil at 65,000 miles. If you've got any kind of extended warrany, I'd urge you to talk to them about the head gaskets, and replace them before they blow out while driving. If that happens, you'll be looking at BIG repair bill.