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Ford Windstar Problems
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Comments
We do have a roof rack, and the bowing is in the back part of the roof.
This is post #442. Especially read the third link.
/direct/view/.ee93e1c/477
Good Luck!
2004 Honda Accord EX-L Graphite Pearl
2007 Honda Civic EX - Atomic Blue
2013 Honda Civic LX - Crimson Pearl
Thanks,
SEL3
#2. My nephew just bought a used 96 WS with 66k on it from a private part, he did not see me first or I would have warned him BUT to late now. After oinly 2 months the head gasket needs replacement and I just wondering if like the 95 WS that had the extended warranty is Ford also doing the extended warranty for 96 WS head gasket failure..?
Thanks in advance for any reply to this message.
This is only the latest of my headaches added to the shifting/transmission, speedometer jumping, dome light staying on, alignment problems, the infamous head gasket blowing, engine light, and engine chugging. Did I miss any??
Has anyone else had a spring break??
find the smaller maintenence manual. Does anybody have
one that would be willing to email an image, fax , or mail me
a copy of. I only need the pages that show the required
maintenance schedule for noraml and servere driving.
Thanks........psala@btv.ibm.com
www.5starford.com/recommended_maintenance_schedule.htm
www.bobbakerford.com/maintenance.html
www.danwieboldford.com/maintenance.html
The following site will give you the maintenance requirements for your make, model, year and mileage and also advise you when your next scheduled maintenance period is:
www.fleet.ford.com/fleet_maintenance/maintenance_schedules/Quality_Care_Maintenance1.asp
I hope this helps you.
are required for the warrenty. The Fleet.ford site does not
have maintenace scheds for 1999 WS's.
Still looking for a copy of the OFFICIAL maintenance sched
if anyone has one. Thanks.....psala@btv.ibm.com
been able to fix it. I just live with it. I may check out the brake cable/spring......psala@btv.ibm.com
SEL3
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
.
http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?archive and search for Ford.
Has any one ran across this before?
My ford dealer has looked at this problem 3 times without any luck so far.
Cheers!
2004 Honda Accord EX-L Graphite Pearl
2007 Honda Civic EX - Atomic Blue
2013 Honda Civic LX - Crimson Pearl
hoof1
Edmunds did a nice little write-up on the HG problem in Ford's 3.8.
IIRC, the 95s are bad. They have no redesign effort in them - they represent the base line
Sometime during the 96s, Ford redesigned the coolant flow. This helps, but isn't the best fix.
For the 97 year, Ford supposedly switched to a different gasket (multi layered), which should be the actual fix.
From paying attention to this forum, the problem year is the 95s. A handful of 96s (supposely the early 96s) have posted a problem. But thats it. I don't recall anyone with a late build date 96 or later thats posted here with a blown head gasket.
If that's a pretty good price (it sounds like it is), you may want to invest a little extra and see if you can get an independent shop to replace the head gasket with an aftermarket replacement now, before you ever get a problem.
Personally, if I thought the price was great, I'd get it. Just don't expect any help from Ford if you have a problem. Do you know (and can trust) the previous owner? If not, you might check the condition of the spark plugs; if they haven't been replaced they can often indicate if something bad is going on in the engine.
He suggests having Ford look at to see if there is any warranty on the engine. We have now passed the 100k mile marker. Should I have Ford look at or have our mechanic tear into the engine? He thinks it is a bad intake manifold gasket - probably $400.
Like all of you, I bought into Ford's big ad campaign and bought a 95 Windstar. First car of my own after a divorce.......what a treat.
I also had to replace the heads and the trans. The heads Ford reimbursed me for and I'm still fighting on the transmission. There's an attorney in Chicago who filed a class action suit and I got my name in the hat for that but who knows how long that's going to go on.
I tried to trade it in......what a joke. The best offer I got was $4000 and I still owe $8200.
Now they tell me the PCM is bad, went ahead and ordered the part but it's not in yet. Tonight when I pulled out of the drive I heard a "pop" and felt something give. Now it smells like exhaust and it takes me 2-3 miles to get up to 55mph. I checked the oil and it doesn't smell hot and it's not cloudy but it smells like gas.
The thing is chugging like crazy but it's not running hot. Stopped by the local station and they couldn't see anything obvious so there's not a belt or something broken.
Has anybody else out there dealt with replacing these PCM's?
Anybody a mechanic who can give me some advice on this? Please tell me when I replace this part ( another $245) that it will solve my problem!
I'm still having continual problems with this can.
Is Ford still offering the buy-back program?
I swore I'd never buy another one but I can't get any money for this thing and it scares me to death.
I'm a single mom w/3 kids and I just can't take the constant repairs anymore. Maybe if I get a new one it'll last me awhile.
Thanks!
http://www.sema.org/warranty/
http://www.sema.org/warranty/atta.cfm
"Clean Air Act Warranty Provisions (42 U.S.C. S 7541 (C) (3) (B))
The federal Clean Air Act requires vehicle makers to provide two emissions-related warranties -- a production warranty and a performance warranty. The production warranty requires the vehicle maker to warrant that the vehicle is designed, built and equipped so that it conforms with emissions requirements at the time of sale. The performance warranty requires the vehicle maker to warrant that the vehicle will comply with applicable emissions requirements as tested under state vehicle emissions inspection programs for the warranty periods specified in the law (for model year 1995 and later vehicles, the warranty is 2 years/24,000 miles for all emissions-related parts and 8 years/80,000 miles for the catalytic converter, electronic emissions control unit and on-board diagnostic device). The performance warranty is conditioned on the vehicle being properly maintained and operated.
Like the Magnuson-Moss Act, vehicle manufacturers may not refuse warranty repairs under the Clean Air Acts performance and defect warranties merely because aftermarket parts have been installed on the vehicle. The only circumstance under which the vehicle manufacturer can void the emissions warranties is if an aftermarket part is responsible for (causes) the warranty claim."
The following is from Ford's 2001 warranty booklet:
EMISSIONS DEFECT WARRANTY COVERAGE
Under the Emissions Defect Warranty, Ford Motor Company provides coverage for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever occurs first). This is an
extension of the federal requirement that calls for coverage of 2 years/24,000 miles (whichever occurs first) for passenger car and light
duty trucks. Certified heavy duty engines (vehicles with a GVWR over 8,500 pounds) are provided coverage for 5 years or 50,000 miles
(whichever occurs first).
During this coverage period, Ford Motor Company warrants that:
² your vehicle or engine is designed, built, and equipped to meet - at the time it is sold - the emissions regulations of the U.S. EPA.
² your vehicle or engine is free from defects in factory-supplied materials or workmanship that could prevent it from conforming with
applicable EPA regulations.
² you will not be charged for repair, replacement, or adjustment of defective emissions-related parts listed under What is Covered? on
pages 13-14.
Under the Emissions Defect Warranty for passenger cars and light duty trucks (vehicles with a GVWR of 8,500 pounds or less), Ford Motor
Company also provides coverage, including labor and diagnosis, for 8 years or 80,000 miles (whichever occurs first) for these emissions parts:
² catalytic converter
² compuvalve
² electronic emissions control unit (PCM)
² onboard emissions diagnostic device
² vehicle communication link (VCL) module
EMISSIONS PERFORMANCE WARRANTY COVERAGE
If your vehicle is registered in a state where the state or local government has an EPA-approved inspection and maintenance program, you may also be eligible for Emissions Performance Warranty Coverage for 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever occurs first), if you meet certain conditions.
Under the Emissions Performance Warranty for passenger cars and light duty trucks, Ford Motor Company also provides coverage, including labor
and diagnosis, for 8 years or 80,000 miles (whichever occurs first) for these emissions parts:
² catalytic converter
² compuvalve
² electronic emissions control unit (PCM)
² onboard emissions diagnostic device
² vehicle communication link (VCL) module
I hope this helps you in your repairs.
SEL3
97,000 miles. Still under the extended warranty. No hastles from anyone: dealer or Ford. It
took 6 weeks to get the refurbushed engine but Ford paid for the car rental.
We also had a 1995 Windstar for which Ford finally gaves us $4000 towards a trade-in after 9 months of fighting and be lied to by various dealers and Ford. It went at 26,000 miles.
Bob
The Bad - Ford dealer replaced MC F88Z Sensor [non-permissible content removed] ($227.00) and 2 SOP F48Z O2 Sensors at my request ($198.00).
The Ugly - The dealer was not sensitive to the problems I've had with this van and I had to pay for the repairs.
The Scariest - My WS just went over the 97K mark. 100K never looked so scary.
i will NEVER EVER buy a Ford or GM-made vehicle ever again!
DON'T BUY Ford...:
If you want a Reliable car, if you care about your Family's Safety, if you want Quality, if you Don't want to mess with Factory Recalls EVERY year!, if you don't like engine/transmission problems, if you don't like your trim\body panels falling apart, if you don't want to be Fixing your Car every WEEK...
Do NOT Buy a FORD!
I bought my 1995 Ford Windstar GL 3.8L V-6 brand new. I am original owner. I take GOOD care of ALL my vehicles. I enjoy cars, am an auto enthusiast, have raced/built/rebuilt all kinds of cars since I was 13 yrs old. I am proud of my rides and take great care of my stable of vehicles; I change oil Religiously every 3000 miles, rotate tires every 10K, flush radiators every summer, keep my engines so Meticulously Clean you could Eat off them!, wash my cars every other week.
But despite all the care and attention, the Ford Windstar has been one of the WORST!
It has gotten no less than 7 Factor Recalls in the first 3 years of ownership!
All sorts of Problems ranging from...:
* Defective factory Head Gasket.
* Hood Separation at high speeds.
* Gas Tank (plastic) needed Reinforcement for hot weather climates.
* Sliding Door needed reinforcement/welding.
* Transmission Oil pan leak.
* "Check Engine" light comes on ALL the time!
* Hesitation/Jerking/Loss of power at certain temperatures, elevations, engine speeds.
* Trim, body panels, weather stripping falling apart.
My friends, neighbors, co-workers, and I have ALL had nightmare stories about Fords... Taurus/Sable, Windstar, Aerostar, Mustang, Escort, Thunderbird, you name it!
OK, if you're just leasing/renting for a year or two, have at it, go and buy yourself a Ford Explorer with Firestone tires if you like.
It won't matter anyways, after a couple years it'll be someone else's problem not yours.
But if you plan to own the car for more than a couple years, Don't buy a Ford! It'll end up Owning YOU!
Spend a couple thousand extra and buy yourself a Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc. Trust me it'll be worth it, because it won't be sitting on jackstands in your front yard in a few years.
If you buy a Ford you'll spend Thousands of dollars on repairs, recalls, wasted time, trouble, and headaches.
Fords are just huge money pits.
p.s.
a couple weeks ago i just noticed i was losing radiator fluid Fast! now my check engine light is on Constantly, the engine is chugging bad... feeling like i'm running on only 3 cylinders... GRR More head gasket problems!
She told me that under Recall# M09 (i think), head gaskets on '95 Windstars are covered for 7 years/100,000 miles whichever comes First.
So tonight after work i am towing my '95 Windstar in to the dealership. It only has 65,200 miles and I am original owner. I took great care of my Windstar but the head gaskets still blew.
About a month ago my Check Engine light was coming on Constantly, my engine began to chug/hesitate really bad, felt like it was running on only 3 cylinders, i noticed i was losing coolant fast (1 gallon per week).
Knocking/detonation on acceleration.
Now it is sitting on jackstands on my frontyard.
I will NEVER buy a Ford again. We want to get rid of this pile of garbage as soon as we can. It is just a huge money pit and taking up our time.
I hope it gets rear-ended like the other Windstar on this board.
$6000 from the insurance would be Great!
Since there are hundred's of thousands W/S out there, I just felt dutybound to mention that they can be a very enjoyable dependable vehicle.