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Comments
How about making the Windstar more reliable for a change? How about a quieter, smoother, more sophisticated engine? (Oh yeah, that costs more, sorry for suggesting)
I'd consider a used Windstar if Ford had a couple of years of average reliability. But it seems they don't get any better. After 7 years (yeah, it was new for 99, but how new really?), you would think the Windstar would be flawless by now. Honda, who had some un-honda like bugaboos with the 99' Odyssey, improved their vehicle dramatically the following year. Even Chrysler seems to have gotten their act in gear since 1998. What's up with Ford?
I'm not an anti-Ford person. I actually own shares in the company and think they do make some great products. It's ironic how Ford can make the F150 to be quite a reliable truck nearly rivaling Toyota and yet the Windstar has been such a reliability disappointment (yeah, maybe the 2001's are better, but we won't know for sure for a while).
This fall, Honda's new factory in Alabama goes on line to make Odysseys. That will surely hurt Ford and the other domestic minivans even more. Brace yourself for $3,000 rebates up from $2,000 today.
The rear windows are probably powered. The operator "cams" on each window may look like what you call clip flips - don't force them - they will break. There should be a pair of switches somewhere in the cockpit marked only "Rear". That's them. If they don't work, check it out as a fuse issue or maybe a wiring thing.
You can buy Toyota Sienna's at a few hundred dollars over invoice, and they are offering special finance rates now. My wife and I were about to buy one, but we decided we like the Honda better. We are waiting a few months for the '02 Honda Odyssey to come out, which is supposed to have more goodies on it (240 hp engine, finally leather seats, video system, etc.). Unfortunately, I will have to pay MSRP, but that will actually be not much more than we paid for our Windstar.
I, too, hate having to spend more money, since we would have the Windstar paid for in another year and a half, but I would rather spend more money now to get a vehicle I know I can keep for 10 years with very few hassles. I know that would not be the case with the Windstar.
BTW - I have owned Fords all my life. I always believed that the American cars have come a long way in reliability. It's bull - the Japanese cars are far superior. That's why every rating you see (initial quality, long term reliability) favors the Japanese cars, and that's why the resale value is so pathetic for American cars. I saw the latest JD Powers survey results - only 2 American cars made it into the top 20, and they were both Chryslers. Half of them were Toyota/Lexus. I wish it wasn't that way, and I tried to deny it for a long time, but if you want to get the best built and most reliable vehicle for your money, you just can't buy American.
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls
It lets you see Recall details on various makes, models, and year.
Call Ford at: (800) 392-3673 to find out more.
Initially when my head gaskets blew and i contacted Ford they warned me that *I* would have to pay a $70 "Diagnostic Fee", and if the dealership felt that my vehicle had enough "symptoms" to warrant gasket replacement under 00M09/00M10, then my $70 would be reimbursed.
I said "listen pal, 2 weeks ago all my warning lights came on, my engine was hesitating, chugging, knocking Badly, felt like it was running on 3 cylinders, was burning white smoke out the tailpipe, was consuming 1 gallon of coolant per week, and now it is sitting on Jackstands in my driveway waiting for the Tow Truck to tow it to the Ford Dealership!! How many more symptoms do you Need??"
Also, the dealership said all the Courtesy cars were already taken by Other owners with blown head gaskets! and they Refused to cover a rental car!
Anyways, the total cost of repairs was $1300 and took TWO weeks! But the "Extended Gasket Warranty" program only covered $1050!
The dealership said *I* had to come up with $250!! I said WTF?!? WHY do I have to pay $250 for FORD's defective gaskets Scewing up MY engine??!!
The dealership said the Warranty *only* covered gaskets and installation, but I was responsible for things like corroded spark plugs, block flush, oil, coolant, and waste disposal fees!!
I just about got in my Ford and crashed it thru their dealership window!
But decided to drive it home and put a For Sale sign on it instead... at least now that it was running again.
Over the years of (unhappy) ownership i have spent Thousands of dollars out of my own pocket for parts & service not covered by the recall/warranty, rental cars!, towing, time taken off work, etc.
So with the Thousands of dollars i've WASTED i could've just bought a Toyota, Honda, or Nissan to begin with!!!
Good Luck
Thanks,
Pete
Also, has anyone else noticed the SEVERE power drain when you load up 7 people, run both airs, and going on the interstate(freeway for you California types) Man does it chunk down, even with the 3.8!
You are not loosing coolant - there is just not enough coolant in the system to keep the temperature guage sensor "submerged".
It is worth a shot anyway... Good Luck!
2004 Honda Accord EX-L Graphite Pearl
2007 Honda Civic EX - Atomic Blue
2013 Honda Civic LX - Crimson Pearl
When I step on the accelerator (i.e. merging in on the interstate) I can get some black exhaust. I can even see it in the rear view mirror.
Any thoughts on what this is?
Thanks!
Black smoke from the exhaust when the hammer is thrown down is probably normal rich fuel not burning clean. If it is accompanied by poor mileage, rough running, engine run-on or black smoke all the time, it could be computer or injector problems (= $$$). My recommendation is that you quit looking out the back when flooring it.
My only advice is to go with a good dealer: we usedTed Britt Ford in Fairfax, Virginia, and both the old Windstar and new one were sold and serviced with few hassles. I recommend them and hope that the new Windstar will continue to be problem free and enjoyable.
Better styling
More horsepower
More torque
Third row split seat
Newer design
AWD
I am desperate. When my kids were babies, in car seats, I just used lokcing clips and figured "oh well." But now that they are in belt-positiong boosters, I feel that these are very unsafe. In fact I have a friend who drives a Silhouette and she won't let her kids ride in my van because her kids move around too much and she fears a terrible injury if a crash should occur while a kid is reaching for something on the floor, or another seat or whatever. I am now nervous too!
I read the question below from the SEL model owner, and the answer. I'll try that seat belt buckle thingie...mabye that's how ours lock into place too?????
Any answers will really be appreciated, believe me. Preschool carpooling is just around the corner and I'd never be able to live with myself if a child was injured because I didn't know how to operate the belts properly.
Thanks....
Nervous Nellie
The Windstar, like all vehicles with locking latchplates, has an EMERGENCY locking retractor. This will lock the shoulder belt in a crash to secure an adult or child in a booster. While this gives passenger freedom to move, they will be at risk in a crash if they are not sitting properly. This type of retractor is also not any help if you own a booster that has a seatbelt guide that can cause the belt to "catch" and leaves too much slack around the child. Overall, not a big risk, and one that may require more supervision.
I've not heard of a retrofit to put an switchable locking retractor in a vehicle that has an emergency locking retractor, though it may be possible.
If you are still concerned, there are some restraints with higher weight limits that don't depend on a shoulder belt like a booster does. The Britax Laptop is rated to 65 pounds. The Britax SuperElite has a harness that goes to 80 pounds, though it must be tethered after 50 pounds. The Fisher Price Futura comes in a harness version up to 60 pounds. Simpson Racing will have a seat on the market soon with a harness rated to 60 pounds. The Fisher Price Futura (discontinued) and Britax Super Elite (new) may be hard to find, unfortunately.
Though I also prefer vehicles with switchable locking retractors, they are not without issues. In some carseats, they can cause an excessive tilt because the shoulder belt portion has tension and may pull one side of the carseat up, depending on the path for the seatbelt. Overall, the Windstar is one of the most carseat friendly vehicles. Other manufacturers should follow Ford's lead on LATCH and tether implementations, too.
electronic instrument panel does not light up, the
electric door locks do not work , and the cruise
control is not functioning. I discovered a fuse
(#19)in the van is probably the culprit. However,
when I replace the fuse it blows out. Is anyone
aware of any electrical recalls that may be causing this problem?
I am looking at a '95 Windstar LX. It is fully loaded including leather, CD, and fog lamps. It has 75k miles and is being offerred at $5500.
I know that there were many problems with this car. I owned a '93 Sable LS that blew a head gasket at 92k miles. I donated the car because I felt it was not worth fixing and I did not need a car at the time. I now need a car and want something like my sable but with the versatility of a minivan.
I like this van because it has digital gauges and keyless entry, whch were two features I found very useful in my sable but are now impossible to find on newer cars:
I want your feedback. I know only one person who has owned an LX van and she did not have a chance to experience major problem with it because it was totaled in feb. 2000.
I had purchased my 96 Windstar in 1997 and at that time there were already a large number of posts about problems with the 1995 engines. Problems arose very quickly, not long out of warrantee. Although there have been some complaints about problems with 96 and newer, there have certainly not been as many, nor as early a problem as with the 95's. In 1996 the engine power for the Windstar 3.8L engine was bumped from 150+ hp to 200 hp. At the same time there was a redesigned head gasket design. In 1997, the head gasket was redesigned yet again, the 1997 might be the most troublefree of all the Windstars.
Other Ford cars that used the 3.8L engine didn't benefit from the modifications made to the Windstar engine and the head gaskets on those may continue to be problematic.
1)Ford sold fewer Windstars in 96 and later models (introduction of remodeled Chrysler van in 96 and later appearance of Sienna and Odyssey took away sales from Windstar). Their sales are down 30% this year. Secondly, most head gasket failures with Windstars occur between 50000 and 80000 miles. 96 and later models are increasingly accumulating this mileage level and the number of head gasket complaints with respect to 96 and later models is accordingly rising.
I have the oppurtunity to purchase a 1997 Windstar LX with 60K miles on it for $10,000. The vehicle has new tires and is loaded with almost all the goodies of this model year. The vehicle has a buzz coming from the instrument cluster when driving at high speeds and the passenger door weatherstriping is slightly torn, otherwise it drives great (tons of power!).
Is this a good deal? Should I expect a price under $10000? Should I hold out for a Nissan Quest for the same price?
Ford's defence in this case will be that the blown head gasket and subsequent repair were in no way related to the complete engine blowing just 7 months later. These two repairs have cost ME over $6000, and I will not let Ford get away with looking the other way on this. There is no question that the blown head gasket forced the coolant into the cylinders which ultimately caused the engine to seize.
My question is...Are you, or anyone else out there, aware of ANY documentation that would support this fact. The arbitrator stated that THIS would be the most important piece of evidence that I could present to the court. If you'd prefer to contact me directly, my e-mail address is rankins@elgin.net
The following websites also offer additional recent (June and September 2001) articles which confirm the above statement:
http://www.autosafety.org/autodefects/FORD-3.8L.htm
http://www.autosafety.org/pressreleases/GASKET.htm
Here are some excerpts from the above sites:
"The notification, Ford Service Campaign 98M01, warned owners that "premature failure of head gaskets could cause engine failure."
"Head-gasket repairs can cost $1,000. But if coolant damages the engine, it may need more serious work, which can cost $3,000 or more."
"What is the head gasket? It seals the top of the engine, or cylinder head, to the bottom of the engine. When it leaks, it can allow coolant to escape. If the coolant leaks inside the engine, or the engine overheats badly, the engine can be destroyed.
What are the symptoms of failure? Ford says the symptoms are persistent and worsening overheating; heavy, white smoke from the tailpipe; a flashing warning light for "low coolant;" and the constant loss of coolant. Some customers also reported that the heater stopped generating heat before the gasket failed."
There is even an example of an engine failing within 10,000 miles after the head gaskets were replaced from the original damage:
"...Then in August 1999 with roughly 77,000 miles on the odometer, a mechanic told her the head gasket was gone and soon she was going to need a new engine, which would be about $3,000.
Edwards didn't have the money for a new engine, so the Sable sat for three months until a friend made some free, stopgap repairs including a new head gasket. That allowed her to drive it another 10,000 miles until May 2000 when the engine died ..."
Also see the following site for a view of the Ford Service Campaign 98M01:
http://home.att.net/%7Eccatanese/ford/SP_98M01x.htm
I hope this helps.
ps - no lawyers, this is a Canadian Small Claims court...just me and my wife against Ford's lawyer in front of a judge.
Thanks again
As much as I want to show Ford that I won't allow them to screw me and just walk away... I have to be realistic about the financial losses that I've suffered so far, and how much more I could potentially incur before this is all over.
Did I mention I'll NEVER EVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN?
thanks for your interest...as I said, I'll keep this forum posted on how this case shakes out