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I just bought a '98 Windstar GL in October and this is the closest thing to an owner's forum/web site I've found so far. I'm looking forward to reading all the things you all have to say and hopefully share some useful info with you as well.
The van had 36k on it and needed rotors and drums turned and the tranny Neutral TSB done (after several useless attempts by the selling dealer to dodge the bullet), but Ford and the dealer agreed to cover the cost of the repairs and for now the van is everything I hoped it would be. I did fairly exhaustive shopping and think I got the cream of the crop on all counts, best year of the best van on the market. Honda's new van was second place in my opinion. Nice, but try getting your hands on one, used is even more rare than a new one. New they were about $12k out of my price range.
Thats all for now, but I'll be sure to pop in again soon.
Thanks,
jeff
Thanks,
jeff
Thanks,
jeff
I have called parts departments of various dealers to inquire what is a standard set and got answers ranging from 4 to 6 (driver, passenger, short second row, long third row, passenger side entrance and cargo area). Not all identified the last two pieces. It seems that nobody knows for sure.
I would appreciate hearing from 1999-2000 Windstar owners about their floormats.
-Galigirl31
have mentioned that I get 15K miles on that
lease,which would be fine for me. Also, it is a
2000 model van. I was wondering if the numbers
sounded good.
Thanx again
Galigirl31
Guitarzan
Community Leader/Vans Conference
Moral of the story.........Do your homework on Edmunds.com and be ready to walk away if you aren't 100% happy. Also, NEVER fall into the "Lets talk about a payment you can afford" trap.
I know every time we try to tell people to get away from Windstars, we hurt ourselves trying to get rid of our own. On one hand I tell everyone who owns one, sell it now why they can! Then I tell everyone who is thinking of buying one - DON'T DO IT! I guess the poor sap who doesn't have internet is the one we are selling to.
Apparently Ford uses hard rubber fittings in their front end parts and the tie rod ends take a beating (especially around town). When the tie rod ends were replaced the problem went away. Apparently the replaement parts have brass fittings that should wear better (about 75k miles).
This may/may not be the same problem. Just thought I would share.
We ran, not walked, to Toyota. And if you read the posts you will see a near 100% response of that nature. Honda and Toyota have received so much business from this fiasco it is amazing. No more Fords for us, we shall remain with the Japanese from now on.
Just some words of warning.
I then drove the 1998 windstar GL with the V6 3.8 engine and the standard options. I liked the performance, the pick up and the superior ride in general. This windstar had 13,000 miles and was priced at $13,995. I looked around and no other dealership could touch the price.
I am not hard up for a vehicle but when I purchased my 98 Sunfire in April 98, I found out 1 month later that I was pregnant with my second child and of course a 2 dr coupe was not a practical choice in vehicles for the growing family. I tried like heck to trade my car in for something else but I was told that my car was just too new and I would never get my money back out of it if I traded it in.
I have until Tuesday to get in on the tax sales but am wondering if I should hold out for another great deal on a different used van. Please help me. Thank you.
Unfortunately, the Siennas are too new and wonderful for anyone to turn them in yet, unless you can find a '98 that was a leased item. And Honda's older Odysseys are a lot smaller.
If you can wait, do it. That is what we should have done. I just don't want to see anyone stuck in the middle of nowhere with a Windstar broken down, like we were.
Good Luck.
Thank God, I'm tired of this beast. All we ever get is 13mpg!! When the dealer's mechanic attached his trip computer to it and test drove it, he got 24mpg on the highway!. I've never seen that.
The engine computer has been reprogrammed.
The disc rotors and pads gave out at 8000 miles.
The hood and tailgate had to be repainted because of a flaw in the metalflake.
Interior trim panels have had to be replaced.
The front seat covers will be replaced soon. The seam is tearing.
A few other small items also had given problems.
In the 2000 Windstar brochure and on Ford's website where you can build one yourself; it says you can't get rear air with the 3-door. But I just saw a 2000 3-door LX on the lot with rear air and the full overhead console!
The wife wants another one exactly like we have now. Cypress Green, tan interior, and all we need is the 3-door. We manage just fine without a fourth door. Besides, why spend the extra money for something we don't need?
I saw a letter here in the forum that mentions some of the interior changes that Ford has made from the 98 to the 2000. Some of those decisions are rediculous and you want to give that somebody a swift kick in the pants for doing away with something that works and makes life easy in the van.
Speaking of EASY. Have any of you changed your own oil and tried removing that wonderfully placed oil filter?! Seems to me that those two engineers also need a you know what.
We had $2600 off msrp plus the special APR rate.
The van is really nice and the kids love it. We're really going to use it this afternoon when I bring my wife to the hospital for a check up with the kids. They should be more comfortable in it than in our Escort.
One thing we have been noticing is that when we brake to stop at a traffic light, there is a loud "thump" in the engine compartment.
My theory is that this is the transmission shifting down. But it could be anything else.
Has anyone else experienced the same thing?
Thanks.
We had $2600 off msrp plus the special APR rate.
The van is really nice and the kids love it. We're really going to use it this afternoon when I bring my wife to the hospital for a check up with the kids. They should be more comfortable in it than in our Escort.
One thing we have been noticing is that when we brake to stop at a traffic light, there is a loud "thump" in the engine compartment.
My theory is that this is the transmission shifting down. But it could be anything else.
Has anyone else experienced the same thing?
Thanks.
I am very surprised that a 2 year old van with just 40,000 miles would need new tie-rods!! I am starting to look at other vehicles and hoping to trade or sell this van before something else happens! Has anyone else heard of these quirks??
jh45
get the clips or brackets for my vehicle, The specs book indicates that there is no fit. The Sears salesman said that no fit means that the roof rack on the Windstar is probably not rated for at least 150 lbs. and it is not recommended that I use the luggage carrier. The manual does indicate that the roof rack is rated for 163 lbs, but has anyone had any experience with using a luggage carrier with the '99 or '00 Windstar?
has others had the same problem?
By the way, how do you compare the Villager with your former WS (besides the coolant leak, ha!)? I just recently thought of the Villager as an option. Right now, they have a big rebate and 0.9% financing.
Downside of their SYSTEM4 system :
1)Unlocking the doors with your key does not disarm the security system !
2)If system is armed while you are inside the vehicle,the only way to disarm is to use the remote . You cannot use the power door unlock to deactivate the security system.
3)The flashing status indicator can be flashing even though you are driving. Very distracting!
This is because you fail to start the car promptly after deactivating security system.
4)Possibly a defect on my unit: after sytem has been armed for aperiod of time, and you press the arm button again, the security system is set off
My 1999 Windstar also has the factory security system (Perimeter Anti-Theft System - haven't heard of SYSTEM4; are they the same?).
I have none of your symptoms. It sounds like yours may be defective.
1) Unlocking the door with key does deactivate the system.
2) Power door lock does turn the system off; however if the system has been armed while someone is inside and then that person opens a door, it does go off. This is annoying. It should know the difference between an inside door handle and an outside one.
3) The flashing indicator goes off the minute I turn the key to the on position.
4) Unless yours actually is a different system, I think yours is malfunctioning. Take it back and demand satisfaction.
Why is topic # 815 no longer available?
There was so much valuable information in
all the letters and complaints. Please let us
know if we can obtain this topic again.
Thanks,hansj.
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/engaged/edmund.cgi?c=Vans&f=0&t=815
Also note that the Windstar Problems II is continued in topic #1295.