527 messages,
Last post on Feb 23, 2011 at 5:19 AM
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Ford Aerostar Forum.
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Ford Aerostar, Van
#129 of 527 Pinging Aerostar
by cho7819
Nov 19, 2000 (11:19 pm)
I have a 1993 Aerostar with 73,000 miles on it. It pings so loudly that I dare not drive it abouve 55mph for the sake of my ears. I have many coplaints about this car. Its very noisy (well, my galant is too but atleast that has a decent stereo to cover up the noise, it gives very poor gas milage, and it is the most un reliable POS ive ever owned. Fords do not know how to make engines..... Every for ive owned had head gasket problems, this car is no different. Im on my 2nd head gasket with only 70K miles! My galant was far superior and had 120K miles on it. It never had to have anything done to it. I would still have had that car but resale on aerostar is so horrid , I thought I'd trade in my galant for the car i really wanted.... a spanking new tampa bay blue Mitsu Galant ESV6. Another complaint about the aerostar is the lack of power. My new Galant ESV6 would smoke that van infact it would take longer for my van to get to 60mph than the Galant to get to 100mph.
#130 of 527 It's a shame this dinosaur is extinct!
by sbartholomew
Nov 20, 2000 (7:07 am)
I purchased a '95 XLT, 4WD, 4.0L, D-A/C with 96K on it. It now has 130K on it. The engine uses NO oil (I feed it Mobil1, 5W30), tranny excellent, very minimal rust, runs like a top (original O2 sensor), the engine is so dry (no oil seepage) things are rusting on it. My radiator had a micro leak causing 2" puddles the next day directly under the plastic sides of the radiator. I'm told this is a "thing" with plastic/brass radiators (expansion rates). 1 pellet of Stop-Leak and no more leaks! I'm proud to say that my lifters are still silent, even in super cold weather upon startup.
The only service I've given it (for upkeep/repair) is a new belt & thermo at time of purchase, new 1CV boot change and 1front axle replacement (boot tore and sand ruined joint), new flex piece for the exhaust (muffler now starting to have small leaks), tires, rear shoes, battery, tranny filter change, brakelight switch, F,R diff fluid change and new plugs and wires. Everything else is original and frequently maintained.
Shortly before purchase, the transfer box and driveshaft were replaced due to some Ford recall TSB. Also, it has had it's Ford recall for the dashboard accessory wiring harness.
It was NOT fun changing the plugs and wires. If hauling weight often, recommend TRUCK shocks and swaybar for rear (1"+). The PS pump makes a WAAAAA noise when turning, which I've heard on other Aero's. Once in a while in the summer, upon startup the engine will puff out a small cloud of smoke--failing O2 sensor? (miles, probably), worn valve seals? (oil consumption is unmeasureable). My mileage isn't too spiffy. 17~18mpg (summer), 14~16 (winter-snow). It doesn't matter where or how I drive (empty or loaded). It's best mileage is at 50~55mph. The tranny or rear end's gearing is to blame. The engine spins pretty fast in top gear (est. ~2500rpms
55~60mph, close to 3000 at 70mph).
I find the benches to be the heaviest things on earth. I love the utility of this van. I've hauled 32 sheets of 7/16" OSB (40~50lbs each) with the door shut, not to mention other more massive loads. How many OTHER 4WD vans can do what the Aerostar can? These new mini-vans with "car parts" just don't come close. The Aerostar is a TRUCK. scottbartholomew
hotmail.com
Dec 04, 2000 (12:23 am)
Hi we have a 92 aerostar.110k and not to many problems unless you count heater hoses A/C doesn't work.The heater core just went out on it too which is not good now it is winter we have been told it is an expensive job to replace it?
Other than that the van is good we like it..
#132 of 527 Heater core
by axle59
Dec 04, 2000 (4:41 am)
I had to replace the heater core in my '91 last year. The core wasn't that expensive, only about $20 if I remember right. The hard part was trying to find the special tool to release the quick connect hose fittings from the core. I called everyone to see if the had the special tool and the only ones who could get it for me was a ford dealership 100 miles away and it would take two weeks to get in. What I finally ended up doing was removing the core cover and bending the core back and forth until the tubing broke, then pulled the broken tube through the firewall and used a screwdriver to release the clips. If you have any other problems with it just let me know and I'll try to help.
#133 of 527 Brake Proportioning Valve?
by monnie1
Dec 26, 2000 (7:15 pm)
We have a '91 Aero star van that has had more work done on it than any of the other messages I've read here. We bought it new and it currently has 108,000 miles on it. Our current problem is with the brakes. They went out all of a sudden (and we'd had a fairly recent brake job done). The brakes will stop the van, but just barely. There's plenty of fluid, no indication of leakage and everything seems just fine, except the brakes don't work. The only reference I found in this thread is to a "Brake Proportioning Valve". Could this be the problem? Any guesses at parts and repair costs?
Many thanks for any help you can offer. Aloha from Hawaii,
Monnie Monaghan
#134 of 527 93 Aerostar Heat problem
by gmeyers1
Jan 02, 2001 (7:44 pm)
I have a '93 aerostar with 3.0. On a hot day, if I stop for gas or run in a store for a minute, come back, try to start it, nothing happens, almost like an open circuit. All power accessories are fine, I put in a new battery, & starter relay on firewall. if I pop the hood for about five minutes, it cranks up. The temp gauge does not read that it is overly hot either. When I turn the key , it is like nothing happens.,After it cools off, it cranks right up. I am afraid that one day it won't! Help!
#135 of 527 Re: 93 Aerostar Heat problem
by axle59
Jan 03, 2001 (8:16 am)
You need to replace your starter. Heat will affect a starter or any electrical device worse than anything else. Also as they age they become more sensitive to heat. My buddy had a 77 vette with the 350 and headers that ran richt next to the starter. The exhaust gave off so much heat that he had to replace his starter about once a year. BTW it should only take about 15 minutes to replace it. It's not a real hard job on the aerostar.
#136 of 527 93 XLT EXT/AWD-FACTORY TOW HARNESS
by chanzen
Jan 04, 2001 (10:26 pm)
MY TRUCK CAME WITH A HARNESS UNDER THE REAR BUMPER FOR A TOW HITCH. THE COLOR CODES ON THE WIRES ARE CORRECT FOR THE LIGHTING, HOWEVER, CANNOT GET A VOLTAGE READING. A "FORD" MECHANIC SAID, I HAVE TO CONNECT A PLUG TO GET POWER BACK THERE. A TIP TO THIS ISSUE WOULD BRING A GREAT DEAL OF JOY TO MY TOW-LESS HEART.
THANKS IN ADVANCE
#137 of 527 surging,stalling
by pauld11
Jan 18, 2001 (12:32 pm)
My 1992 areostar has been surging on the first start in the morning, then later stalling and re starting while I driving. Does this sound like the O2 sensor or fuel filter. Unrelated to this I also have the hemp gauge pegging with the oil pars. dropping to 0 but the van ran fine. Any suggestions before I take it in?
#138 of 527 Re: 93 XLT EXT/AWD-FACTORY TOW HARNESS
by axle59
Jan 18, 2001 (8:35 pm)
When I put the trailer hitch on my '91 I just spliced directly into the tailamp wiring. Have not had any problems with it yet.