Ask the Car People.SM


Ford Aerostar

527 messages,  Last post on Feb 23, 2011 at 5:19 AM

You are in the Ford Aerostar Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Aerostar, Van

Messages Page 20 of 54

#186 of 527 Engine runs hot when going uphill by markscarr

Apr 23, 2002 (6:22 pm)

Hi There,
 
I am a newbie to this message board.
I own a 1993 Ford Aerostar 4.0L V6 AWD.
It runs fine except when going up hills if the
outside temp is above about 65F. Depending on
the steepness and length of the hill the engine
temp will get steadily hotter eventually to the point when it will overheat (I have not allowed this to happen so far).
 
I have changed all of the fluids, and flushed out the cooling system and installed new coolant.
 
It is strange as the engine temp is fine on the flat, even on really hot days. So I am assuming that it is the extra load the engine is under going uphill. Surely this should not happen unless the van is fully loaded and the external temp is really hot?
 
Any help would be most appreciated as I really like the van and it is otherwise mechanically sound.
 
Thanks,
 
Mark.

#187 of 527 89 Aerostar Traded in by h8winter

Apr 26, 2002 (11:45 am)

I just had to read through some of the posts on this particular board for Aerostars to see the feelings of other Aerostar owners. After having mine for almost 6 years (bought it in '96 with 56,xxx miles) and traded it in last night. I just have to say that aside from the typical maintenance (brakes, etc.) it was a pretty darn good vehicle. The last few months, the power steering began leaking, the exhaust pipe was going to have to be replaced, and who know what else would have had to be done, it was time to let it go. It was pretty much mechanically sound, got me where I needed to go, but it didn't look nice anymore; rusting like crazy on the bottom. But then, living in WI with all the salt they throw on the highways, doesn't help.
 
Oh yes, and like the other posts; my A/C had been history for the past 4 yrs. It didn't bother me tho' - I don't find much of a need for it unless it's like near 90-degrees and it's terribly humid.
 
Good luck to all of those who still have theirs. Let's face it, though - every make of automobile will have its lemons.

#188 of 527 93 xlt aerostar by time4family

May 06, 2002 (9:38 pm)

We have a 93 xlt with electronic 4 wheel drive. The air was serviced a couple of years ago and worrks great. I have had to do the front brakes once. It has 138,000 miles on it and it is much more reliable than the 96 voyger we bought to replace it. The Aerostar does have a thumping that sounds like a wheel bearing ?? but the voyger has a anti theft system (Panic button on key fob) that will not reset so it just sits until I can figure what is wrong. "back to driving old faithful.

#189 of 527 markscarr by pjksr

May 12, 2002 (6:37 pm)

Hope you already had yours fixed, but my 91 Aerostar had a bad clutch on the cooling fan. You might have that checked, as well as obviously, the thermostat...

#190 of 527 Love My Aerostar by kckid

May 15, 2002 (5:35 am)

I have a 95 Aerostar with 184,000 nearly trouble free miles. Only trouble has been in the rear transfer case, serpentine belt tensioner, and very troublesome power steering (ever since I hit that darn deer last year). Dual A/C still works great (knock on wood). The only vehicle I have ever owned that I could say was better was my old Duster, which I drove 331,000 miles, and refused to die even then. Somebody at Ford needs their rear-end kicked for deciding to discontinue this wonderful vehicle. There is no alternative out there. No one in my house is less than 6 feet tall, and we are too uncomfortable in the Astro, not to mention that they are rough and crude compared to the Aerostar. Guess I'll drive this one till it drops, and then look for another Aerostar with less than 100,000 miles.

#191 of 527 by jrosasmc

May 15, 2002 (10:58 am)

How in the world can one do service on an Aerostar's engine if there's no room under the hood?

#192 of 527 93 Aerostar by dougd7

May 15, 2002 (2:22 pm)

We have a 93 Aerostar that we bought used w/44k miles on it at the end of 1997 (4 days after Christmas). It has held up well but has been in the shop more often than my 92 Acclaim (purchased new). In the past 3 years I've replaced the radiator(leaking), cooling fan clutch, front rotors (warped), sparkplug wires (twice), exhaust(including the $90 flex pipe), water pump (twice), front tie rods, and the clockspring.
 
  Shortly after we took it home I had to return it because it was missing, leaking radiator and pinion seal was blown. All that was covered under warrantee. Except now the pinion seal is blown again so that will need to be fixed at my cost.
 
All in all it hasn't been a bad vehicle but it is difficult to work on - no space in the engine compartment! Mine has the 3.0L V6 so it has a little more room than the ones with the 4.0L but it is still tight quarters. We took a vacation to New Orleans and back through Georgia to Virginia (home) and then on to western Pa. without major problems. I was disappointed with my gas mileage. Carrying family of six with the a/c on, luggage on roof and averaging 70 mph I averaged just over 17 mpg hwy. I thought I'd at least get 21-22 mpg. Any thoughts? I've sinced changed plugs (using platinum Autolites), and changed sparkplug wires. Before and after the trip my wife averages about 19-20 mpg combined city/hwy. It now has over 159k miles. I like it because it hauls all 6 of us with no problems - however the quality has been less than I expected. Simply been in the shop a bit more than I like.

#193 of 527 94 aerostar seating? by dobbs2u

May 29, 2002 (10:31 pm)

I have a 94 extended, 4.0L V6 auto trans, it has been great, bought it in 96 with 70k.kilometers, now has 192k.kilometers. Some minor repairs, radiator, ball joint, and regular routine main.
I am wondering, is it possible to swap out the middle 2seater bench and replace it with the high back captains chairs? Would be much nicer on an upcoming long summer trip.
Any info would be much appreciated.

#194 of 527 dougd by pjksr

Jun 06, 2002 (9:02 am)

My 91 Aerostar (4WD w/ 4.0L engine) never got better than 19 mpg on oxygenated fuels, introduced in the mid-90s. Previously, mileage was 21 mpg... I'd think your mileage in the South should have been higher, without the oxygenates in the fuel. Maybe it was your roof rack luggage?
 
You may try a container of Techron fuel injector cleaner, to help clean up your valves...

#195 of 527 pjksr by dougd7

Jun 12, 2002 (10:24 am)

I'll try some injector cleaner. I figure I lost 1-2 mph with the roof luggage but I didn't figure on loosing another 2 mpg. Could have been the sparkplugs were worn enough to lose 2 mpg. I've lost 4 mpg on my 92 Acclaim when the plugs really wore out. Another thought is maybe the O2 sensor is getting long in the tooth and may need to be replaced. My Acclaim really dropped mpg when the O2 sensor went bad (almost undriveable). Around home our combined city/hwy mileage (80% hwy) is around 20 mpg - sometimes up to 21.
 
And about the oxygenated fuels - they only use it in the winter correct? So that shouldn't have been an issue. I remember getting fuel at Texaco (a truck stop in Alabama) and other convenience store type places. In fact at the Texaco I remember getting mid-grade fuel (91 octane) and not the regular 87 octane. Didn't seem to make a difference.
 
I just changed the oil/filter at 162k miles. Everything is good to go for another 5k miles.
 
Also the sliding door latch needs replacing. The spring that holds the top "hook" up when the door is open has broken and to close the door one has to make sure the hook is "up" before sliding the door closed. I haven't checked with our local mechanic as to cost. Any thoughts? TIA.

Messages Page 20 of 54

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement