You are here: Forums Vans & Minivans Ford Aerostar Ford Aerostar

Ford Aerostar

520 messages,  Last post on Nov 16, 2009 at 4:57 PM

You are in the Ford Aerostar Forum. Your Host is Karens

What is this discussion about? Ford Aerostar, Van

Messages Page 8 of 53 1 ... 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ... 53 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#64 of 520 silveradodude by silveradodude Jul 18, 1999 (3:30 pm)
HELP!!! Have a 1992 Aerostar van that has over 200,000 miles on it. Have been using it like a truck for the last 2 or 3 years, and still carry kids to all the soccer, basketball, football games etc.  Went to change the water pump (blew out the weep hole diaphragm), and decided to change the belts and hoses too. Problem: The alternator, A/C, fan belt that is recommended by any parts store is at least 4 or 5 inches too long!! This is based on the "proper' routing of the belt in the Haynes manual. If you're familiar with this Aerostar, it shows to have the belt go around the alternator, around THE TOP of the idler pulley (V-grooves down), and around the fan pulley down to the A/C. Using this routing, it will leave at least 3 inches too much belt with the alternator adjusted out as far as it will go. I got a belt 2 inches shorter, routed the belt UNDER the idler pulley (V-grooves up), and promptly fractured my water pump housing all around the shaft. (I suspect from the added stress of belt being wrapped around approximately 250 degrees of the water pump/fan pulley). Well, I've got my new water pump, a belt that is 5 inches shorter, and I'm going to route it as the manual shows. Wish me luck, or ADVICE FREELY ACCEPTED. Notes: Haynes calls for a 64 inch belt.             I used a 62 inch belt to trash my water pump.             I'm using a 59 inch belt now.             62 inch belt episode wouldn't allow the A/C pulley to turn, lot's of slippage. Any and all suggestions appreciated.
#65 of 520 Hope my next car is as good by wyhead Jul 26, 1999 (2:39 am)
My '90 Aerostar has 130,000+ miles and though I've had a few problems, nothing too bad. I'd heard the transmission would break, but not so far! My Ford dealership, on the other hand, has gone downhill in the past 10 years as it changed ownership; the current crooks told me the fact that my A/C (which they'd fixed) wasn't cooling so well was because I needed a new engine! That was 50,000 miles ago, thank you, and the engine runs fine! I've started test driving new minivans and SUVs, but none drive as smooth as my Aerostar, with its truck chassis! (except maybe the Sienna). After all the horror stories I've read on these boards about the new American vans/SUVs, I realize I've been lucky!
#66 of 520 pc moose by pmcmahon Aug 21, 1999 (2:23 am)
My 93 Aerostar just passed 200,000 miles. Very low maintenance costs to date. Small problem with loose ignition, but . . . I hope the next one does as well.
#67 of 520 Dodge Grand Caravan vs. Windstar by feefee Aug 22, 1999 (2:32 am)
We are looking for some help in deciding whether to purchase a Caravan or Windstar. We like the cargo area of the Caravan better, but are hearing that the Windstar is more reliable and has a better safety rating. Can anyone give us information to help with the decision?
#68 of 520 '93 Ford Aerostar Ext. 3.0 by mtschwartz Oct 26, 1999 (2:22 pm)
I bought this van when it had 75,000 miles on it. After reading alot of the responses on here you'll think it was a bad move. I must say that after 4 years my wife and I couldn't be happier with an auto purchase. We traded a Honda Accord that I bought new the year before because of a new baby. We outgrew it in 6 months. My van has had trouble with the A/C. Not really a suprise after reading on this site. I've replaced the condenser one year and then the next had to replace both the compressor and dryer. I did a R134a conversion then and have had good service from the A/C since. I Reccomend making sure your servicer replace all the expansion valves. I do most of my own work and I could believe how much metal had accumulated in the screen. No wonder I had compressor problems. The transmission shifts a little harder than I'd like but at 130,000 miles it still does better than most other minivans. I had to replace the thermostat because it broke full open all the time. The van would never heat up. Hoses and belts replaced and some gunk built up in the rear heating lines that was a little tough to get out. Overall, for the value and space, this van has been great. I've towed a 2000 lb camper up some pretty big hills (get the tranny cooler) with no trouble. I hauled an old piano 350 miles with plenty of room and power to spare. I could go on and on how great this van has been. I've got a front end vibration that I suspect is the tie rods. Not too bad at 130,000. I've also got a high-rpm noise that I think is in the torque converter. (that tranny can't last forever) Overall, I'm at the empass of do I replace it or replace the engine and transmission. They are broke, but will probably wear out in the next 50,000 miles. I'm looking at a full size Ford conversion van with a 5.4 V8. If any of you have experience with that engine I'd love to hear it.
#69 of 520 96 Ford Aerostar cooling problems by walterchan Nov 28, 1999 (4:29 pm)
We own a 96 Ford Aerostar and this is the first time we have a major problem with this vehicle. In 11-26-99 we have 3 different types of cooling problems. 1. Thermostat needs to be replaced. 2. AC failure sometimes. 3. The car starting to shake when we start the car. That's all. It needs to be tow to a repair shop. It only have 54,000 miles in it. Anybody has that kind of problem like I have.
#70 of 520 Extended 96' Aerostar with AWD by elkhorn Dec 03, 1999 (1:01 am)
I'm considering purchasing this vehicle but I'd like to get a little information from some of you in the know. Does the 96' Aerostar have a more reliable transmission then previous year models and would this years models have a better air-conditioning system or the newer enviormently friendly refrigerant?
#71 of 520 fuel gauge problem by merlebert Dec 13, 1999 (6:32 pm)
A couple of you have mentioned problems with your fuel gauge. The one in my '89 quit several months ago-- stuck on "empty." Anyone had experience with diagnosing / repairing this problem? It is likely to be the gauge itself, the wiring, or the sender unit? Or, is it that the float in the sender unit may have developed a leak and has sunk to the bottom of the fuel tank?
#72 of 520 93 Ford Aerostar Ext. 3.0 by bennykenny Dec 29, 1999 (3:11 am)
I bought a used 93 Aerostar xlt in 96 from a local Ford dealer. I brought it home with 45,000 mi.on the odo. Currently it has 98,000 miles on the odo. I love to drive this vehicle. Believe it or not,I have not had any ac. problems with the dual front/read ac. system. In the heat of the summer the interior of the van will actually get brrrr cold. Now that I've bragged about it, watch the damned thing go south tomorrow. No trans. work on the 4 sp.auto w/od. I've never changed the trans fluid. Still nice and red, no trace of burning. In "96" I towed a 2000# pop up camping trailer every other weekend from Massachusetts to New Hampshire; a total of 3 hours each way, from May to October. Van never even hiccuped. Still have the plugs, rotor, wires etc. that were in it when I bought it. No oil leaks, no tranny leaks. Change the oil and filter every 5K to 6K miles. Use nothing but Mobil 1, 5W30. I use regular gas and add a quality gas treatment every 3K to 4K miles. I replaced the front brake pads with premium pads about a year ago. They are still working great. Didn't bother cutting the rotors. They looked good, and I have had trouble in the past with brake jobs on other vehicles when I cut the rotors. I replaced the exhaust system about 2 months ago because the expansion joint had failed. I put on a new Ford factory welded system because it was cheaper than a quality aftermarket component system. I replaced the tie rod ends and aligned the front end about 6 months ago. About the only real problem I have had is with water pumps. So far I have replaced 3 pumps. I was going to trade the van in this fall, but hey it's paid for, I like driving it, so I have decided to drive it at least through the winter and clock 100,000 miles on it. Replies to this message: jonzee (Aug 29, 2007 11:44 am)
#73 of 520 Aerostar front windows by bennykenny Dec 29, 1999 (3:36 am)
If any of you have front power windows that seem to get stuck when going up and down, you might want to try the following: buy a can of pure silicone spray in an auto parts store and spray the heck out of the tracks that the sides of the glass go up and down in. I had sticky windows (I had to actually push them down with one hand, while holding down the button with the other hand. Try this when going through a toll booth some time). I pulled the interior trim off each door to see what could be binding the window. I couldn't find anything other than a sloppy window mechanism. I greased the slides and reassembled the doors, with no improvement in the operation of the window. As a last ditch effort I sprayed the window tracks with silicone, and to my amazement they started working like they did the day the van came out of the factory. That was back in May, and they are still "sliding" up and down effortless today.

Messages Page 8 of 53 1 ... 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ... 53 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Vans & Minivans Ford Aerostar Ford Aerostar