Ask the Car People.SM


Ford Windstar

804 messages,  Last post on Sep 24, 2012 at 2:07 PM

You are in the Ford Windstar Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Windstar, Ford Windstar Cargo, Van

Messages Page 41 of 81

#394 of 804 Update on problems/solutions with my 1996 Windstar by wmy99

Mar 19, 2001 (6:02 pm)

Update on problems/solutions with my 1996 Windstar
   
I hope this info will be of some help to other Windstar owners:
 
My vehicle has a 3.8 engine with 72,000 miles.
 
--Problem of rear head rests jammed in upward position, dangerously, blocking the driver's rear view vision.
 
  I removed the c-clip at the very top of the seat where the chrome rod of the headrests enter the top of the seat (use needle nose pliers}. I pushed the headrests down to their lowest position & reinserted the clips. O.K.
 
--Problem of engine light flickering/staying on.
Had an independent mechanic check the vehicle with a computer/scope.
Remedy was to change sparkplugs & sparkplug wires & gas line filter. I was shown that the wires were arcing & this would send a signal to the computer of a misfire causing the check engine light to come on.-----Parts & Labour $ 250.00
  Of interest platinum spark plugs only are recommended for proper engine performance also you can check the wires for arcing, best time at night & spray a mist of water on the wires with motor running. If you wires are defective,you will easily see arcing from the wires to the motor or to other wires.
  Result: engine light stayed off for 2 days then came on again.
  I took the vehicle to a Ford Dealer in my area & the van was checked with a computer/scope.
  Remedy was to change faulty EGR SENSOR ASSEMBLY {F4ZZ*9J460*B) & 2 EGR VAC HOSES.
                  -Parts & Labour $ 240.00
  Result: engine light now off for
          3 weeks, seems O.K.
 
--Problem of ABS & BRAKE Lights flickering on & off at stop light & then staying on. (the brake cylinder is known to have a sloppy float causing the light to come on when you come to a stop, fill the cylinder to the top & the light goes out.}
  I had my brake wheel cylinders & brake system checked twice by my local garage & the brake system checked by my Ford Dealer & they could not find any leaks. My master cylinder would lose brake fluid slowly, about 1 inch over 30 days.
 
I did see about 1 tablespoon of fluid overnight appear on my driveway. I laid a large piece of cardboard under the engine overnight & was able to catch this fluid stain on the cardboard. I then took the cardboard into the dealer marking where the front tire was on the cardboard. The dealer was then able to pin point the area of the leak under my van.
 The following part was leaking and replaced. {Proportionating valve}. There are 2 of these valves joining the brake lines located under the vehicle, just behind the driver's seat area. The brakes had to be bled.
FORD#BRAKE VALVE (F8Z*2B091*BA}
                 -Parts & Labour $185.00
 
--Problem of Very Strong, Burning, Chemical Smell Coming From Heater.
 
This solution was found by accident by my Ford Dealer while the vehicle had been in for repair. This was my 3RD repair visit to the Dealer & I had complained about this horrible smell each visit but it would not appear at that time. I had my van in to check for the brake fluid leak and asked the mechanic to check for leaks around the back of the engine in case brake fluid or oil was leaking on the exhaust.----The mechanic discovered 6 large pine cones jammed up against the engine & they were partially burned.--- A squirrel or chipmunk had started to make a nest next to my nice, warm engine & the pine cones slowly burning were causing this terrible chemical smell to be picked up by the heater intake. -Parts & Labour $00.00

#395 of 804 YET ANOTHER UPDATE by iwasscammed

Mar 20, 2001 (6:55 am)

for those of you that have been keeping track... I am the one that made the homepage about my problems with the dealer and vehicle I bought (95 w/s).
Http://hometown.aol.com/lisam1120/myhomepage/news.html
Here is the latest update...
Ted Britt took my loaner away from me after they had found that I had contacted an attorney. when the general manager called to tell me he wanted his loaner back immediately, I said well.... guess now I have you for false advertising as well, on top of the original charge of Fraud and consumer Law Violations. He hung up.
However the following day called to tell me to please return to the dealership and pick up another loaner, because what he did was very wrong and he apologized with three phone calls. I lost a day of work because of that one.
Yesterday late, I got a call from the Tech. working on my van. He called to tell me that the new engine was in and it was running great, and that the problem with the brakes was going to be taken care of per the General Manager. They were going to put new tires on, new pads, and new rotor's and they were going to cover the cost. I guess making a web page makes some people take care of things for fear that it will damage the customer's coming in. As I sent my page to mostly people in the Fairfax area. I have had 205 hits so far. I am assuming that he is thinking I will pull the page since he is taking care of things not covered under warranty, and believe me, I am very thankful. The problem still exsist's though... I am stuck in a loan for 6 yrs, my warranty is just one year, and with all the problems I have dealt with in just the first two weeks of ownership, I am extremely fearful of what will happen in the next 6 yrs. It shouldn't be this way when you purchase a vehicle. I am still going to continue with legal action, still keep my page up and still post on auto boards. This does not change my mind at all about the quality of this van that Ford sold me. Thanks for all your support with my page. I will keep you posted as to how the new engine is running as I am suppose to pick it up today.
Lisa

#396 of 804 VAN IS GOING BACK AGAIN!!!! by iwasscammed

Mar 20, 2001 (7:32 pm)

Hello all its me lisa, the one that my dealership cant stand right now, thanks to my homepage.
Http://hometown.aol.com/lisam1120/myhomepage/news.html
Well we picked my van up after having the second engine put in just one months time and drove it approx 7 miles. I placed the van in nuetral and ran it to 4 rpms when it started to spit and sputter again. WHY ME!!!!! There was coolant all over the place. Dont know if it was new or old, so I had the hubby rinse it off, so i could get a better look tomorrow when it is driven. Now they replaced the brakes, rotors, and tires today. But while I was at the hospital waiting for my surgery, my hubby called to tell me that the brakes are now making a very loud thumping noise when coming to a stop. So after I drive it for a little while tomorrow and I can get a feeling of what it is doing, I will place a call into the tech. and once again the General Manager. So this is just a slight update as to what the problems are now. I will keep you all posted. Oh and there is still a ticking noise...... remember the last engine did this and they told me it was the rocker arms and push rods. I wonder if they even changed out the engine????
Thanks again for all your support.
Lisa

#397 of 804 Tire Recommendation? by wholigan

Mar 23, 2001 (9:10 am)

Can anyone recommend inexpensive tires for my WS? I am trying to spend as LITTLE as possible (I have no faith in the longevity of this vehicle). My goal is $225 Installed with an alignment (alignment alone is about $60).

#398 of 804 wholigan by drew_

Mar 23, 2001 (12:29 pm)

I suggest that you repost your question in the Tires, Tires, Tires discussion topic in the Aftermarket & Accessories message board. Someone may be able to help you there.
  I must point out though, that even though you have no faith in the longevity of this vehicle, the tires are the only part of the vehicles which are in actual contact with the road. Since you will still be riding/driving the vehicle, you may want to avoid being too frugal for you and your family's own safety.
 
Good luck!

Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards

#399 of 804 wholigan by bblaha

Mar 23, 2001 (12:47 pm)

Ditto what Drew said. Longevity isn't the only factor that drives up a tires price. The tires just aren't the thing I'd be trying to save money on.
 
For what its worth, Michelin X-Ones are what was suggested to me by "tireguy" over in "Tires, tires, tires" a while back (I have a 99 SE).

#400 of 804 by steve_ HOST

Mar 23, 2001 (2:30 pm)

And if you belong to Costco (or Sams?), you can get the Michelin X Radial Plus, which is the store-branded version of the X-One. Failing that, I had ok luck driving the Costco-Kirkland brand on an old Voyager that was used around town. Various manufacturers make the Kirklands....

Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards

#401 of 804 Thanks Folks! by wholigan

Mar 23, 2001 (2:55 pm)

I appreciate the input!

#402 of 804 Windstar Residual Percentages by gordo517

Mar 25, 2001 (7:13 pm)

I met with a dealer today pricing a 2001 Wind star
ES MSRP 31,500 anyway the salesman told me the residual value, for a 15,000 mile a year vehicle for a 3 year deal is only 42% is this actual or is he low balling me?

#403 of 804 gordo517 by bblaha

Mar 25, 2001 (10:15 pm)

Go over to the FW&I forum and ask in "Leasing Questions". Car_man will be able to tell you exactly what Ford's leasing program is currently. Personally, with the bad rap they're getting, I think that residual sounds about right. But I'd go ask Car_man to be sure...

Messages Page 41 of 81

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