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Ford Windstar Problems - READ ONLY

2608 messages,  Last post on Oct 27, 2006 at 8:51 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Windstar, Van

Messages Page 122 of 262

#1204 of 2608 engine revs up when braking by paulrwp

Apr 27, 2003 (7:00 pm)

January 4, 2003, I purchased a 2003 Windstar from Paul Miller Ford in Lexington, KY.
 
Driving from the dealership, I used the cruise control on the interstate. At Corbin, KY, in exiting from I-75, as I began breaking, the engine began to “rev” up, reaching 4000 to 5000 rpms. It did this three (3) times: once as I was stopping and twice in restarting the vehicle at the intersection, in exiting onto another road. The fourth time I restarted the engine, the engine was all right.
 
January 11, 2003, I was in Greenville, SC, the town of my residence, the engine revved up twice. Once as I was breaking for a traffic light and a second time, as I restarted the engine.
 
In both instances, I turned of the ignition switch off to stop the engine.
 
I reported the problem to Ford and the Ford dealership in Greenville, SC. The dealership placed a black box/flight recorder on the vehicle, but, the engine did not rev up when it was on the vehicle. (The Greenville dealership replaced the emergence brake racket for it was defective.)
 
In the past few weeks, the van, at times, is difficult to stop: it seems as if the power brakes is not operating correctly.
 
Saturday, April 26, 2003, in backing the vehicle, the engine revived up, making this the third time.
 
Ronny Paul
Greenville, SC 29607-1138

#1205 of 2608 95 WS Gone... by wholigan

Apr 27, 2003 (9:32 pm)

The time finally came... Bought an Ody this weekend for Invoice... Traded the 4 engine/4 tranny 95 - got $1200 for it (102,000 mi).
 
If I donated it, it was worth about $4000 "Blue" book - what I could have written off anyway... In the 28% tax bracket, that is worth $1120. While I really did not want that car to end up with another "unknowing" owner, my conscience is as clear as the FMC.
 
No more Fords. EVER! Yippie!

#1206 of 2608 What would you all do... by 2willdo

Apr 29, 2003 (10:56 am)

... in this situation?
 
I purchased a '99 4D Windstar new, currently has about 39K on it. The troubles began within the first year (with only 6,000 mile on it), among other things, most prominately was (and still exists) odd clunking/popping noises under the car which has never been diagnosed at two different dealerships. Today on my way to work it did its usual "clunking thing" followed by pieces falling out from underneath the car. Its sitting at the service garage and I am wondering if now is the right time to dump this thing. Obviously there is some guilt involved with selling this car outright to a private party as opposed to taking it in the shorts on a trade in. Question is now... if I trade it in, then the dealer is responsible for the inevitable problems it is going to have. If I sell it out of the paper I have misgivings about it breaking down on someone else. What you you all do if this car were yours?

#1207 of 2608 clunking/popping noises by hault

Apr 29, 2003 (5:47 pm)

I had similar noises on my 95 Windstar. I believe the "sub frame" bushings were replaced. Which solved my problem. Another possibility is the steering tie rods.

#1208 of 2608 2willdo - Tie Rods... by wholigan

Apr 29, 2003 (7:42 pm)

Cannot believe that they didn't tell you the tie rods went bad... Happened on my 95WS and brother-in-laws 98WS. Be sure they specify INNER or OUTER - the only problem here is that once one "set" is replaced, the other set has a tendancy to go.
 
Ford is living on customers like you... I know - I was one from 1998 till last week. Unfortunately, the trade vale on WS is awful.
 
Your next actions revolve around personal finance - can you afford the repair? Do you have an extended warranty (to keep other problems out of the pocketbook)? It may be worth the repair if you trade it to a different dealer. Since yours is a 99, I would look at the trade possibilities... My decision to trade was based on how much I could get for it as a donation (in my tax bracket - see #1201 above).
 
Good Luck!

#1209 of 2608 hault and wholigan... by 2willdo

Apr 30, 2003 (5:32 am)

... thank you for your replies!
 
Tie rods going bad at 8,000 miles - when the problem first began? I guess maybe I should not be surprised at that since a cracked rear axle was discovered during a recall repair and had to be replaced at less than 5,000. Apparently when the vehicle was tied down to the railcar for shipping, some idiot chained the axle instead of using those tie-down hooks underneath the car.
 
The car is 3,000 miles (and one year) out of warranty (no I didn't purchase an extended mostly for the reason that my neighbor has a '98 WS and has never had any trouble with it) the two dealers I took it to in Denver told me basically I was SOL at 36,000 or 3 years, even though the car was taken in 5 times over the course of the warranty period to have this problem fixed. I don't have much disposable income at the moment, and can't afford to trade for another car. Fortunately I kept my old '88 Honda Accord and though looking pretty rough, still runs well.
 
Can either of you tell me if this car is unsafe in this condition if indeed it is the tie rods?
 
Again, thanks for your replies, all help is duly appreciated!

#1210 of 2608 bad tie rods by steve_ HOST

Apr 30, 2003 (9:44 am)

I don't know how much time you have to chase after this but it wouldn't hurt to open up a case with Ford (regional rep or someone higher up the food chain than the dealer). Harp on the fact that 5 previous attempts to fix the problem didn't work and that it's dangerous to drive.
 
I'd also call your local AG's Office of Consumer Protection and see if they have any suggestions for you. Good luck!
 
Steve, Host

#1211 of 2608 Transmission or what? by imladyred

Apr 30, 2003 (8:50 pm)

Tonight, while driving home, my husband said that there was a 'clunk' and then the van wouldn't go any more...only in reverse. This is a '99 Windstar with 76000 miles.
 
Anybody have any ideas what is wrong?
Thanks!
Lisa

#1212 of 2608 95 problems - need help by momtaxi

May 01, 2003 (1:00 pm)

I like many others have had my head gaskets repaired as per the 1998 recall and now in 2003 almost exactly double the milage from the first head gaskets the secong ones have gone. Does anyone have any information or suggestions or knowledge of this? Is Ford replacing the second set or am I SOL? Also what is the $4000 credit I have seen so much and why was I not offered this 2000 when the first set was fixed?

#1213 of 2608 transmission problem by tmant

May 01, 2003 (1:13 pm)

My 2000 SE transmission didn't go clunk or any noise for that matter. Light turned green and the engines just revs. I had about 62k miles on it. Ended up paying ~3500 to fix the transmission at a Ford dealership.
 
In the process spent another ~1000 to fix a leak in the manifold or something.
 
Oh yeah, reverse did work, but I don't think you want to drive backwards around town!

Messages Page 122 of 262

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