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Ford Windstar Problems - READ ONLY

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

You are in the Ford Windstar Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Windstar, Van

Messages Page 94 of 262

#925 of 2608 I got the 1999 Ford Windstar SE and... by mslmn

May 22, 2002 (7:51 am)

... am loving it! What a great ride and security. I test drove a Mazda 2002 MPV and it felt like a feather comparing to the handling of my new/used windstar (it kind of says, "I am here to stay!"). About running the carfax, since this is the first time I educated myself to the limit, I just don't know what the carfax could have missed... May luck and God be on my side. I will let know if I run into any problems. I am going to researching any recalls and digging as much as I can about any 1999 windstar problems.
Thanks.

#926 of 2608 Am Gen tires - lumpy sidewalls by rejohnson1

May 24, 2002 (7:57 am)

We have the same tires and they have the same weird looking lumps in the sidewalls. They were there early on, and I put it on the list of stuff to do for the first or second service visit. The Ford guys basically said to take it up with the tire people. I got lazy and didn't do that, and they still look the same but nothing has happened. But these tires do look bizarre.

#927 of 2608 99SE by 5greyhounds

May 25, 2002 (1:19 pm)

I am in the same situation as you. I really like my 99SE and it is the first used car I have ever bought. Lots of power, compared to my 95, and I really like the quad seats. The only thing I wish it had was the reverse sensing system. I think my first upgrade will be the side mirrors with the turn signals built in and then I will have to see about a combination cd and cassette player for it.

#928 of 2608 99 Windstar Problems by marsh89

May 26, 2002 (3:01 pm)

Transmission Shifting hard
Engine Pinging
Fluid leak
 
This site was extremely helpful and I would advise others to scroll through it looking for problems. After reading about the engine pinging issue and the transmission slip I told the dealer that I KNEW these were real problems and I demand they be rechecked since I had been told over and over, "that is the way a minivan shifts", "we did not find any indication of a problem causing the pinging". I told the Service Advisor that any of the problems I reported I would like documentation showing they were checked and mentioned how many other Windstar owners on the internet had the same problems. During that visit both problems were identified and fixed under the warranty - replaced valve cover, reprogrammed octane level, and the PCM was reprogrammed (both of which I read about here). All of sudden the transmission shifting hard was under a recall. I had been complaining and returning it to the dealer from 1 month after I purchased it in April 99 complaining of how it shifted. And like one post I read, DEFINITELY make sure you get something in writing if they try to blow you off with "nothing found". The 3rd issue I had on that day was a puddle of brown fluid on the garage floor and a loud sound when turning sometimes, as if the power stearing fluid was empty. I was told verbally "nothing found on that". My service advisor was on vacation when I picked my car up, so I called a few days later and asked for something in writing. Never got it. One month later the 3yr/36k warranty was up and the Alternator went out. While it was there they found a leaking axle seal and low interim gasket ring. Serv Advsr said this would cause the sound I described and the leaking I described. Luckily I had bought a 7yr/100k warranty. If not I would have been paying $400 out of pocket because I never did get the "nothing found" statement in writing.

#929 of 2608 by steve_ HOST

May 30, 2002 (10:15 pm)

Ford Recalls 400,000 Windstars

Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards

#930 of 2608 We loved our '99 Windstar SE by gsgetz

Jun 04, 2002 (3:15 pm)

...so much that we are buying a 2002 SEL as our current lease ends. I hope we don't have so many of the headachs some of the posters here had. Leather, back seat video (ok it's not dvd yet) side air bags, family security II with traction etc. $26,500. Seems like very good value and we like the product. Should we buy the extended warrenty up-front or wait till original expires?
 
Want to thank everybody for sharing their thoughts in advance...
 
OH, and BTW we wanted just to see one and found ONE Honda Oddity. It was a light slime green with an MSRP of about $30,000 and the dealer had installed another $5,000 worth of dealer installed options. $35,000 and it was sold as we looked at it. Salesman asked us to get out of the van. We were not impressed anyway, but thats what happens when Edmunds gives something its uncontrolled endorsement as the #1 Mini Van. Talk about your price gouging.
 
George

#931 of 2608 gsgetz//extended warrenty by 5greyhounds

Jun 05, 2002 (4:35 am)

If you need a car while yours is in for service get it up front, unless your dealer provides free loaner cars. That is one thing about the extended warranty, even if it is during the first three years you still get a loaner for free. I was able to get the zero deductible, max years and max miles for $1,500. That is $800, or about 40% off the list price.
We had a 95 GL (135K) and except for the head gasket it was a good van. A red light runner hit it and totaled it last year and we got a 99SE with 22k on it.

#932 of 2608 What a lemon by philyj

Jun 05, 2002 (3:45 pm)

I have a 2001 SE Sport. We have had nothing but problems with it. It has been in the shop so many times. I do like the van, but with all of the problems I can't wait to see it go. It turned a year old on May 31st. We have had it repainted, driver molding replaced, brakes have been worked on many times, parts have been welded in the rear, and sensors replaced. I think we have a lemon. My friend purchased the same model from the same dealer. Her van runs great. No problems yet. Does anyone have a rattle in the rear passenger side? We had a part welded, sealant filled, and foam placed inbetween body molding. The dealer knows that there is a problem and had a Ford tech road test and could hear the load noise. They still have no idea what it is.

#933 of 2608 99 Ford Windstar Transmission Failure plus Ping and Paint Cracking by karvins

Jun 06, 2002 (9:30 am)

Well I sure wish I had read this board before my warranty expired and I would have bought the extended warranty. The car is 3 years 2 months with 30K miles. I've had the Pinging problems...pseudo fixed through the TSB's but I'm sure they may still be around.... especially now that the warmer weather is here. I've had the cracking paint in the roof rails... all of these they took care of under warranty. I was taking it in for 30K service and then the transmission thing struck...detailed for others below.
 
Now on to the transmission issue. Wife drove it on the highway, OD/ Off light started to flash, Service Transmission light came on, erratic shifting after that when she got it off the highway but it made it home. Then I came home and drove it and could not reproduce the problem in around the block driving or a short highway check. Next morning I drove it to the dealer and after 10 minutes on the highway the OD / light started to blink, Service transmission idiot light came on in the message center, just like the wife said. Shifting did still seem normal. By end of the day I get the bad news the transmission is toast and it will be $2500 to replace. They found metal in the transmission oil and it seemed burnt they said. I ask for the Ford number which they gave me the 1-800 number, they took down my case and it has been a day and a half but have not heard back yet.
 
I should also note the van had a symptom at 12,500 miles where at low rpm climbing hills the transmission was bucking between gears hard, they noted at the dealer the converter does lock and unlock every 2-3 seconds, they noted that the diags yielded nothing and they called the Ford hotline and were informed to re-calibrate and reseat the rear lube tubes...which seems odd but it took care of that problem. My contention is that period of transmission problem while I was on vacation deep in the gold hills of Yosemite area probably shortened the life of the transmission as well. This Rear lube tube and bracket was also noted on the service invoice as being under recall campaign 00B51. I'm not sure how this affects the transmission but that is what they put down on the invoice.
 
So now I am waiting and building my case that the 99 WS has chronic transmission issues as indicated in this Forum. I'll let everyone know what Ford comes back with but it sounds like I should talk to a Regional rep as well.
 
And also how does the dealer justify a 30K service for $650. This seems outrageous but I called other dealers here in Bay area and they charge nearly the same. I was shocked considering they change about 4 fluids, some filters and the bogus inspection checks. Is this what they charge in other parts of the country too?
 
Any advice, comments welcome about my transmission woes.

#934 of 2608 Update: 99 Ford Windstar Transmission Failure plus Ping and Paint Cracking by karvins

Jun 06, 2002 (11:59 am)

From post #890 - 30K Transmission Toast- here is an update. Ford Customer Care has come back and offerred 50% of the cost of replacing the transmission which means they will foot $1250. It was a final offer situation so I took it. I did mention all the problems I have seen on the Internet in this Forum about 99 Transmission problems. They did suggest to keep my receipts and if they have a recall program that I might get re-embursed. They also mentioned I could take it up with the Customer Relations Manager at the dealer to get to the Regional Rep.
 
I also contacted the dealer Customer Relationship Manager at the dealer and gave them the situation...of course they listened patiently and I said I would like to pursue it with Regional Rep. They said they would look into it and would talk to the Service manager. The saga continues....

Messages Page 94 of 262

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