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Ford Freestar Transmission Problems

1891 messages,  Last post on May 22, 2013 at 1:13 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey, Transmission, Van


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Messages Page 46 of 190

#442 of 1891 RESEARCH by skihigh

Dec 20, 2008 (9:41 pm)

I have been spending hours doing exessive research on this problem. The general forum suggestions have been new tranny or torqu converter. My personal mechanic eliminated those a while back and by the results shown in this discussion area, we can safely rule those options out because it did not resolve the issues. Then we are on to sensor issues. I personally, have replaced crank shaft/senor, cam shaft sensor (at least twice), axode sensor, and some other transmission sensor, and the ABS module. I have done the regular 30,000 mile tranmission fluid change as suggested also. My mechanic had told my husband that after the ABS module was changed, if that did not fix the problem there was one other thing that it may be. After doing extensive research, I am thinking that he may be right. I have been reading several service bulletins. Tomorrow my husband is going to attempt to fix it himself per "easy fix" directions that he got and specs that we had printed off at the dealership (you know, the one who "never heard anything like this before"). I will certainly keep you updated. But here is what I found out (from some reliable sources like Consumer Guide):
 
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION DRIVEABILITY ISSUES TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN Reference Number(s): 06-14-10, Date of Issue: July 24, 2006 Superceded Bulletin(s): 05-23-7, Date of Issue: November 28, 2005 Related Ref Number(s): 05-23-7, 06-14-10 ARTICLE BEGINNING ISSUE Some 1999-2003 Windstar and 2004-2007 Freestar / Monterey vehicles built prior to 6/22/2006 may exhibit engine / transmission driveability issues due to water entering the powertrain control module (PCM) or transaxle vent. Symptoms may include various diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), harsh or delayed transmission shifts / engagements, no reverse engagement, engine overheat, engine lean condition causing a misfire (possibly leading to melted electrodes on the spark plugs), and rough idle. The water leakage may be due to the PCM connector cover not seating completely and water leaking down from the cowl panel grille (cowl top vent panel) area. ACTION During normal diagnostic and repair procedures, inspect for evidence of water damage at the PCM, PCM connector, and/or transaxle. If present, inspect the sealing area of the PCM cover, seal the water leak path in the cowl panel grill area, and service the PCM as needed per the following Service Procedure. SERVICE PROCEDURE Disconnect the PCM connector. Remove the PCM cover from the studs in the bulkhead. ( Fig. 1 ) Fig. 1: PCM Connector Inspect the body sealant on the bulkhead to ensure it is not protruding out causing the cover not to seal properly in that area. ( Fig. 2 ) If sealant is interfering with the PCM cover, remove excess with a sharp tool. Reinstall the PCM cover ensuring the cover seals and is flush with the bulkhead. Fig. 2: Body Sealant On Bulkhead 1. Remove the wiper pivot arm. ( Fig. 3 ) a. Release pivot arm nut cover. b. Remove the pivot arm nut. FORD: 1999-2003 Windstar; 2004-2007 Freestar MERCURY: 2004-2007 Monterey NOTE: This article supersedes TSB 05-23-7 to update the Service Procedure and model years. Page 1 of 4 ENGINE/TRANSMISSION DRIVEABILITY ISSUES -2004 Mercury Monterey 8/3/2008

#443 of 1891 Re: I want to add our misery in owning a freestar [afraidofmyvan] by jgenovese

Dec 20, 2008 (9:46 pm)

Replying to: afraidofmyvan (Dec 19, 2008 4:42 pm)
Thank goodness no one got hurt! You are very fortunate to have found an attorney who will help you for free. My contention has always been that a sharp attorney could make this a class action and not have to work "for free" at all! Unfortunately, I live in an area where everybody wants to get paid up front and then do nothing at all. However, there is hope..... More on that later. It is good that you reported toNHTSA. I can't believe they have been silent on this issue for over a year now. mabey there is political pressure due to the fragile state of the auto industry? Nothing would surprise me. Stay tuned.....
 
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD

#444 of 1891 Re: Stay tuned... [scummins] by jgenovese

Dec 20, 2008 (9:58 pm)

Replying to: scummins (Dec 20, 2008 11:22 am)
My particular interest in this specific problem is that my wife and children could have been killed when our Freestar transmission failed, without warning, at 45K miles, in the middle of a busy intersection during rush hour traffic. It took me less than a day to find out that this defect was known to Ford when they sold me the van and they knowingly, negligently, recklessly, and willfully put my family in harms way. Then, when the failure occured, they engaged in an organized, willfull, and deceptive pattern of behavior, from the service advisor at the dealership to the Customer Relationship Center, to Ford's headquarters, in an attempt to cover it up. They even lied, in writing, to the investigator from my state's Office of the Attorney General. My particular interest is primarily to force a recall so that other families can at least be made aware of the problem and get their vans fixed before somone gets killed as a result of this defect. It would also be nice to be reimbursed by Ford for the nearly $4000.00 that I had to spend last year to get my van fixed and to rent a replacement vehicle for a week. Another goal I have is for the people at NHTSA, who's sole purpose in life is to protect families like our from defective products, to actually get off of their butts and do what they are paid to do.
 
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD

#445 of 1891 Re: RESEARCH [skihigh] by jgenovese

Dec 20, 2008 (10:11 pm)

Replying to: skihigh (Dec 20, 2008 9:41 pm)
10-4 However; our transmission/torque converter basically disintegrated and had a sudden catostrophic failure. When my mechanic pulled it, there was nothing but metal filings left. It was the result of defective parts AND defective engineering. We had to replace to whole thing.
 
Jim Genovese
Annapolis, MD

#446 of 1891 research by shocked1

Dec 22, 2008 (11:35 am)

Thank you Jim. With people like you, there's hope for us unfortuanite FORD owners!!!!!!! It is bound to end up for death for some FREESTAR owner. We very well could've been killed when our tranny quit. Again, $2000.00 later, we're having 'MORE" problems with our piece of junk. No response from anyone. Keep on people, we may be at least keeping Fords' sales low.

#447 of 1891 Re: research [shocked1] by jerrypaul

Dec 22, 2008 (11:58 am)

Replying to: shocked1 (Dec 22, 2008 11:35 am)
The one poster on here brings up a good point. I wonder how many transmissions were replaced by non-scrupulous dealers when it wasn't the transmission, but rather one of the infamous "faulty sensors."
 
Also, to the poster who mentioned about the slow activation of the transmission, for that I do agree. I notice then when I put it into Reverse or Drive, it takes about 2 seconds to engage. I purposely wait for it to fully engage (you can feel a subtle catch) before hitting the gas. I wonder if hitting the gas too fast with this touchy transmission could cause these paper thin transmissions to give way a little faster. I remember my driving instructor way back in the day telling me one of the worst things you can do to a transmission is to flip between gears too fast without full activation before hitting the gas.
 
Also, a thought as to why there is no recall on these things. Is it possible they don't consider a mechanical problem a safety issue? Sure someone could be killed by a failing transmission, but the same could be said for "can" belts that break or anything for that matter that could make a car stop running. I agree 100 % there should be a recall but I wonder if that's the reason there is none.
 
One final thought (word of encouragement), I talked to someone at the store the other day with a Freestar. I asked him what year it was. He said it was a 2004 and he has over 200,000 miles on it and it's the best vehicle he's ever had. No problems other than normal wear. It's weird how these things fail on some people so prematurely and yet there are others out there that go for 200,000 without a single problem. Was there perhaps a "bad batch" of these things and a "good batch?"

#448 of 1891 Re: research [jerrypaul] by susanhai

Dec 22, 2008 (9:18 pm)

Replying to: jerrypaul (Dec 22, 2008 11:58 am)
The person with the 04 freestar that had over 200,000 miles without a single problem on it must have gotten a lemon!

#449 of 1891 Re: RESEARCH [skihigh] by skihigh

Dec 22, 2008 (11:43 pm)

Replying to: skihigh (Dec 20, 2008 9:41 pm)
Ok guys... I know that I have said this before... BUT the fix seemed to work. This time I am quite confident that it is indeed the problem, for the simple reason that my husband (God love his heart) was out working on it in below zero temperatures and could only stay outside for 15 minute intervalts, but because it was so cold, we could see the ice trail leading down in to the PCM. There was indeed courosion on the bottow row of little pegs. The van is running fine now. He said in his personal opinion, it was poorly designed to go back, because the instructions read to remove these 2 little plugs and discard them like they should have never been put there to begin with. I will check back and keep everyone updated. But hopefully that was it. And it only cost a few bucks at the auto store to fix! If it does work, I told my husband, he may have found the answer to his unemployment issue as there are many people that obviously need repairs! lol. Sorry... maybe poor taste, but you gotta laught to keep from crying! This has been the WORST holiday ever.. w/ no transportation, no phone, behind on bills, my oven broke, and yesterday the frig died and the pipes froze! I know someone always has it worse off, so let's all try to keep eachother spirits up and keep the motivation to not give up on persuing these jerks at Ford!

#450 of 1891 Re: RESEARCH [skihigh] by ROBALOMANN

Dec 27, 2008 (3:17 pm)

Replying to: skihigh (Dec 22, 2008 11:43 pm)
new to this site
and an owner piss of $%#$%$$^%#^&#& freestar
tranny just went at 41,000 miles, $1,900 later
sorry there others suffering
but glad not alone :lemon law should include such problems

#451 of 1891 Re: RESEARCH [skihigh] by jtk2

Dec 27, 2008 (5:06 pm)

Replying to: skihigh (Dec 20, 2008 9:41 pm)
Hello,
Sorry to hear about all your troubles seems that you have the right attitude though gotta keep laughing. I had a question as just today my freestar seems to contract the same aliments as I have been reading about that is a defect that Ford knew about it seems though I may be one of the luckier ones as my freestar has 91K miles. I was reading your research and wanted to find out if you could help me locate the PCM so my husband can check if it has any water seeping in to it from the Crowl grille. I am very thankful that I found this site as a few hours ago we were convinced it was just the transmission and thought we were in for a very expensive replacement funny thing is that the car not only would not go forward but at a slow rate and not reverse at all but the car died as well. Hopefully it will just be the water problem... We can always hope...
Thanks so much and hope your fix will work for you.
 
 

Messages Page 46 of 190

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