Ford Windstar Transmission

216 messages,  Last post on May 05, 2013 at 12:58 PM

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


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#4 of 216 Re: 1999 Ford Windstar Tranny Probelm [duegood] by clevo

May 03, 2006 (8:25 pm)

Replying to: duegood (May 01, 2006 5:57 am)
Our 1998 Windstar transmission began slipping about 4 weeks ago. It happens when we are accelerating from a stop, the engine revs as if the transmission is in neutral. If we back of the accelerator and try again, the transmission catches and goes fine. Again, this has only happened at most 4 times in the past 4 weeks.
 
The transmission fluid level is fine, and the transmission fluid is not burnt. We've had the transmission fluid changed every 30,000 miles. The van has 145,000 miles on it now.
 
Two mechanics diagnosed the problem as slipping clutches in the transmission. They both wanted $1650 to rebuild the transmission.

#5 of 216 bring car to garage for burnt relay; end up with burnt transmission! by franknstein

Jul 19, 2006 (7:21 pm)

I brought my 99 Ford Windstar to the garage because the parking light switch was broke and the lights stayed on all the time, draining my battery.
I quick electrical diagnosis found the faulty relay but there were no spare parts for a couple of days and left my car at the garage (it was a friday).
On monday the garage was suppose to have the new part and car ready to go; instead I was informed that my transmission was out. I went to the garage and saw my car backed outside with some lighting switches removes. I had a spare key, started the car and indeed the car wouldn't move. I thought maybe that because they had removed some parts, maybe some transmission sensors were not getting power thus not working. It ended up that the car had to be towed to a transmission specialist where he confirmed that the transmission was gone and needed to be replaces: cost $3500.
Now; how come I never had any transmission problem before bringing it to the garage and now it is burnt. Could it be that when they removed a component that the transmission defaulted out but by moving the car outside they broke something?
I always serviced my car as per schedule; can a transmission let go without showing any prior signs or warning lights.
I"d like to know if others had similar problems.
Thanks
Frank N. Stein

#6 of 216 Can I put a '96 transmission in a '95 Windstar or a '95 engine in a '96? by fordstar

Aug 29, 2006 (3:34 pm)

A mechanic told me that the 3.8-liter powertrain in the 1996 Windstar is compatible with the 1997 model only. I was wondering if this is true and if a transmission off a 1996 would work in a 1995 Windstar, or a '95 engine in a '96 van. I am talking about the 3.8-liter only. Basically I have a 1996 with no engine and a friend has a 1995 who needs a tranny Any advice is much appreciated.

#7 of 216 windstar tranny problem? by dabreleu

Sep 21, 2006 (7:46 am)

I have a 1999 windstar the other day while pulling out onto the highway my van all of a sudden lost its gears had to coast into a parking lot then tow it home. did my transmission go out or is there a control module that is bad ? had my rack and power steering pump repaired 2 weeks earlier. any help on this matter would be appreciated.

#8 of 216 Re: windstar tranny problem? by yvon

Nov 01, 2006 (11:58 am)

Replying to: dabreleu (Sep 21, 2006 7:46 am)
the transmission on my windstar LX 2000 went away eventually. I read lots of stories of transmisison issue on windstar but never thought it could happen to me. The van ran very well and quiet. A few days ago, whenever I switch the gears, I can hear bigger "Pong" sound and I though it was normal.
 
today in the morning, I stopped at red light. when the light turned to green, I tried to gas it up and then I heard a click sound from the bottom. The van couldn't move. I tried different gears. all the forward gears are lost. The backward gear functions as normal.
 
had to have it towed. called the ford dealer and the new part cause $3000 plus 8.5 hours labor. the junk yard wants $1200 for a used one with 120K miles.
 
the van is in pretty good shape, never had an accident.
 
bad luck day ...

#9 of 216 Re: windstar tranny problem? [yvon] by seloo

Nov 02, 2006 (6:11 am)

Replying to: yvon (Nov 01, 2006 11:58 am)
Did you service the trans every 30K miles?

#10 of 216 Re: windstar tranny problem? [seloo] by yvon

Nov 02, 2006 (1:34 pm)

Replying to: seloo (Nov 02, 2006 6:11 am)
it's a second hand and the previous owner said it's always served from the dealer. I had trans oil replaced a year ago. I was told that the trans oil on this van needs to be replaced every 40Km or 2 year.

#11 of 216 1998 Ford Windstar Transmission Problems by sramamur1

Dec 11, 2006 (9:58 am)

Hello All;
 
My Ford Windstar (3.0L) has approximately 110,000 miles on it and has recently developed a serious transmission problem. The van will not start when Drive "D", or the first gear "1", or reverse gear "R" is selected. The only way it starts is to select the second gear "2" and move to "D" when it picks up speed. It then drives well and can even do reverse parking.
 
This causes probles at traffic lights, stop signs and other stoppages. I have to manually move the gear selector to "2" and then move it back to "D" when the van is moving.
 
It appears that my transmission is on its last legs. Any ideas/sugegstions for fixing this problem will be gratefully appreciated.
 
Thanks in advance,
 
Sri.

#12 of 216 Re: windstar tranny problem? [dabreleu] by duke22

Mar 31, 2007 (8:13 am)

Replying to: dabreleu (Sep 21, 2006 7:46 am)
new to this site and not sure how to find what answers were to dabreleu 9/21/06 question as i have same problem with my 1999 windstar. pulled out on highway and lost gears. could only drive in reverse. garage says must be transmission-could have towed to transmission garage as they don't do. quoted $2,500 for rebuilt -but no one's even looked under the hood. only 27,000 miles on the car and never any indication of problem before this. just passed inspection week before this happened. should i have towed to another garage to check out? was result for dabreleu that transmission was shot or something else? would appreciate any input.

#13 of 216 tranny slipping by mr_the2ofus

Mar 31, 2007 (10:20 pm)

i have a 2000 windstar 3.8l tranny seems to be slipping when in drive at about 55 mph slips back and forth from D to overdrive and shifts VERY hard at high rates of acceleration. took it to the shop they thought it was something internal in tranny but would not know for sure til they put it on a bench and opened her up but they want the payment up front which is like 4-600 dollars. is there anyone that had the same problem or similar that might know what my best options are???
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