Ask the Car People.SM


Ford Windstar Transmission

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

You are in the Ford Windstar Forum.

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


Go to NHTSA to file a safety complaint.
Or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm ET) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800)424-9153

Messages Page 5 of 22

#36 of 216 Re: 1997 Ford Windstar [mlinde] by chabot1

Nov 13, 2007 (6:51 am)

Replying to: mlinde (Nov 12, 2007 2:11 pm)
Hi there,
I finally took my 2003 Ford Windstar into have it looked at this past Thursday. Sadly I was told that there was a crack in the torque convertor (basically it blew apart) and caused all kinds of damage. Both my husband and I find this odd because when it stopped engaging (at 110 km) there was no sound whatsoever, it just stopped moving forward. There was no clunking sounds when shifting into any gear and no previous slipping or problems with the tranny. I've had many people reply and my feeling is that the Windstar model has tranny issues. To make a long story short, I pick it up today and the bill is $3,259 plus tax. Roughly $3,700.00. I would like to think they are only repairing what needs to be. Good luck.....

#37 of 216 2000 sel transmission by shells1970

Nov 13, 2007 (12:02 pm)

I just had my converter and tranmission changed for 3200 bucks, after having my vehicle for 10 mins. the oil light came on then I checked the oil , there was antifreeze in the oil took it back and they said because of the milage it was my fault. They now say they are going to change all the seals at their cost for labour but I have to pay for parts ( 979.00) What do you think.

#38 of 216 Re: O/D Off Light Flashing [shortyford] by kwelty

Nov 16, 2007 (9:15 am)

Replying to: shortyford (Nov 05, 2007 5:03 pm)
I have a 2002 Fors Windstar LX, 174,000 miles. We had to have oxygen sensors and intake manifold gasket worked on to pass emissions the past two years respectively. And the tie rod replaced last year when I also bought new tires. These things didn't really disturb me. I DID notice I lost my cruise control. I don't use it often, so in my mind, I thought it may have become disabled when they worked on the tie rod, not knowing anything about it. I don't use it often, so I didn't look into it at the time. (This is important later)
 
Last May, out of the blue, it would not start. My battery was cracked. We replaced the battery. I drove it and a few days later the OD light came on temporarily. The manual said when you replace the battery, the OD has to replace itself as the battery stores the OD settings. Since it never came back on, I assumed it was something to do with that process.
 
What I DID have a lot of problems with, was my brake light and ABS light coming on randomly. Then I began running low on brake fluid while the brakes looked good. We replaced a lot of good brake pads and kept adding brake fluid.
 
Then it began to sometimes have an issue where I felt more pull than I should going up certain hills.....but that seemed to go away and only happen occassionally and to a lesser degree.....and I couldn't get my husband to listen to me about this issue and it never seemed to happen when he was driving. I couldn't get him to take me seriously, it never happened to him, so I was a crazy woman of course!
 
Okay.....so I drive with the kids without the husband to IL for my sister's wedding 5 hours away. There is hilly terrain on 24E north of Nashville........and my van didn't feel right. At one point it seemed the transmissions was doing something it should not and for about 3 minutes I thought I would turn around and go back home and call my sister and say "SORRY!" But it passed and I drove the 5 hours there, drove the entire weekend back home, and drove back to Nashville with no furhter incidents. I get off the interstate on the home stretch (yes, I know I am lucky) and the OD light begins flashing and stays flashing all the way home, maybe 2 miles from the interstate? It doesn't come back on after I shut the van off and tell my husband what happened for him to go check it. Again, I'm a crazy woman who doesn't know anything.
 
Next morning, I have to drive the kids downtown to school.....I'm fine until I take off from a red light and I feel a horrible clunk when it should have shifted from first to second and the OD light comes on at that very instant. I continue on cautiously to school and it shifted really rough between 1st and 2nd the rest of the way, but not as hard. My husband tells me to try to get back home. I stop to get coffee in case I break down along the way back because it's a chilly wet morning. When I get back in and restart the light is off. It isn't clunking between first and second anymore. I drive very cautiously on side roads towards home. The OD light came on one time I got over 45 or 50. I stopped and shut it off and it was off. My husband calls me back and tells me to meet him at the garage. I make it to the garage.
 
The diagnosis (which made me nervous because they had not even LOOKED under the hood) was we needed a new transmission. The van is long paid for, the $1800 transmission repair, we were assured, would leave us with a very good, dependable van if we kept up the maintenance and we would have a 12 months warranty on that transmission.
 
They had the van over a week. I get it, the brake lights start coming on again, but that's not new. Everything seems fine until one after noon on a cold start from my house, it seems to go into neutral rather than second. I pull over, let off the gas and reapply a few times and it goes. I don't have any other issues the rest of that day. The next morning, however, again another cold start leaving my house, it does it again. It drives fine the rest of the way to take the kids downtown to school. I take it straight back to the garage and ask why my brand new transmission would be doing this.
 
They tell me it's the shifter switch (new with the new transmission but they're fickle and often break going on), they'll have to order the part, but they'll replace it for free. I go back the next day (trip #3 to the garage) and they put on shifter switch (#2 brand new one now, right?) but call me back and point out that cruise control switch is bad and causing brake fluid to drip all over the shifter switch and transmission. THAT is what caused the new shifter to go bad they say. Point out that it's already eating on the finish of my new transmission. Also note that it's the reason Ford has this big recall going on, though MY Ford is not included in that recall. They have to order the part, so I need to come back Monday because it's Friday today and they won't get it in. I ask if they should wait to put the new shifter switch in until they do that so this new one won't get ruined as well.....to which the man replies, no you might ruin the transmission if we don't replace it today.
 
You remember I mentioned I lost my cruise control? The cruise control issue AND my brake light/brake fluid issue were because of this cruise control switch.
 
I do some research on this recall, even call a Ford dealership. They want to charge me $160 to fix the cruise control switch, but tell me that my van will probably be recalled and I'll be reimbursed for the repair. I ask how much for the part alone and they say $90. I tell them my garage is charging me $40 for the part and fixing it for free so I think I'll go that route.
 
PLEASE NOTE: Even if you are NOT having cruise control switch issues - you should have the switch disabled or replaced with the new part that came available in October! You can catch fire!!!
 
So I go back Monday (trip #4 to the garage) and the new cruise control switch is put in. Again, I'm pronounced cured.
 
Two days later, in the evening, the van had been on the road twice that day, but had set a few hours so I guess that would also be a cold start.....it did it again, in the exact same spot. Except this time it kept doing it repeatedly and the OD light came on - this is the first time the OD light had come on since the new transmissions was installed.
 
Let me just say that I drug my husband to the garage this time and that I was was not sweet and polite and I guess the men thought I was REALLY a crazy woman this time, but I was a crazy woman with a point! Their story: the cruise control switch had rained brake fluid on the shifter switch #2 and shorted it. They kept my van, got my new shifter and put it on and had it ready by 1pm that day. Seems the heat made them work a little faster. They even checked my tire pressure and added air to my tires to try to appease the goddess. My husband thinks we're cured - I'm skeptcal.

#39 of 216 Re: O/D Off Light Flashing [kwelty] by kwelty

Nov 16, 2007 (9:37 am)

Replying to: kwelty (Nov 16, 2007 9:15 am)
I'm sorry, it cut me off.......also sorry I'm long winded.........
 
I refused to be asured all was well, I've been told that before. And sure enough, this morning (next morning, less than 24 hours later, THE $%^&^# VAN DOES IT AGAIN!!!!
 
I stayed calmer this time. I drove the kids on to school, then I drove to my husband's place of employment. I demanded for him to open up that hood and move the part out of my way they have to take off so I can see the new cruise control switch, shifter switch #3 and new transmission. I want to see it before I take it back to the garage to see if there is any brake fluid dripping anywhere to possibly short out that shifter switch again. I also have learned that if I take my van to my husband's work where I have witnesses, I do not get so quickly dismissed. I'm sorry if this seems mean to the men reading...I don't do this unless I'm desperate, but it works! (Like six years ago when the old jalopy before the Windstar had a radiator issue he would do nothing about until I pull into his jobsite with steam rolling out from under my hood for the whole world to see. I wouldn't do this kind of thing if I didn't have to.)
 
Anyway, hoods up and while he's trying to figure out how get out of moving any parts so I can see, I review the facts and why this is not acceptable JUST loud enough the other guys can hear the facts and realize I'm a ticked off woman with a VALID POINT. One of them finally gets brave and comes over. He confirms the parts are clean but also confirms MY POINT that what I'm describing should not be happening and if he had just spent that much money, he'd be raising he## with whoever fixed it.
 
My husband's reply to me? Drive it home, let it cool off and we'll see if it does it again. It has done it enough times for me....but he's just not convinced yet.
 
He tries to give me some kind of bullcrap explanation that maybe it's not in just the right position and it only works after it warms up and snuggles into place.....blah blah blah. My reply was that logic tells me that it's HIGHLY unlikely that out of 3 brand spanking new shifter switches they managed to not get any one of the three on their just right for it to cause this exact same problem. I pointed out that what my van is now doing, it was NOT doing EVER before they put that new transmission in. I don't give a flying flip what the computer diagnostic says, LOGIC says that it's not likely to be the shifter switch unless they are a REALLY REALLY INCOMPETENT BUNCH OF IDIOTS who should not be working in a garage putting them in. It HAS to be something else and its has to be something that was a result of them changing the transmission.
 
After reading this, I see that perhaps the torque converter could be a possible issue, although it's odd that it's doing something completely different than before now.
 
My main goal of posting, besides a good vent, is give a heads up to those with the brake light issues, but really to let everyone know who is driving a Ford Windstar, that the cruise control switch is a extremely critical situation. Even if you are not having issues, it's a very dangerous fire hazard. Get it disabled or repaired ASAP. And please keep in mind that it is sitting right over your transmission and shifter switch. I can short out your shifter switch and have issues. If you are having problems, look into this before you replace your transmission. The shifter switch is a $120 part, I was told. WAY better than a completely new transmission. Make sure they take care of that cruise control switch at the same time!!!!
 
I'll post back when and if I can find an answer to my transmission/shifting issue. I want to say thank you to everyone who has posted because in letting me know that this is happening to so many other people (men and women) that even though my husband and the mechanics do not seem to take me seriously, it is a real Ford Windstar issue. Thanks for letting me no I'm not totally crazy and that my frustration with the situation is warranted!

#40 of 216 Re: O/D Off Light Flashing [kwelty] by jeffyscott

Nov 16, 2007 (10:00 am)

Replying to: kwelty (Nov 16, 2007 9:37 am)
I'm wondering how a cruise control switch problem ends up resulting in a brake fluid leak???
 
BTW, what's your husband driving while you have this high mileage minivan...maybe you should trade vehicles if his is better/newer .

#41 of 216 Re: O/D Off Light Flashing [jeffyscott] by kwelty

Nov 16, 2007 (11:18 am)

Replying to: jeffyscott (Nov 16, 2007 10:00 am)
I'm not sure exactly how the brake fluid leaks. The cruise control switch is at the bottom of I believe they called it the the brake fluid pump. If I'm wrong on the brake part name, I apologize, I'm pretty sure that's what the mechanic told me.....anyway, the cruise control switch is connected at the bottom of it. Hitting your brakes is what switches the cruise control off.......so it sits there where the cruise control and brakes can cooperate. I don't know a lot about engines, but the mechanic showed this to me and took the switch loose and let me see the brake fluid come running out. In looking up info on the recall, it says the switch was sealed, but the seal can crack/go bad and that's how the risk of fire arises.
 
Since what he showed me matches what the recall information gave me, I do feel I was given correct information about the switch. I did ask them if they were putting on another one of the "old" faulty switches, disabling it or putting on the new part that Ford is using to repair this. He showed me the still sealed part to look at it and read what it said. I'm unhappy with my transmission situation, but I DO know my brake lights have not come back one once and my cruise control now works.
 
That part of the repair, I feel like they did accomplish.
 
Newer/Better??? My husband, BTW, is driving a 03 Ford Pick Up that's full of work tooks and his junk.....I don't think I can drive a carpool full of kids in his pickup into downtown Nashville during morning rush hour and not run into legal issues! LOL It might be newer, but after being forced to drive it to the store while my van was in the shop, I still think my Windstar is BETTER! I've driven pickups a lot in my days, but I don't like how this one he has now handles.
 
He IS threatening to just go get a different van for me, but he's still paying on his van. My van is paid off, and outside of him paying for his truck, I'm debt free besides a little medical bill I'm paying on. I really, really prefer to stay that way. We debated whether to repair or replace. That's the only reason I put money into repairing a transmission on this van with 174,000 miles. They assured us that with a new transmission I'd have a very good, dependable van that only required regular maintenance for quite awhile longer. I DID ask what was likely to go wrong down the road. And I DID ask if there was possibly some kind of sensor or something that could be the culprit that should be checked out before replacing the transmission only to find out later it was a sensor.
 
Despite how negative my original post sounded with mechanical issues, I had absolutely NO issues with it until this past year. It has been a really good van. Even with the high mileage and money we have in it at this point, it was a good deal for us if I walk away from it tomorrow. If I could get someone to take care of what is wrong with it currently without it costing me significantly more money, I will keep it and it will continue to be a good deal. But if I'm going to have to pull over and wait until it decides to switch gears every day or so.....I WILL be looking for another van.
 
I guess I can be really evil here and note that at least whoever takes it off my hands will see no warning lights and as long as I don't let them test drive it cold.....
and maybe I can at least get the money I've just paid in repairs back on it??? Man, that was a very evil, dirty car salesman type thought I just had, wasn't it???
 
Hmmmm.......okay, so maybe my husband does have some grounds to think I'm a woman who's just a WEE bit crazy. But NOT so crazy as to not know when something is WRONG with the van I drive all over town every day of my life!

#42 of 216 Re: O/D Off Light Flashing [jeffyscott] by jeffyscott

Nov 16, 2007 (11:23 am)

Replying to: jeffyscott (Nov 16, 2007 10:00 am)
Answering myself...I always just assumed that the brakes shutting off the cruise was an electrical switch, like brake lights. Apparently, instead it is brake fuid pressure that switches it off.

#43 of 216 Re: O/D Off Light Flashing [jeffyscott] by seloo

Nov 16, 2007 (3:19 pm)

Replying to: jeffyscott (Nov 16, 2007 10:00 am)
The brake fluid leak is at the bottom of your fluid reservoir. This problem has been well-documented on this board.
 
The brake sensor is right below the reservoir, over time the slow leak damages the wires, sensor and switches, then other related systems are impacted.
 
Once they fix the leak, and replace and damaged wires, sensors, or switches the problem goes away.
 
My 2000 Windstar had this problem, but it was fixed under Fords ESP.
 
I hope this helps.

#44 of 216 Re: O/D Off Light Flashing [jeffyscott] by kwelty

Nov 16, 2007 (3:29 pm)

Replying to: jeffyscott (Nov 16, 2007 11:23 am)
Yep - you said it better than I could find the words at the moment. Seems an odd place, but once you find out that's where it's at and think it through it makes a little more sense. The only part of this disaster of mind that does make sense.
 
BTW......I let my van set from 9 til 12:30pm or so, trying to see if it would do the same "cold start" shifting error that it does per hubby's opinion, It's quite chilly here today. Colder than the first afternoon it did it, I'm pretty sure. Of course, since he wanted it to do it again.......it did not.
 
Has he called the mechanic to let him know his brake fluid raining on the shifter switch theory is evidently wrong? No.
 
He still thinks it's just positioned wrongly and may need "adjusted." He thought he MIGHT call and tell him he was going to go have someone else look at it. I expressed a fear that if another mechanic touched the shifter switch #3, that they would no longer cover it under warranty because they would blame a cracked shifter switch or something on someone else messing with it.
 
While I'm not real confident the guy knows what the problem is, I would PREFER to keep bugging him to death to make it right with as much of it at his expense as we can muster since he was SO SURE this was all the it could be, and this would fix the van and make it a good, dependable car for many more miles. 12 Month transmission warranty to boot. Seems to me I need to squeeze that lemon until all hope of getting it fixed without coughing up a lot more money would be the best bet.
 
My husband thinks we should sell it and get a different van. I do see that point, but now that I've put the money into it I'd like to drive it and get that money out of it if at all possible. BUT....if there's any chance it's another $1800 bill for something else like a torque converter or something, then I'm ready to part ways with it while it has no warning lights and runs quite well 99% of the time now......just that cold start thing you may or may not experience. My fear is I'll end up with a different used van that will have it's own set of problems to be dealt with. The plus in that picture is it would hopefully have a lot less than 175,000 miles on it and not be such a gamble to repair, perhaps.
 
If I pull in that garage raising heck every morning it does this, and my husband would back me up, they will eventually do something to make me go away and shut up. I'm sitting on a 12 month warranty and my transmission decides it won't shift from first to second on a regular basis . . . I've got just cause to make that my daily morning stop if it happens that regularly. It would be a lot cheaper to fix it than pay somebody by the hour to deal with me every morning of every week for one year.
 
Do they think that every time I have to make three or four other families rearrange their lives to cover my driving responsibilities.......or tell all my customers I can't deliver their orders until my van gets repaired yet again........that people don't ask what shop is working on it? The longer this goes on and people find out that after going through all of that and spending that much I still have to call them up and rearrange lives it still isn't fixed that people want to know just where I took it so they can make sure to NEVER go there? Not good advertising guys. When I pull into a residential construction site and start sqawking, or my husband has to stop and meet me at the garage, do they realize how many contractors are affected by that disruption? They eventually hear why he wasn't in the subdivision. Even if I don't squawk and raise a fuss, a lot of people are getting a negative image of their business by the people impacted through me, my husband and my kids. It could be good advertising if they would take care of it. We know a LOT of families driving mini vans all getting to about this same age.....those are potential customers! These mechanics should think about that....

#45 of 216 Windstar Transmission Problem by ppasfield

Nov 23, 2007 (6:54 am)

We had the same exact thing happen to us with our 2002 Windstar. What was your solution?
Thank You, Pat

Messages Page 5 of 22

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