Ask the Car People.SM


Ford Windstar Electrical Problems

334 messages,  Last post on Apr 26, 2013 at 6:05 PM

You are in the Ford Windstar Forum.

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

Messages Page 25 of 34

#234 of 334 Re: Electircal problems? [dthib] by ghetia

Aug 03, 2011 (10:06 am)

Replying to: dthib (Jul 18, 2011 11:35 am)
If I did not know better, I would have thought you posted for me.
I have exactly all the problems you described. What a piece of junk 2001 Ford Windstar is?
 
I have spent soooo much money on this van, and it is still coming up with newer problems. I have fixed the windows, door locks, windsheld wiper motor, on and on.
 
Now the latest issue at 95,000 miles is the transmission is shifting badly. First it strted off having issues between 3rd and overdrive. Now it is slipping and having issues in most all gears. Where will this stop?
 
Anyone having transmission slipping problems and if so, what did you end up doing to fix it?
 
Ghetia

#235 of 334 Re: Electircal problems? [ghetia] by oyokidude1

Aug 03, 2011 (10:43 am)

Replying to: ghetia (Aug 03, 2011 10:06 am)
The transmission on these cars are notorious for failure. I don't know why you are so surprised. I have read about some failing at 30,000 miles when they were relatively new. And the majority of the time the electrical problems are the Alternators or batteries. Seldom it may also be attributed to a bad battery wiring harness (which I happened to replace)
 
With this car you are going to get constant problems with the Upper Intake Manifold seals isolator bolts etc. (Clean the EGR ports while your at it)
 
You will get problems with the door lock actuator and rear windows..
 
And don't forget the abs module.
 
Just something you learn to live with and perform your own repairs.
 
My 2001 Windstar has 217,000 miles. I don't complain because i get all my money out of a van.
 
When people start screwing around with ECM/PCM's is when they create problems for themselves.
The antitheft light will blink and the car won't start if the Alternator is bad!
 
1999-2000 vans without the the jewel keys may have problems with PATS but its rare.
 
Check out www.fordwindstarrecall.info
 
Other problems.
http://fordwindstarrecall.info/morecodes.htm

#236 of 334 Re: hazzards, left turn signal stays on [eddiefalero] by eddiefalero1

Aug 09, 2011 (6:56 am)

Replying to: eddiefalero (Dec 30, 2010 7:47 pm)
it has been excatly 8 months again. the problems started last week. 1st left brake light...replaced. 3 days later, right brake light. Accidently left the headlights on while testing. Van would not start 3 hours later. Assuming not enough cranking amps but still have 12.1 volts on battery. Gave it an all night slow charge on 12volt 2amps. the next morning the van turns on fine, drives fine, no warning lights on. Later on that they after driving all day with no problems,It starts to rain heavy and accidently drive to a small puddle. an hour later, all goes haywire. electroni odometer reads ---------. ABS light on, Brake light on, AC doesn't work. what is going on... going to start checking wiring harnesess. the van still drives ok.

#237 of 334 Re: hazzards, left turn signal stays on [eddiefalero1] by oyokidude1

Aug 09, 2011 (7:25 am)

Replying to: eddiefalero1 (Aug 09, 2011 6:56 am)
First off the battery has to be the right size and right CCA. Second off what it sounds like is you have a bad alternator or/and a bad battery. The bad alternator may be screwing around with your bulbs. When the alternator goes bad on this windstars the electricals will get funky. All the gauges will go around lights will blink, the ac won't work, the headlights might not work, among other other things. (It will buck and feel as if it is going to stall)
 
We replaced the alternator on our current van about 2 years ago and it more recently went bad again. (The one we purchased before was from Ford)
 
Best bet is to get a new alternator (probably rebuilt from autozone etc.) And a new battery. Junkyard alternators are probably failing too.

#238 of 334 Re: hazzards, left turn signal stays on [oyokidude1] by eddiefalero1

Aug 09, 2011 (11:15 am)

Replying to: oyokidude1 (Aug 09, 2011 7:25 am)
i have checked the alternator and battery. i have a battery acid tester and checked each cell. they all seem to be fine, just a little (about 1/4 cup) low in 2 cells. added a little distilled water. recharged the battery yesturday. the van idles fine and starts up quickly but have not driven it. it seem to be the REM. going to look for prices around since almost everyone in these forums seems to point at the REM. already replaced alternator 3 times and battery twice in the 3 years i have owned this van.

#239 of 334 Re: hazzards, left turn signal stays on [eddiefalero1] by eddiefalero1

Aug 10, 2011 (1:25 pm)

Replying to: eddiefalero1 (Aug 09, 2011 11:15 am)
still having the problems. here's what I have noticed... Speedometer does not work. odometer reads ----------. RPM guage, fuel guage, temp guage work fine. AC does not work. ABS and BRAKE lights on and overdrive light flashes. while checking the master cylinder, i noticed that the speed control switch attached to the bottom of it. it was leaking into the wiring harness. Had to clean it since autozone do not have that part in their system. while i had the breather hose disconeted I remembered the someone in the forum notice a cluster of wires being pinched by a braket. I moved the cluster of wires from behind the battery away from the braket. (have not opend it to see if that was the problem). found a fuse that was blown (#8) under the instrument panel by the driver side door. replaced the fuse and the odometer reads 99887. somehow it added another 20,000 miles to my van. then the fuse blows. replaced again and it blows again. it takes about a minute to blow, but, the odometer, and overdrive and speedometer work in that min. I guess its time to start checking that circuit.

#240 of 334 ford winstar electrical problems by eddiefalero1

Aug 10, 2011 (1:27 pm)

still having the problems. here's what I have noticed... Speedometer does not work. odometer reads ----------. RPM guage, fuel guage, temp guage work fine. AC does not work. ABS and BRAKE lights on and overdrive light flashes. while checking the master cylinder, i noticed that the speed control switch attached to the bottom of it. it was leaking into the wiring harness. Had to clean it since autozone do not have that part in their system. while i had the breather hose disconeted I remembered the someone in the forum notice a cluster of wires being pinched by a braket. I moved the cluster of wires from behind the battery away from the braket. (have not opend it to see if that was the problem). found a fuse that was blown (#8) under the instrument panel by the driver side door. replaced the fuse and the odometer reads 99887. somehow it added another 20,000 miles to my van. then the fuse blows. replaced again and it blows again. it takes about a minute to blow, but, the odometer, and overdrive and speedometer work in that min. I guess its time to start checking that circuit. By the way the alternator is fine and battery still goood

#241 of 334 Re: ford winstar electrical problems [eddiefalero1] by a1mike1a

Aug 10, 2011 (2:38 pm)

Replying to: eddiefalero1 (Aug 10, 2011 1:27 pm)
Ford has a recall on the leaking speed sensor on the master cylinder.
It came out after I replaced mine.
The brake fluid leaking on the wiring caused all kinds of problems including no cruise.

#242 of 334 Re: ford winstar electrical problems [eddiefalero1] by oyokidude1

Aug 11, 2011 (3:57 am)

Replying to: eddiefalero1 (Aug 10, 2011 1:27 pm)
Read this website www.fordwindstarrecall.info,
it DESCRIBES your very problem.
 
I believe ford will replace your SCDS switch under recall.(unless you want your car to catch on fire and burn your house down) Leaky master cylinder can supposedly cause this overdrive problem...
 
ABS and Brake are probably due to a faulty ABS module

#243 of 334 Re: ford winstar electrical problems [oyokidude1] by eddiefalero1

Aug 11, 2011 (7:46 pm)

Replying to: oyokidude1 (Aug 11, 2011 3:57 am)
in doing some more investigation the culprit is the speed control disconection switch (scds). Being an electrician... i checked all the circuits that corespondent with #8, and the short was indeed in the scds. when i took the part out, it has brake fluid on it and on the back side it had a burn bubble. who knows how long it would had been before the little fire could have spread. i have an appointment with the recall dept. at the ford dealarship on tuesday. so in the meantime i will just use it for extremly short trips to the store.

Messages Page 25 of 34

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