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Ford Windstar Alternator and Battery Problems

81 messages,  Last post on Apr 10, 2013 at 9:42 PM

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

Messages Page 7 of 9

#56 of 81 Same Story by kaizen700

Sep 25, 2010 (2:57 pm)

I have a 2001 Windstar. It seems the alternator-battery problem is so common. I had the problem going into this sequence:
- Brake lights warning come on.
- The mileage counter goes blank and the O/D flashes all time
- The engine slows down and the radio and signal lights go dead
- Changes the battery, drove it for 3 days and the same problem comes again
- Checked the battery with a multtimeter, the reading while engine off= 10.7 and 12.6 while engine is on.
- I am guessing I have an alternator problem with lower than expected readings.
- I will change the alternator this week and let you know.
In the past few days I have been charging the battery daily for almost 3 hours for a full charge. It is enough to drive the car for almost one hour.
I need to mention I have the driver side door lock problem, and in the past months many times the internal lights goes on suddenly.
For me, this was the first Ford I bought and certainly will be the last.

#57 of 81 Re: Same Story [kaizen700] by rose19805

Sep 25, 2010 (5:15 pm)

Replying to: kaizen700 (Sep 25, 2010 2:57 pm)
When I had this problem I had the alternator replaced only after getting a new battery.
I haven't had the trouble since. Do still have the interior lights come on at odd times and sometimes the passenger side sliding door doesn't open automatically and the passenger window at times doesn't work but other than that I still enjoy having it. Will keep it until it dies. Hope you can solve this problem too!

#58 of 81 Stalls while driving by donc10

Oct 03, 2010 (3:32 pm)

New here, but have similar issues. 01 Windstar that alternator tested bad on. Batt. also tested bad so replaced both. Starting issue went away, but now it dies while driving. So took first alternator back and tried another and it still dies. ( Like turning off a light, no hesitating or nothing) Thought maybe fuel related so changed fuel filter then pump. Didn't help. Jumped out fuel pump kill switch swapped pump relay with other relay, still nothing. Can anyone shed light on this problem. P.S. No set speed on when it dies either died doing 65, 35, 25mph and anywhere from 2 miles to 18 miles from house. Thanks

#59 of 81 99 Windstar SEL by beck600

Oct 04, 2010 (10:41 am)

My 99 Windstar SEL van would start, but then immediately die if I didn't keep my foot on the accelerator. This went on for a week and then it died completely. I had to put both a new battery and alternator (which was fried according to Pep Boys) in when the battery was only about 2-3 years old if that. A week later, battery dead, and replaced by Pep boys. Went to Ford dealership this time, but they could find nothing wrong. Most likely a defective new battery according to both Pep and Ford. When I picked it up, same thing. Would die if foot not on pedal. Took it back up and they could find nothing wrong. On a whim while having my oil changed I had them replace the fuel filter and clean the fuel lines. This seemed to help temporarily and I have been putting in fuel cleaner. I put some fuel cleaner in and that seemed to help. For most of last two months rare incidents. But, again, battery and engine lights are on barely two months later after new battery, and I'm sitting with a van that I'm wasting a fortune burning gas by having to push on the accelerator. Will have them check the doors and wiper as mentioned previously. Just not financially ready to sell a 99 van with only 111,000 miles on it!

#60 of 81 99 Windstar SEL by beck600

Oct 04, 2010 (10:47 am)

Mine only dies when starting, it's never died while driving. And it has always warmed up and cleared up. But I'm paying BIG $ on gas doing the warm up!

#61 of 81 Re: Same Story [rose19805] by vidir

Oct 13, 2010 (12:12 am)

Replying to: rose19805 (Sep 25, 2010 5:15 pm)
Hi! I have Windstar 3.0 yr. 2000 and had the exactly same charging problem for almoust 3 years ago. I replaced the alternator and battery and it was running without problems until yesterday. Im about to change the both the alternator and the battery again with mixed feelings. Is there a better alternator someone can recomend that has a life beyond 3 years?
 
There has to be a reason why this alternator is always failing.
 
Thanks!

#62 of 81 Battery light comes on by abmvan

Oct 19, 2010 (3:24 pm)

The battery was checked and is pushing out 12.25 volts and the alternator is pushing 165 amps and should only be pushing 135 amps. Does anyone else have/had this problem and if so how did you fix it?

#63 of 81 Re: Battery light comes on [abmvan] by vidir

Oct 24, 2010 (5:10 am)

Replying to: abmvan (Oct 19, 2010 3:24 pm)
When i replaced with new battery and alternator the lamp still showed up always in the first start but in almoust all cases in the second start the charging light did not show.
 
i have been googleing around about the PCM (Car Computer) and engine light that is not going away when the car is fixed i found a solutions in another forum that after fixing your car you have to remove the battery minus cable for few minutes.
 
i suppose that is resetting the PCM´s failure logs or whateaver??
 
So i did actually that today, i started the car "two times" drowe around our village until i was 100% shure that the battery was fully charged (meshuren almoust 13 volts) the i removed the battery minus cable for 10 minutes and replacing it.
 
Well i have been starting the car in the last hour about 25 times withous seeing any charging light
 
I realy hope this is the solution, resetting the PCM with removing only the cable.. ?
But if this is not working tomorrow or later i will let you all know

#64 of 81 Re: Stalls while driving [donc10] by alshouse

Mar 03, 2011 (11:37 pm)

Replying to: donc10 (Oct 03, 2010 3:32 pm)
I have a 2002 ford windstar, It has had a charging, and battery problem just about sice we brought it. I have replace the battery 4 times, and the alternator 2 times. now it has a shut down problem. I did some research, and determined it was the pcm, but it repair the charging problem between the pcm, and the alternator, but did not cure the shut down problem. took it to the repair shop, now he is telling me that the alternator is producing an rf wave which is shutting down the the plusing of the fuel injectors, and stopping the firing of the plugs. reseach indicates that there is a/c voltage riding on the d/c voltage which is interfering with the pcm. it seems that the alternator is the problem. maybe a shield around the alternator or replacing the alternator untill we get a good one. I do not understand why ford has not fixed this problem.

#65 of 81 Re: Stalls while driving [donc10] by alshouse

Mar 03, 2011 (11:40 pm)

Replying to: donc10 (Oct 03, 2010 3:32 pm)
I have a 2002 ford windstar, It has had a charging, and battery problem just about since we brought it. I have replace the battery 4 times, and the alternator 2 times. now it has a shut down problem. I did some research, and determined it was the pcm, but it repair the charging problem between the pcm, and the alternator, but did not cure the shut down problem. took it to the repair shop, now he is telling me that the alternator is producing an rf wave which is shutting down the the plusing of the fuel injectors, and stopping the firing of the plugs. reseach indicates that there is a/c voltage riding on the d/c voltage which is interfering with the pcm. it seems that the alternator is the problem. maybe a shield around the alternator or replacing the alternator untill we get a good one. I do not understand why ford has not fixed this problem.

Messages Page 7 of 9

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