23rd Apr 2007, 15:10
I have a 2001 Windstar and the electrical has gone out. My husband accidently kicked the fuse box, but we checked all the fuses and they were fine. Now my windshield wipers, radio, windows, and heating does not work. Does anyone have any suggestions on what it could be or how to fix it, or at least where we might want to look to try and fix the problem ourselves before bringing it in to a dealer?
26th Jun 2007, 02:28
I have a 1998 Ford Windstar and had a problem with the Door Ajar light and the chime. This indicates that the front drivers side door is not closed properly. I found the best fix was to spray WD-40 on the latch and the problem has gone away for almost 2 years.
25th Jul 2007, 12:05
My 2000 Windstar SE leaks oil, but never enough to cause the oil light to come on. You can see oil around the engine if you look under the hood. Any idea what may be the culprit?
31st Jul 2007, 15:27
I had a similar problem, oil was leaking onto my driveway and it was all over the underside of the engine. What I found was that the oil filter was loose causing oil to leak out slowly and the action of driving blew the leaking oil everywhere. I suggest you check the oil filter when the van has been sitting for several hours. The exhaust manifold and cat converter is right next to the filter. Burns hurt!
13th Sep 2007, 08:12
We have a 1998 Windstar that has a whine or hum coming from the left rear only at 35 mph. Go above or below 35 mph and it stops. If you set the cruise at 35 mph it will do it continuously, but as soon as you take off cruise to go above or below the 35 it stops. One mechanic said it is the wheel hub, another said wheel sensor and the third said he had no idea then added "just don't go 35 mph". Anyone out there have that problem?
14th Sep 2007, 14:18
I don't have your problem. Try this: move the suspicious left rear wheel to the right front and the right front the left rear. If the problem disappears or moves it's the tire.
Good luck.
9th Nov 2007, 11:14
To the person with the whine on a '98 Windstar at 30 mph. I am having that problem now and recall having it years ago. Mine was on the right side and I recall taking the wheel off and bending something away from the spinning wheel. I don't remember exactly what it was, but my memory will be refreshed this weekend when I take a look at it again.
11th Nov 2007, 14:06
I have a 1998 Ford Windstar 3.8 liter engine. I just had the struts replaced and I am beginning to hear a rattling sound when driving the car. I also replaced the inner tie rod on the passenger side, which was suggested by my mechanic. Can someone tell me if this noise is coming from the shocks that also need to be replace?
13th Nov 2007, 16:15
That's hard to tell with the info you provide. Answer these questions first: where is the rattle coming from, front, rear, left, right? When does the rattle occur? At certain speeds only? All the time? How does it sound? Like hitting a baking sheet? Like hitting a steel rod or tube?
It might be a simple as a loose heat shield or a loose wheel well liner (inner fender) or a loose bumper cover. Your mechanic may have cut a corner and left a few fasteners undone.
27th Dec 2007, 15:43
We have had issues with our 2000 Windstar electric passenger door opening while driving; won't open with the handle electrically (has to be forced open) ; goes into a sleep mode and has to awakened by the fob controller. Has anyone else experienced these problems? We have been fighting with FORD on this for over 6 years now. And yes the door has opened while driving on the highway and it seems that FORD would rather wait until someone is killed or injured before taking responsibility for this matter. Please let us know if anyone else has had these problems.
27th Dec 2007, 18:13
IMRC 1 for each cylinder bank on the 3.8 are controlled by vacuum and are normally held closed by vacuum after the engine warms to operating temp. They have a control rod connected to a diaphragm at one end and a lever at the other. I had one go bad and it turned out the vacuum diaphragm was leaking. One test is to start your engine from cold then look to see if the control rod moves as your engine warms up, the rod movement only takes a second. The one that doesn't move is the one that's broke.
27th Dec 2007, 18:35
I had a clunk in the front of my 98 windstar, it turned out to be the axle stablizer arm bushing. Ford fits a grommet through a hole in the front frame for the rod to anchor to. you can find the grommet by removing a nut and the big rubber bushing at the front end of the arm. The frame wears to the point that there is enough slop to create a clunking sound. I noticed mine while hitting bumps in the road and when sitting stopped, rolling forward slowly, then tapping the brakes. I welded the grommet to the frame and no more clunk. The sound is enough to cause some worry, but no catastrophes.
15th Aug 2008, 14:10
I have a 98 ford windstar. It has a very bad shimmy in the rear. I have had the tires balanced and rotated. Bearings tightened and greased. Checked the shocks. Did everything that I could think off. Has anyone had this problem? If So, Did you get it fixed and How?
22nd Sep 2008, 17:05
I'm interested in buying a 1998 Windstar, and I was wondering how many miles everyone was getting before they were majorly breaking down. This one has 130k on it, but I really need something now and that's all I can afford.
30th Jan 2009, 00:23
I just purchased a 1998 Ford Windstar and when braking, only sometimes there is a loud knock. Does not happen all the time! There is a rubbing noise also coming from the driver's side. If anyone can give me an answer to ease my worry. This was a used vehicle and I have only had it for a week!
2nd Feb 2009, 14:15
No one should try to diagnose this without seeing the vehicle. This seems to be a front suspension/ brake problem and that's potentially dangerous. Take it to an independent auto repair shop for diagnosis.
17th Mar 2009, 14:48
I have a 2000 Ford Windstar. Not sure on the engine size?? But I have a loud humming noise coming from the left front side; it's so bad and loud that you can't hear anything but the humming. It hummed before, but not as loud now. It's just so loud that even the radio will not help. Any idea on what it could be???
I have some people tell me it's the bearing, others tell me to rotate the tires. I checked the tires and they are OK. I don't want to be taken again, as that is why I got a new vehicle. Need to know so when I take it to the mechanic, I have some idea and they don't take me for all I have.
5th Feb 2010, 09:12
Thanks to 26th Jun 2007. Info on door ajar & chime problems that was fixed with spraying WD-40 into latch mech. IT WORKS!!!
10th May 2011, 14:08
Rumbling with the AC or Heat on: Is it your blower motor? If the rumbling is worse with the blower on high as compared to the blower on low, it is probably the blower.
BTW: I once had a car where a mouse found its way into the blower housing and died there. The carcass touched the fan and it cause a rumbling noise. Luckily I found it before decay set in!
If it's a clack-clack noise, replace the blend door actuator. Google to find out how to do that.
CEL: get the codes read at an auto parts store, then Google for the codes. It's probably the isolator bolt grommets in the intake plenum.
Good luck, and console yourself: your GM alternative has intake manifold issues.
31st Mar 2007, 04:40
I have a 98 Windstar with rear a/c. Fan blows great, but only hot air. I had mechanic check all vac lines and he said everything was OK on the rear a/c and that it must be my control on the dash. Does this sound right? I sure would appreciate any advice about this. Thanks Allen.