12th Aug 2008, 16:06
2000 Ford Windstar, Trans Leak
Well, that is just Great!.. Add another original owner of a 2000 Windstar with 115K miles and a leak between the transmissions and engine. Unable to fix the leak myself and now will be at the mercy of a repair shop. Already dealt with the crappy bolts they used to hold down the Plenum which caused an intake manifold leak. I fixed the manifold leak myself for less than $100 in parts. Also cleaned out EGR ports. Engine is running well, just recently developed transmission leak.
10th Sep 2008, 22:41
Have a 1999 Ford Windstar, (owned for 8 years). We actually love the van, it drives great & has a comfortable interior, but it is a maintenance nightmare.
Several problems with the engine, front wheel bearings, power window motors, Chassis ECM failure, door lock solenoids, DPFE sensor (EGR codes) transmission leaks, damper motor failure and on and on.
Ford could have had a quality vehicle with the Windstar but they failed miserably. We'll probably shop for a Toyota when it finally dies. Sorry Ford. If only Ford would admit it is a lemon.
22nd Oct 2008, 12:35
My wife has a 2002 windstar, with problems I understand cars will break, and wear out, but it seems like ford just did not put a lot of thought into the windstar. I have replace the drivers window motor twice, right mirror motor, check engine light has come at least a dozen times, and now it is in the shop with a leaking transmission. Same as the others between the engine and transmission. The bad part of this is the van only has 28,000 miles on it and she does not drive over 50. I will like to see what is going to happen when I do get some miles on it.
6th Nov 2008, 15:45
We also have a 2000 Ford Windstar and boy... what a piece of crap this thing is. We bought it with 24,000+ miles and have done nothing but sink money into this thing left and right. We have replaced the thermostat, water pump, vacuum lines, O2 sensor, head gasket, transmissions gasket (twice), ABS wiring harness and I think that may be it... I think! We have had the mysterious check engine light problem... it ended up being a leak from the brake fluid dripping down onto the ABS wiring harness and caused everything to short out. This is a know issue by Ford and they have not done anything about it - I called and reported this to the National Highway Safety Association and they said they have to receive other complaints before a recall can be issued. I reported this because of the risk of fire! I will never, ever, ever buy a Ford again - EVER!
14th Nov 2008, 16:55
That's right, if it only drips to the ground it won't start a fire. However, brake fluid is hygroscopic. So if the leaking brake fluid runs down a wire and gets into an electrical connector, it will attract water, make a short, and the short can cause a fire.
15th Nov 2008, 11:48
That's why Ford issued the recall for replacing the cruise control switch. The wiring harness happens to be right below the front brake line on the master cylinder, and it was felt that if fluid ever seeped out of that compression nut, a drop could fall right down into the cruise control wiring harness. I never was worried about it, but I guess on older vehicles there were some incidents of catching fire.
26th Nov 2008, 17:59
We also purchased a 2000 Ford Windstar LX. What a hunk of junk. ABS light comes on, we had the ABS modules replaced. Also replaced the brake pressure switch (?) it was leaking and shorting out the fuses, now, we have replaced the MAS and the engine light is still on with the codes 171, 174. And it hesitates when stepping on the accelerator. My driver side lock would not unlock, with the key either, that happened a few weeks ago, it finally decided to work again, for how long? And it won`t lock with auto-lock. The driver`s side sliding rear door sticks, is hard to close and the passenger side pops back open when you close it.
2nd Jan 2009, 09:53
No.
That pressure sensor is under the hood behind the air filter. From that switch there are wires running down to the ABS module, which sits under the floor. When that switch leaks brake fluid, it runs down the wires and collects in the harness that plugs into the ABS module. The fluid attracts water, water causes an electrical short, and the short causes heat, and the heat melts the module or sets it on fire.
I monitor that switch regularly.
7th Jan 2009, 23:05
One of my first cars in South Africa was a Ford, and after the experience I promised myself I would never buy another.
Well, like they say, promises are made to be broken and after moving to the USA at beginning of 2000, guess what, bought not one but two. A 98 Escort with 28000 miles and a 98 Windstar with 65000 miles. You may call me a sucker for punishment, but honestly both gave me good service with no more than regular personal maintenance.
At 160000 miles I rebuilt the 3.8l engine (total cost including new brake hydraulics $900) and now at 180000 decided to install a used transmission to replace my noisy one and trying to stop the blinking overdrive light. Do not believe when you read you cannot remove the engine upwards, I have done it now three times and, having to do it again, I am becoming an expert at it (if anybody is interested on the procedure contact me on tesaro@comcast.net). After the "new" trans install oil started pouring from the converter housing. Stupid I, I told myself, changed the side shaft seals but not the front one by the converter. Well I have done it now and still leaks. As a mechanical engineer I do not give up lightly on problems, and hopefully will be able to through a bit more light on the subject once I get another go at it. Until then I will keep on searching to see if anybody had it figured out.
By the way, I kind of agree with lots of you and have now purchased a Toyota to replace the aging "horses".
3rd Feb 2009, 12:55
My 2002 Windstar Check Engine Light came on day after I put a gas from Pineer Gas station. Darn CEL just stayed on even after I put more gas from Shell and drove it for few months. So I went to the Ford dealer. p0171/p0174 was the trouble code. Fixed by replacing the upper intake manifold gasket and bolts and it cost me $600. 200$ was parts.. imagine that. I asked if this was covered under Emission Warranty and the dealer said no. Apparently the plastic gasket would crack/bolts would loosen over time. What a cheap parts.
Of course, I won't buy any Ford brand since this is worst one I ever had. My 1995 Regal still runs great!
1st Aug 2008, 22:54
I have the same problem. The transmission oil leaking between motor & transmission. Windstar 2000.
I'm not gonna buy Ford in future.