NHTSA Complaint #724308 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

WAS DRIVING TO BALL GAME AND VAN LOST POWER AND STARTED TO MAKE CLICKING MOTOR NOISE. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RE- STARTED . THE ENGINE KEEP MAKING NOISE. DROVE HOME AT A VERY SLOW PACE. THIS REDUCED NOISE FROM MOTOR . HAD IT TOWED TO GARAGE, WHO INFORMED ME I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF ABOUT $3,400.00. THEY THOUGHT THE MAIN BEARINGS WHERE BAD BUT WOULD HAVE TO TEAR IT DOWN TO FIND OUT FOR SURE. HAD VAN TOWED HOME. WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE VAN TO GO TRADE IT IN. PAID A GUY $300.00 TO PUT LOWER BEARINGS IN SO I COULD DRIVE IT. LOST $2500.00 ON TRADE IN FOR BAD ENGINE. TOTAL LOST WAS $2,990.00 FOR TOWING ,WORK PERFORMED AND LOST TRADE -IN VALUE. A FRIEND OF MINE HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 95 WINDSTAR FORD. HE TOOK HIS TO FORD DEALER AND GOT RELIEF. WE DID GET RECALL ON HEAD- GASKET AND HAD THAT WORK PERFORMED. IT WAS TO LATE ,I THINK IT HAD DONE CAUSED DAMAGE TO ENGINE. FORD SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO TOOK A HIT ON TRADE IN BECAUSE FOR A BAD ENGINE. *AK