NHTSA Complaint #753926 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

THIS RECURRING PROBLEM CONTINUES TO FAIL WITHIN ONE TO TWO WEEKS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED A NEEDED PART. EACH TIME I GET MY VEHICLE BACK IT WORKS FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED TIME AND THE PROBLEM COMES UP AGAIN. THEY REPLACE PARTS ONE BY ONE AND EACH TIME ANOTHER PART ON THE SYSTEM FAILS .ANOTHER ISSUE I BELIEVE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SERIES OF THIS ENTIRE VACCUM SYSTEM IS WHEN I AM DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 -35 MPH, THERE IS CONSIDERABLE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH SOUNDS LIKE LIFTER RATTLE . IT HAPPENS WHEN I NEED TO ACCLERATE TO GET ONTO THE HIGHWAY ALSO. I NOTICE WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (WHICH REQUIRES THAT A PART OR PARTS BE REPLACED FOR THE VACCUM SYSTEM), THE NOISE WILL STOP AND WON'T BE NOTICEABLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT WILL COME ON AGAIN.THIS ISSUE OF THE LIFTER NOISE HAS NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE DEALERSHIP I AM TOLD THAT THEY CANNNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE NO ANSWER OR SOLUTION. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSES THE COMSUMPTION OF GAS TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY. THE VAN WILL USE ONE EIGHTH TANK OF GAS ON A NORMAL DAY OF DRIVING WHEN , IF THE LIGHT IS ON, THE VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY I WILL USE ABOUT ONE QUARTER TANK OF GAS. THE CONSUMPTION IS DOUBLED.