1996 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

CHECK ENGINE STAYS ON AFTER TUNEUP ... DOES NOT LOSE SPEED ... RUNS ROUGH AFTER ACCELERATING AND DOESN'T NOT OVERHEAT ....WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND THE SMOKE CEASED; HOWEVER, THE HOOD CAUGHT FIRE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AGAIN. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

I OWN A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR WITH A 3.8L V-6 ENGINE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 72,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THAT WILL REQUIRE A NEW LONG-BLOCK MOTOR AND POSSIBLY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BECAUSE ANTIFREEZE/OIL WAS PASSING THROUGH IT DUE TO THE GASKET FAILURE. I'M CURRENTLY LOOKING AT A $5,800 BILL TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. MY QUERY TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY RESULTED IN A RESPONSE THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME...THAT THERE ARE "NO WARRANTIES, RECALLS OR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAMS" ON MY VEHICLE. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE ARE A TON OF COMPLAINTS OF BLOWN HEAD GASKETS IN THE 1996 FORD WINDSTAR, BUT FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. FORD WAS HIT WITH CLASS ACTION SUITS REGARDING THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND EVENTUALLY AGREED TO EXTEND THE 1995 WINDSTAR WARRANTY...

FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS I NOTICED LOSS OF COMPRESSION DURING ACCELERATION AND OCCASIONAL KNOCKING SOUND FROM BACK OF ENGINE. WITHOUT TEARING ENGINE APART IT SEEMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND ALLOWED FLUIDS INTO THE ENGINE. CONFIRMED ROD BEARING FAILED AT 94,000 MILES. CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE NOW. *AK

FORD WINDSTAR 1996. I HAVE SEEN THAT MANY OF THESE MODELS AND PREVIOUS YEARS AS WELL HAVE HAD SEVERE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. HEAD GASKET REGULARLY FAILS AT AROUND 80,000 MILES. NASA SAYS A HEAD GASKET SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 120,000. FORD DOES NOT CARE. FORD DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I AM BASICALLY SCREWED BECAUSE NOW I DON'T HAVE A CAR. I STILL OWE ON IT BUT IT DOESN'T RUN. $2,000+ TO FIX IT AND IT WILL PROBABLY FAIL AGAIN. THE HEAD GASKET GOING OUT CAUSED THE UPPER 02 SENSOR TO GO BAD. IT ALSO SPRAYED THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER CAUSING IT TO FAIL THUS ALERTING ME TO A PROBLEM, WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A BLOWN ENGINE. AT NO TIME WHILE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE HAS IT EVER OVERHEATED EVEN SLIGHTLY. HEAT WAS NOT THE CAUSE, IT WAS FAULTY FROM THE BEGINNING. CAR AUTO SAFETY HAS REPORTED...

I HAVE A 96 FORD WINDSTAR WITH A 3.8 LITER ENGINE AND ONLY 80,000 MILES. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS FOR INSTALLING FAULTY HEAD GASKETS ON THESE 3.8 LITER ENGINES. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE ENGINES HEAD GASKETS FOR EARLIER MODELS AS WELL AS MINE. *JB

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING US GREAT PROBLEMS, IE: LOSS OF CAR TO DRIVE, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. THE 1995 WINDSTAR'S HAD A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWED FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS ISSUE. WE BOUGHT OUR 1996 WINDSTAR ON FEBRUARY 16, 1996 AND WE ARE NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE OR RESOLUTION RE: THIS FAILURE AND DEFECT. *JB

FORD WINSTAR HEAD GASKET PREMATURE FAILURE

1996 FORD WINDSTAR EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE.*MR CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A MAJOR FAILURE WITH THIS ENGINE. THE CONSUMER'S FORD WINDSTAR IS STILL SITTING AT THE DEALER AWAITING SOME SORT OF ANSWER FROM ANY GOVERING BODY. *BF

I HAVE A '96 FORD WINDSTAR WITH A 3.8 LITER V6 ENGINE. THIS IS THE 2ND HEAD GASKET FAILURE I'VE HAD WITH IT. THE FIRST WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2003. I PAID ABOUT $2500 TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED THEN. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN AFTER A SHORT TIME I NOTICED MY CAR HEATER WASN'T WORKING, JUST BLOWING COLD AIR. A SHORT TIME LATER, I NOTICED MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS GOING UP, AND AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, IT WAS IN THE RED ZONE. A FEW MINUTES AFTER THAT, MY ENGINE BEGAN MAKING TERRIBLE CLUNKING AND RATTLING NOISES AND I HAD TO PULL OVER. AS SOON AS I DID, THE ENGINE DIED AND WOULDN'T RESTART AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF COOLING DOWN. I HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC'S GARAGE WHICH COST ME $127, AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE...

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. THE DEALER STATED HEAD GASKET FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HEAT WOULD NOT WORK IT ONLY BLEW COLD AIR. A FEW MINUTES INTO DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TEMPRETURE GAUGE WAS GOING IN THE RED ZONE. THE ENGINE STARTING RATTLING AND DIED. THE CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *TC

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY CONSUMER ON 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. (NAR) *LA

I ALSO HAVE A 1996 WINDSTAR WILL ALL OF THE MENTIONED HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS.VAN SITS IN REAR, AM CURRENTLY DRIVING TOYOTA WITH 200+ I PULLED FROM BACK YARD AFTER BEING STAGNENT FOR 3 YEARS. NO MONEY TO REPAIR,CAUSING HARDSHIP IN FAMILY.I BELIEVE TO BE FORDS PROBLEM BUT DOESNT LOOK LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO ADMIT AS A TROUBLE, WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER AND WILL NOT SUPPORT 6 FAMILY MEMBERS WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR JOBS DO TO THIS PROBLEM. MY VAN WAS ALSO MANUFACTURED IN CANADA 12/96 AND VIN SEEMS TO BE IN SEQUENCE WITH OTHERS. VAN JUST TURNED 100,000 A WEEK AGO.*AK

I HAVE A '1996 FORD WINDSTAR. IT WAS TAKEN INTO THE SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY DISCOVERED WATER IN THE OIL. I KNOW THAT FORD KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR BUT THE HEAD DOES NEED TO BE FIXED. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN DONE YET BECAUSE THEY ARE COSTLY. I FEEL FORD SHOULD AT THE LEAST HELP COVER SOME OF THE COST.*AK

NAR 03/05/2003 THE CONSUMERS EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE COST OF REPAIR WERE APPROX $2100.22. DEALER NOTIFIED. *CB

MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR HAS 72,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD BEEN LOSING COOLANT SLOWLY AND WE COULDN'T FIND OUT WHERE. AFTER SITTING FOR 2 DAYS, WHEN I STARTED THE VAN I HEARD A LOUD POP, AND WHITE SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND IT HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I CALLED FORD, KNOWING THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS RECALLS ON OTHER YEARS FOR THE SAME ENGINE, AND THEY BASICALLY SAID "SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK." THEY ALSO TOLD ME I SHOULD BRING IT IN TO FORD BECAUSE THEY CAN'T RELY ON A DIAGNOSTIC DONE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *LA

PROBLEMS WITH FORD WINDSTAR 3.8L ENGINE.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS QUESTION ABOUT THE ENGINE FAILURE HE EXPERIENCED. *NM

THE MOTOR BLEW UP WHILE DRIVING. *PH

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. MECHANIC TELLS ME HES SEEN HUNDREDS OF THESE ON THE WINDSTAR BUT THERE IS NO RECALL. WILL NOT BUY A FORD AGAIN.*AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET - ENGINE FAILURE - 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. *NM

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF, ON AND OFF, ETC. TOOK IT OF SERVICE CENTER. THEY SAID WE HAD BLOWN A HEAD GASKET. TOOK TO ANOTHER SERVICE CENTER THEY SAID IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. HAD THEM REPLACED. NOW HAVE AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK IN THE TIMING COVER. SERVICE CENTER SAID THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX IT CAUSE THE ENGINES END UP SEIZING AFTER ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER REPAIRING THESE LEAKS. THEY SAID TO JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THE FLUID LEVEL AND KEEP IT FILLED. I WISH WE WOULDN'T HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE.....*NM

MY 3.8L, 1996 FORD WINDSTAR GL AT ALMOST 100K STARTED LEAKING COOLANT THROUGH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME SAFELY DESPITE ALMOST COMPLETELY OVERHEATING. I AM NOW WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION FOR ME AND MY FOUR SMALL CHILDREN, WALKING A TOTAL OF 2 MILES A DAY TO GET MY 7 YR OLD DAUGHTER TO/ FROM SCHOOL WITH A 5, 3 AND 1YR OLD. MY HUSBAND'S JOB IS OUR ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME SO THIS WILL BE A *HUGE* FINANCIAL BURDEN GETTING THIS FIXED (NOT TO MENTION THE NEW PROBLEM OVER THE MALFUNCTIONING 'DOOR OPEN' INDICATOR). I HAVE FOUND WINDSTAR HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS. THE ISSUE IS ACKNOWLEDGED BY FORD AS THEY EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE 1995 WINDSTARS. WHY CAN'T THEY OWN UP TO A DEFECTIVE ENGINE AND EXTEND THIS TO THE 1996 WINDSTARS AS WELL?! THIS BLATANT DISREGARD BY FORD WILL...

MY 1996 WINDSTAR HAD HEAD GASKETS REPAIRED LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO. AT THE TIME, THE GARAGE DOING THE WORK INDICATED THE ENGINE HAD A DESIGN PROBLEM, AND THE GASKETS WOULD PROBABLY, OVER TIME, FAIL AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED, AS RADIATOR FLUID HAS BEGUN LEAKING ONCE AGAIN INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS IS A PROBLEM FORD KNOWS EXISTS WITH THE 1996 WINDSTAR, AS IT DID WITH THE 89-95 MODELS, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *NM

HEAD GASKET FAILED, SAME PROBLEM AS 95, WHICH WERE REPAIRED. I WAS TEACHING MY TEEN AGE DAUGHTER TO DRIVE AND THE ENGINE COULD HAVE EASILY FAILED CAUSING A VERY INEXPERIENCED DRIVER TO CRASH. IN A LETTER TO FORD AND A SEVERAL CONSERVATIONS, THEY STATE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. PERSUSAL THROUGH NUMEROUS CAR WEB SITES INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. FORD TOLD ME IT WAS MY PROBLEM. *AK

AT 60000 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 1. MECHANIC PULLED PLUG AND FOUND COOLANT IN CYLINDER DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET.*AK

1996 FORD WINDSTAR ENGINE FAILURE - SYSTEMIC HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WITH THE V6 3.8L ENGINE, WHICH FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS. SYMPTOMS: HARD TO START, ROUGH IDLE, WHITE SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE, ENGINE COOLANT DRIPPING FROM EXHAUST, OIL LOOKS LIKE BROWN MAYONNAISE. *LA

CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STARTED SURGING, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I HAVE 1996 WINDSTAR (85K) 3.8 V-6 WITH A COOLANT LEAK IN THE >COMBUSTION CHAMBER. IT DEVELOPED LAST YEAR. I KNOW THIS IS A >CHRONIC PROBLEM THAT PLAGUED 1994/1995 3.8 V-6 WINDSTARS TOO. >FORD EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTIES TO 7 YEARS & 100,000 MILES. WHILE >FORD MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE '96 MODELS, THEY DIDN'T REALLY >UPGRADE THE HEAD GASKET UNTIL 1997. >PLEASE SEE LINK. >HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/OWNERSHIP/DRIVING/ARTICLES/42970/ARTICLE.H >TML) >I HAVE SEEARCHED THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY '96 >WINDSTAR AS WELL AS OTHER 3.8 V-6 FORD OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING >SIMILAR PROBLEMS. >(HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_WND_96_GAS.HTM) >HOW CAN I GET FORD TO BITE THE BULLET AN ADMIT THAT THERE IS AN >ON GOING PROBLEM AND FIX MY CAR?

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE TO GET FORD TO EXTEND THEIR HEAD GASKET RECALL TO INCLUDE THE 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. THE GASKET ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *NLM *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT HEAD GASKET IS CRACKED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

96 WINDSTAR 3.8L ENGINE .BLOWN HEAD GASKET .90,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. DEALER QUOTE $1500. -$1800. TO REPAIR HEAD GASKET. SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED REPLACE ENGINE $4000. SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM . THE SERVICE MANAGER GAVE ME THE TELEPHONE # FOR FORD CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND WISHED ME GOOD LUCK. THREE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TOLD ME THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE AND WINDSTARS. ONE OF THE MECHANICS " 9 OUT OF 10 WINDSTARS BLOW HEAD GASKETS". HIS SUGGESTION OF VEHICLES TO AVOID WHEN SHOPPING FOR A VEHICLE -------------FORD WINDSTAR-------- FORD DEALER OFFERED TO TAKE MY WINDSTAR IN TRADE AND THEY WOULD RE-WHOLESALE THE VEHICLE NOT REPAIR IT. NO THANKS FORD WILL BE LAST ON MY LIST OF VEHICLE'S TO OWN." MADE IN AMERICA AND PROUD OF IT" ??? HOW ABOUT IT FORD? *NLM

PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS / IF COMPRESSION CHECK HAD BEEN DONE BENDING OF PISTON RODS MAY NOT HAVE OCCURRED. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED, ROUGH IDLE ALONG WITH THE SMELL OF ANTI FREEZE(INDICATED A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM), THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AS A RESULT OF A MISFIRE CODE(THE RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED), THERE WERE NOISES THAT HAD COME FROM THE ENGINE(LOST POWER/SLOWED TO A CRAWL), AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SOMETHING HAD COME LOOSE IN THE ENGINE. (THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT MISS IN CYLINDER #1) THE ROUGH IDLE AND THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE WAS REPAIRED, THE SERVICE DEALER RECOMMENDED THE CONSUMER REPLACE THE ENGINE. *SCC *JB

1996 FORD WINDSTAR 3.8 LITER ENGINE WITH 83,000 MILES ON IT BLEW HEAD GASKET IN DECEMBER 2002. PAID OVER $1200 FOR REPAIRS. SENT A COMPLAINT TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY REQUESTING ASSISTANCE. RESPONSE WAS THAT THE 1996 MODEL IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. JUNE 19, 2003 AFTER PAYING REPAIRS MENTIONED ABOVE, THE ENGINE BLEW. THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DISABLED AND WILL COST OVER $3500 TO REPAIR. *NLM

THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY ENGINE (3.8). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED EIGHT TIMES FOR ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS. *TT

1996 3.8 FORD WINDSTAR HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH RUINED MY ENGINE. FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK. *NLM

1996 FORD WINDSTAR - FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET RESULTING IN IRREPARABLE ENGINE DAMAGE. COST OF HEAD GASKET REPAIR, ~$1,500. COST OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT ~$4,000. WAS INFORMED BY FORD SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WINDSTARS FROM THE YEARS '94 THROUGH '97 AND THAT FORD HAD A "SILENT RECALL" FOR UP TO 100K MILES WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED HEAD GASKET. *NLM

44,000 MILES AND BLOWN HEAD GASKET, $1500 REPAIR QUOTE. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS BEFORE FORD PROVIDES REMEDY FOR 96 WINDSTARS? I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN AND I AM TELLING EVERYONE I KNOW NOT TO BUY A FORD. *JB

MY 1996 3.8L FORD WINDSTAR SLOWLY DEVELOPED A HEAD GASKET LEAK AFTER APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. MY VAN IS WELL MAINTAINED WITH ALL THE APPROPRIATE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. I HAVE SEARCHED THE NET AND I HAVE FOUND THE HEAD GASKET LEAK PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL IS SHARED BY OTHER NUMEROUS OWNERS AS WELL. IT IS APPARENT THAT FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE 1996 WINDSTAR GASKET LEAK AS THEY DID ON THEIR 1995 MODEL. FORD HAS IMPLIED THE GASKET HAS BEEN REPAIRED ON THE 1996 MODEL. MY VAN IS A TESTAMENT THE DEFECT ON THE HEAD GASKET HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY COMPLAINT TO YOUR LIST AND HOPEFULLY FORCE FORD TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 1996 MODEL AS WELL. *JB

THE ENGINE COVER GASKET FAILED, AND OIL MIXED WITH THE ANTI-FREEZE AND RUINED THE ENGINE. *JB

I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR IN SEPTEMBER OF 1998. IT HAD 15,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE. THE VAN CURRENTLY HAS 84,452 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ON MARCH 28, 2003 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO BE FIXED. THEY ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A MISS-FIRE ON CYLINDER NUMBER 1. THEY CHECKED THE SPARK PLUG, SPARK PLUG WIRE AND COIL. THEY DID NOT DETERMINE WHY THE ENGINE MISFIRED AND CONCLUDED THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN A FLUKE. I PAID FOR THE WORK COMPLETED. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AGAIN APPEARED. ON MARCH 28TH, I WAS INFORMED BY THE SHOP FORMAN THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR ON NUMBER 1 CYLINDER WAS NOT WORKING. A FUEL INJECTOR WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED. ON MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2003 I PAID A BILL FOR $136.31 FOR...

WE TOOK OUR 96 WINDSTAR INTO THE FORD DEALER TO INVESTIGATE AN OIL LEAK. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED MY WIFE THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET AND LIP SEAL, TIMING COVER GASKET, UPPER/LOWER INTAKE GASKETS AND U/C GASKETS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $1,800.00. I FOUND THIS UNUSUAL AND RESEARCHED THESE SYMPTOMS ON THE INTERNET AND WAS ASTONISHED WHAT I FOUND. THE CONTENT IN THE ARTICLES ON MANY WEB SITES RESEARCHED, ARE IDENTICAL TO WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING. FOLLOWING THE PATTERN OF THESE STORIES I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE DEALER BEGINS THE WORK STATED, I WILL RECEIVE A CALL FROM HIM SAYING THAT COOLANT LEAKED PASSED THE GASKETS AND I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON 95 WINDSTARS. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT FORD IS PLANNING ON EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR THE 96 YEAR HOWEVER, THE INFORMATION THAT IS PUBLIC DOMAIN...

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *JB

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *JB *PH *NLM

BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT 70,700 MILES TOOK IN TO MECHANIC REPAIR BILL IS APPROXIMATELY. $1200.00. I ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE JUNE 2002. IT IS NOW MARCH 2003. FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A NEW ENGINE PUT IN MY VAN FEBRUARY OF 2001. *JB

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND IF I HIT THE BRAKES SUDDENLY THE BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON. *JB

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, AND THE MOTOR BLOCK CRACKED. *AK *JB

THIS INCIDENT STARTED WHEN I HAD NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF RADIATOR FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, AND A SLIGHT SMELL OF RADIATOR FLUID WHEN I RAN THE HEATER. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AGAIN IN NOVEMBER 2002. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE APPLE VALLEY FORD DEALER AND AFTER DIAGNOSING IT, I WAS TOLD THE NUMBER 4 SPARK PLUG IS STUCK AND THE GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON THE TIMING COVER ON THE ENGINE (THIS WAS THE SOURCE OF THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAK). THE DEALERS PROFESSIONAL OPINION WAS THE HEAD GASKET IS ALSO BAD, THE HEAD FOR THE #4 PLUG WOULD NEED REPLACING, AND COMBINED WITH THE NEED TO REPLACE THE TIMING COVER GASKET, THEY RECOMMENDED A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT $4,400. I DECLINED AND TOOK THE VAN TO ANOTHER LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO UNFORTUNATELY CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS AND INDICATED THERE WERE KNOWN PROBLEMS AND...

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON< GOES OFF< COMES ON< GOES OFF< COMES ON< STAYS ON< GOES OFF! AND THE DEALERSHIP (GREENE FORD, GAINESVILLE, GA.) ALWAYS HAS A DIFFERENT REASON FOR THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY. $600 OR MORE TO FIX EACH TIME, TO NO END. THE FIRST TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE IMRCS WERE SUPPOSE TO BE THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIPS DISAGNOSTICS TEST (COST $80.00) THEY REPLACED AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE PROBLEM, (COST $560.00). LIGHT CAME ON NEXT DAY WHILE TAKING A FAMILY VACATION OUT OF STATE. HAD AN INDEPENDENT MACHANIC PERFORM A TUNE UP ON VEHICLE, REPLACED PLUGS, WIRES, OIL CHANGE, THROTTLE BODY CLEANED (COST $223.00) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON WITHIN TWO DAYS. UPON THE NEXT RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE DIAGNOSTICS TEST (COST ANOTHER $80.00) REPORTED A CODE EGR INSUFFICIENT FLOW AND A #4 CYLINDER MISFIRE (EST. REPAIR...