2000 FORD WINDSTAR Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

THE ABS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WENT ON (AGAIN, AFTER I HAD NUMEROUS ITEMS REPAIRED OR REPLACED ON THIS VAN). I WENT BACK TO MY MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT A PART WAS NEEDED, CALLED THE C1185 AND IS PART OF THE ABS MODULE SYSTEM. I THEN WENT TO FORD DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THIS PART COULD BE REPLACED, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER FOR THIS PART HAD GONE OUT OF BUSINESS AND THE PART WAS NO LONGER MADE! I HAVE HAD THESE ITEMS REPAIRED/REPLACED ON THIS 2000 WINDSTAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2013: 1) FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED TEN-SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH PER RECALL 2) MY MECHANIC THEN REPAIRED THE ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM, SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER, WHICH WAS TIED IN WITH THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (REPAIRS WERE OVER $420) 3) MY MECHANIC REINSTALLED IMPROPERLY INSTALLED REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER 4) MY MECHANIC INSTALLED NEW BATTERY *TR

2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE THE BEST CAR I EVER OWNED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SINCE I'M A SINGLE MOM WITH 5 KIDS, IM VERY TIGHT ON MONEY, THEREFORE, I WENT TO THE AUTO PART STORE, PUT IT ON THE MACHINE, HOPING I COULD DO WHAT I DID WITH ALL OTHER VEHICLES I OWNED, BUY THE PARTS, GO ONLINE AND READ UP ON FIXING IT MY SELF. I HAD JUST PUT ALL MY SAVINGS INTO BUYING THE VAN. THE STORE CLERK, GIVES ME A LIST OF 4 CODES AND THE LIST OF POSSIBLE FIXES. I GET HOME GO ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT NOT ONLY IS IT NOT EASY FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME TO DO, BUT ITS GOING TO BE A GOOD $1200-$1500 FOR A MECHANIC TO FIX. AND WORSE OF ALL, IT AS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE...

HI I OWNED A FORD WINDSTAR 2001 AND HAVING TROUBLE FOR THE PAST MONTHS.. WE TOOK IT TO AUTO SHOP MECHANICS AND GOT TRANSMISSION REBUILT PAID ALMOST $2,000 FOR IT. THEN GOT THAT FIXED THEN I DROVE IT FOR A WHILE THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE ENGINE QUIT SO I CALLED FOR HELP TOW TRUCK WAS THERE THEN BROUGHT IT TO AUTO MECHANICS TO GET IT FIXED PROBLEM WAS ALTERNATOR GOT THAT FIXED PAID OVER $500.00 .NOW RUNS OKAY .. BUT NOW EVERY TIME I TURN THE VAN ON THE ENGINE LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING AND ABS LIGHTS ON THEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON TOO.. AND THE SMOKE THAT COMING FROM EXHAUST FROM THE REAR SMOKING SO BAD...I NEED HELP THIS IS COULD BE PART OF A RECALL FOR FORDWINDSTAR.. I JUST DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE FIXING ..I HOPE...

CEL ON, ECM THROWING P0174 CODES, MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET OF THIS PROBLEM WITH 3.8L V6 ENGINE. APPARENTLY NO HELP FROM FORD OR DEALER TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS WITH A FIX FOR THIS. FORD WHAT A JOKE THIS 2000 WINDSTAR IS. NO MORE FORDS FOR ME, TOTAL LACK OF SUPPORT FOR PRODUCT FAILURE. *TR

HAD VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE RECALLS. RECALLS MET THE REQUIREMENTS TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME ASSY; HOWEVER, IT WAS REPAIRED INSTEAD. CONTACTED FORD ABOUT MY CONCERN OVER HOW IT WAS BEING FIXED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALER WAS GIVEN INFO. ON HOW TO DO THE REPAIR AND IF THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM AFTER IT WAS FIXED, I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT UP WITH THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A WARRANTY ISSUE WITH THEM, THAT FORD WOULD NOT HELP ME. NOW AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, THE A/C NO LONGER WORKS. - IT BLEW COLD AIR BEFORE THEY GOT IT. *KB

JUST PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND PUT VEHICLE IN PARK MODE WHEN WITHOUT WARNING I HEARD A LOUD CLANKING SOUND. TURNS OUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I HAD TO GET IT REBUILT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE IN MANY AREAS AND HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY GETTING THINGS FIXED AND REPLACED ON IT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE NOTICED THAT ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SPARK PLUGS HAD FAILED WHICH CAUSED A SMALL FIRE UNDER THE HOOD DAMAGING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE CLICKING NOISE STOPPED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME CLICKING NOISE WAS PRESENT WHEN SHE OPERATED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD BOUNCE AND SHE COULD FEEL VIBRATIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE IDLE AIR CONTROL WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,432.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, FROM ABOUT 40,000 TO CURRENT 130,000. THE CODE THAT COMES UP CAN BE 1 OF ABOUT 10 THINGS. NOTHING CORRECTS THIS. I HAVE THE 3.8L ENGINE AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. HAD A MECHANIC PULL THE CODES UP AND THEY ARE BANK 1 RUNNING LEAN AND BANK 2 RUNNING LEAN (P0171) AND (P0174). WAS TOLD COULD BE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR, O2 SENSOR (1 OF 4), VACUUM ISSUES, HEAD GASKET OR A FEW OTHERS. I HAVE REPLACED THE MAF SENSOR AND ALL 4 O2 SENSORS AT ABOUT $200.00 A PIECE. STILL ON. 2ND ISSUE. NOISE FROM FRONT END WHEN TURNING. 3RD ISSUE. CURRENTLY SITTING AT FORD DEALER WITH FRACTURED REAR AXLE FOR LAST MONTH. ALSO ABS LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME.

I OWN A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR, AND HAD THE WATER PUMP BREAK RECENTLY. WHEN THE MECHANIC PUT THE VEHICLE ON THE HOIST HE NOTICED A LARGE DEGREE OF RUSTING AND SEPARATION ON THE SUBFRAME CONNECTING TO THE CONTROL ARM. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN AGAIN AS IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN - AS PER THE MECHANIC. *TR

ABS LIGHT LIT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE BRACKET THAT SUPPORTS THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM FAILED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000.

MAR 2008 WE TOOK OUR 2000 FORD WINDSTAR VAN IN FOR A CLICKING NOISE. WAS TOLD THAT THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD INTAKE VALVE WAS BROKE. THEY SAID TO FIX IT WOULD BE ABOUT $800 BUT IF THE NOISE DID NOT BOTHER US WE COULD LEAVE IT. MAY 2008 WAS REAR ENDED AND TWO DAYS LATER VAN BROKE DOWN. TOOK IT TO HARRIS FORD IN LYNNWOOD WAS TOLD THE MANIFOLD WAS COMPLETELY BROKE AND HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1200. I KNOW THE PLASTIC MANIFOLDS WERE RECALLED ON OTHER MODELS AND THINK THE VANS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE? *TR

PRESSURE SENSOR ON THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED TAKING OUT THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, ABS AND CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH MULTIPLE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. CONSUMER STATES THESE ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID PUMP FAILURE, REVERSE SENSOR SYSTEM FAILURE, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS STICKING AND MORE. *KB THE MESSAGE CENTER STARTED TO READ ERROR WHEN DISPLAYING THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE. THE CONSUMER FOUND ONE OF THE MALE PRONGS ON THE SENSOR PLUG HAD CORRODED AND BROKEN OFF, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE SENSOR PLUG WAS NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECTED FROM MOISTURE. ONE OF THE COOLANT LINES TO THE REAR HEATER CORRODED AND FAILED AT THE POINT WHERE IT CROSSED UNDER THE FRAME AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING LEAN DUE TO AN AIR LEAK. THE COOLANT CROSSOVER TUBE SPRANG A LEAK. *JB

HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR SINCE 40,000 MILES. HAVE ALREADY DONE THE OVERHAUL FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND OFF DAILY FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. REPLACED THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATION SWITCH 2 YEARS AGO, BUT I GUESS THE LEAKING FLUIDS HAVE DESTROYED MY ECU. ALSO HAVE CLEANED AND CHECKED ALL WHEEL SENSORS WHICH HAS NOT HELPED AT ALL. I USED TO BE A FORD MAN, BUT AFTER THESE PROBLEMS AND $$$ SPEND, I'M VERY CAUTIOUS OF FORDS NOW! *TR

ENGINE COOLANT DISAPPEARING WITHOUT EXPLANATION. TOOK INTO DEALER TO LEARN IT WAS A COMMON LEAK IN THE FRONT COVER GASKET THAT COULD LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE. I OWN A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR WITH A 3.8L V-6. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. DURING THE TIME THAT THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE RAN NORMALLY. WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH, AND WOULD NOT RUN SMOOTHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE.

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE SMOKE WENT OUT ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVED THE TRANSMISSION EXPLODING WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK ONLY FOUR OF THE SEAT BELTS WORKED. *SC *JB

2000 FORD WINDSTAR SE STALLS AT RED LIGHTS AND WHEN IDLING -- DEALER KEPT INSISTING NOTHING WRONG, YET WOULD STALL. IN SHOP IN OCTOBER RETURNED TO US AS WORKING -- STALLED IN DECEMBER AGAIN. *JB

AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES THEY COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER REPLACED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM , BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED.*AK...ALSO,OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON DEALER REPLACED SHAFT SENSOR. *AK

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE VAN STARTED TO IDLE VERY ROUGH, FROM COMPLETE STALL TO RACING, INTERMITENTLY, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TO COMPENSATE, CAR NEEDED TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL AT COMPLETE STOPS, DEALER SERVICE INDICATED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED, CAUSED, IN PART BECAUSE OF ORIGINAL MANUFACTURE OF A PLASTIC PART THAT IS NO LONGER AVAILBLE. REPLACEMENT PART IS INDICATED TO BE ALUMINUM , SEVERAL OTHER GASKETS REPLACED IN A COSTLY REPAIR THAT FORD REFUSED TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY ON VAN WITH ONLY 41,500 MILES. *AK

RIGHT FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT THE VAN, I HAVE HAD ONE ISSUE OR THE OTHER. HERE ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR ISSUES. 1. TIRES - MY NEW VAN HAD BUMPS ON ALL 4 TIRES. EVERY TIRE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WOULD BURST ON DRIVING. THEY WERE GENERAL TIRES. I WENT TO FORD MANY TIMES AND OPENED A CASE WITH THEM ALSO TO NO AVAIL. AFTER 12,000 MILES, I DECIDED TO BUY 4 NEW TIRES MYSELF FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AT MY OWN EXPENSE. 2. AT 15,000 MILES, I HAD TO GET MY FRONT BRAKES CHANGED AS THEY HAD REACHED THEIR END OF LIFE. 3. AT 15,000 MILES, I ALSO HAD TO GET MY TRANSMISSION FLUID AS WELL AS DROP PAN CHANGED AS THEY WORN OUT 4. AT 30,000 MILES, I HAD TO GET MY FRONT BRAKE PADS AGAIN CHANGED (THESE WERE ALSO WORN OUT). WHAT IS SURPRISING...

12/02 ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - HAD TO HAVE UPPER PLENUM GASKET, O-RINGS, VACUUM ELBOW AND VALVE COVER WITH GASKET REPLACED FOR $600.00. 4/03, CAR LESS THAN 3 YRS. OLD BUT WITH 44K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BLEW: WELD BROKE ON THE "DRUM OVER THE PLANETARY GEAR". SO WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36K MILES BUT WINDSTAR STILL UNDER 3 YRS. OLD. I EXPECT A CAR TO LAST AT LEAST 3 YEARS BEFORE ANYTHING THIS EXPENSIVE HAPPENS. WANT FORD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND EXTEND WARRANTY TIL WINDSTAR IS PAID FOR IN 2005.

MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. TBS ARTICLE NO. 03-16-1. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE 7 MONTHS EARLIER THAN THIS AND WE PAID A $200.00 DEDUCTABLE AND OUR WARRANTY COMPANY PAID THE REST. 7 MONTHS AND 13,800 MILES LATER IT WENT AGAIN AND THEY NEVER DID THE TBS TO IT THE FIRST TIME AND THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR THEIR ERROR IN NOT TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME. OUR WARRANTY COMPANY WOULD NOT PAY AS IT'S A FAULTY PART FROM FORD AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AT THE 7 MONTH PRIOR APT. I HAD ALSO BROUGHT IT IN A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS OCT. VISIT AS THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE MY GAS CAP WASN'T ON TIGHT ENOUGH AND WAS CHARGED $85.00 FOR THIS VISIT. I WONDER IF THIS WAS A SIGN OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING. WE WE'RE TREATED TERRIBLY BY FORD NOT ONLY...

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING LEFT/RIGHT. THEN, VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK DEALER ALSO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC ON VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE CAUSE WAS A BAD IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. CONSUMER DECLINED REPAIR ON IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AFTER DIAGNOSIS FROM FIRST DEALER. HOWEVER, IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED BY A DIFFERENT SERVICE DEALER. *LA

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION ENGINE INDICATION LIGHT FLASH SPEED DROP AND OVER DRIVER LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED TECHICIAN NOTICE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACE TRANSMISSION IS ON THE THIRD REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS