1995 Ford Windstar Engine Problems

THE ENGINE FREEZES UP AND SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING. HAD TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP AND PUT IN A NEW AC COMPRESSOR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TWO TIMES AND EACH TIME THE ENGINE BELT AND TENSIONER PULLEY ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. THREE DAYS AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR WAS PERFORMED THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

I HAVE A 95 FORD WINDSTAR (89K) LX3.8; DTC P0306.... GAVE RICH CONDITION, BLACK SMOKE OUT TAILPIPE, EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION ... DON'T STAY RUNNING. SPENT MORE THAN $4,000 ON THE REPAIRS DIDN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. - HAVE REPLACED ALL O2 SENSORS; - HAVE REPLACED SPARK PLUGS/ WIRES; - HAVE REPLACED STARTER/ BATTERY; - HAVE REPLACED ALL THE UPPER INTAKE GASKETS AND INTAKE ISOLATOR BOLTS; - HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTOR #6; - HAVE HAD REPLACED ALL WATER PUMP/GASKET, A/C AND TRANSMISSION TWO YEARS AGO STILL DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NEED RUN THE COMPRESSION TEST FOR ANY MECHANIC ISSUES BUT DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO SO' FORD DON'T WANT HELP ANYTHING/REPAIRS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN BURNING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL SINCE THE BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE O2 SENSORS, SPARK PLUGS/WIRES, INTAKE GASKETS AND INTAKE ISOLATOR BOLTS WERE ALL REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH SHE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD RISEN; WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN THE VEHICLE CAUSING BLACK SMOKE TO FILL THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE NEXT MORNING, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSION OUTSIDE OF HER HOME AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A SQUEALING SOUND MOMENTS BEFORE THE BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140000.

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR DEVELOPED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN AT ALL DURING THE TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE LAST TIME IT WAS DRIVEN PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE CAR REPEATEDLY LOST POWER (DECELERATED, NEARLY TO A STOP) WHILE DRIVING ON AN UPHILL INCLINE. DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR WAS INEFFECTIVE DURING SUCH EPISODES. POWER RETURNED AND THE CAR WOULD ACCLERATE AND MAINTAIN A STEADY SPEED ONCE THE CAR RETURNED TO LEVEL GROUND. I HAD NOT USED THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM AT ALL DURING THAT LAST TRIP AND USED IT RARELY IN THE 12 YEARS THAT I OWNED THE CAR. THE FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE AND ALL OTHER MAJOR SYSTEMS UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE SURFACE OF MY DRIVEWAY AND A SMALL AREA OF MY LAWN. *TR

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR ENGINE HAS STOPPED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS AND ALSO WHEN COASTING WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILLS. IT ALSO STOPS WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. MECHANIC ADJUSTED THE IDLE SPEED AND REPLACED THE IDLE CONTROL. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THE REAL DANGER HERE IS THAT AT LOW SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ALSO FAIL MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY HARD TO STEER AND STOP. ON A VERY TIGHT TURN I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING 45 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE ALTERNATOR TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WILL MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 260,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THREE DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED UP TO SEVEN TIMES PER DAY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. SHE CALLED A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. SHE REMOVED THE ALTERNATOR FROM THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TO HAVE IT TESTED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS NO GOOD; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW ONE AND PLACED IT INTO THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE AND RUN THE VEHICLE, BUT IT STALLED ONCE AGAIN 4 BLOCKS LATER. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, DROVE HOME, AND CALLED THE DEALER FROM WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR, BUT IT STILL DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE REMAINS AT THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON APRIL 19, 2008, WHICH WAS THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LIGHT WOULD DIM AFTER FUEL WAS PLACED INTO THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER PLACED SENSORS AND NEW MOTOR MOUNTS ON THE ENGINE AND, AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 25 MPH. DUE TO THE LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, A MECHANIC AT A MUFFLER SHOP ADVISED HER THAT THERE WERE NO NEW MOTOR MOUNTS ON THE VEHICLE. IN FACT, THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE OLD AND DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE MAY 1, 2008 AND STATED THAT NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WILL BE MADE. THE DEALER ACCUSED THE CONTACT OF DAMAGING THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND ADDING 750 MILES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE ESTIMATED FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

MY WIFE WAS LEAVING CHURCH IN THE PARKING LOT, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. HI. MY NAME IS [XXX]. I AM THE UNLUCKY OWNER OF A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE WINDSTAR HAS A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE HEAD GASKET MOUNTING, THAT CAUSES PREMATURE GASKET FAILURE(SERVICE BULLETIN #00M09). WELL MY WINDSTAR BLEW THE HEAD GASKET ON JANUARY 15TH, OF 2006. THE VAN ONLY HAS 76,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT. I MADE 3 CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO RISER FORD, IN HOT SPRINGS, AND 2 CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT' AT FORD MOTOR CO. EACH TIME THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. I INTENT TO TAKE THIS ALL THE WAY. I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFECTIVE PART REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET. THE CONTACT NOTICED WHITE SMOKE AND WATER COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE #1 PLUG WAS FULL OF WATER AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 03/22/06. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON JUNE 3, 2005 AND THE ODOMETER READ 59,000 MILES. CONTACT RAN A CAR FAX REPORT, AND IN THE YEAR 2000 THE REPORT WAS SHOWING 100,300 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION, HEAD GASKET, AND FUEL INJECTION BROKE. SHE SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP, AND STATED WHEN THEY SOLD THE VAN FOR SOMEONE ELSE THEY WOULD TRY TO GET CONTACT MONEY BACK. *AK

DEFECTIVE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WITH RECURRENT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. *BF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE KNOCK FOR THE 3RD TIME WHICH WAS DUE TO A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. *JB

MAIN ENGINE BEARING FAILED AT 96,000 MILES AND TOOK THE TRANSMISSION ALONG WITH IT. TOTAL COST WAS $12,000. SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY; CUSTOMER PAID ONLY THE DEDUCTIBLE EXPENSE. ONLY THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS REPLACED. OTHER PARTS; HEAD GASKET, SPARK PLUGS ETC WERE NOT. WHICH EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE FOLLOWING FAILURE: THE ENGINE AGAIN BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT 40,000 MILES. LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE, NO HEAT, WINDOW DEFROSTER FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY, COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL CRASH ETC. CUSTOMER FINALLY HAD TO JUNK 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. NO SATISFACTION FROM DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *NM

DT: TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE SERVICED IN FEBRUARY 2005. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER MOTOR MOUNT WAS BAD. THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS REPLACED. 3 DAYS LATER THE NEW MOTOR MOUNT FAILED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND IT WAS REPLACED. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE AFTERWARDS, BUT CURRENTLY THE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE AGAIN. *AK FRONT MOTOR MOUNT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT *NM

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT HAD BEEN RECALLED - I NEVER GOT A NOTICE AND AM NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. ESTIMATE OF $1800 TO REPLACE. READING OTHER POSTS, T APPEARS THIS IS NOT A DEFINITE PERMANENT SOLUTION. MY VAN ONLY HAS 97,000 MILES ON IT.*AK

VEHICLE LOST POWER AND COMMENCED TO MAKE A HISSING NOISE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED TWO VACUUM HOSES THAT DISINTEGRATED FROM THE EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

1995 FORD WINDSTAR-ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. CYLINDER HEADS RESURFACED, NEW HEAD GASKETS, REPLACED DAMAGED CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS AND O2 SENSORS. TOTAL COST $2454.*AK

1995 WINDSTAR WITH 3.8V6. HEAD GASKET LEAK. HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND CAME ACROSS SCORES OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE SEEN THAT MANY OF THESE ISSUE WERE REOLVED AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS SO AND HOW DO I PRESENT THIS TO THE FORD REPAIR PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION SINCERELY, JAMES HAUGH. *AK