1998 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

WHILE IN MOTION, THE EGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 53-C579-741. *JG

WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE, PUNCTURING THE TIRE. NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. *AK *ML

TIRE BLEW OUT ON A HOT DAY WHILE TRAVELING AFTER 1.5 HOURS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15/235R )

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45-50MPH & FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. BROKEN SPRING WENT INTO THE LEFT TIRE , CAUSED A BLOWOUT, BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED. DEALER SAID THAT COIL SPRING HAD TO HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. *AK

RECURRING PROBLEM CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM, OFTEN WHEN WE REACH ABOUT A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL ABOUT THE TIME THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON IF WE COME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF AND IT WILL BLOW THE FUSE THAT CONTROLS THE FUEL SYSTEM AND AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE FUSE IT WILL CONTINUE TO BLOW UNTIL WE PUT IN MORE GAS

TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED FAILURE TWICE. *SLC

(FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON AND SEAL) WHEN YOU BRAKE TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT OR EVEN COME TO A STOP AND THEN STEP ON THE GAS, ALL THE VEHICLE DOES IS REV. IT'S LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN GEAR OR SLIPPING AND THEN IT EVENTUALLY DROPS INTO PLACE. IT'S A PRETTY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IF TURNING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I FEEL THIS PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON A RECALL BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ALL YOU ARE DOING IS BRAKING OR SLOWING DOWN. PLEASE, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND WOULD HATE FOR SOMEONE TO LOSE A CHILD BECAUSE OF A WRECK THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY ISSUING A RECALL. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS SITE TO LIST PROBLEMS.( DOT NUMBER: APM3JEUU02 TIRE SIZE: 215/70R15 )

CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED SINCE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN OFF. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT SUSPENSION. *YH

CONTACTED FORD, THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE WARRENTY IS OUT. VEHICLE TWO YEARS OLD. SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

HAD TWO TIRES WORN TO STEEL BELT WITHIN 3 MONTHS IN SAME LOCATION. FORD SAYS ITS THE TIRES! IT SEEMS ODD TO ME THAT 2 TIRES IN SAME LOCATION WOULD WEAR DOWN TO BELT IN SAME SPOT . THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED WITHIN 3 MONTHS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND FORD HAS BEEN UNCOOPERATIVE IN HANDLING A SERIOUS CONCERN! *AK (TIRESIZE: 21570R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 21570R15 )

FUEL PUMP FUSE BLEW WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. *SLC

FROM THE REAR OF THE ALTERNATOR COMES A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL. MECHANICS ARE TELLING US TO REPLACE THE UNIT WHICH IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. SHOULDN'T THIS PART BE A LIFETIME WARRANTY? WHY DID IT FAIL RIGHT AFTER THE 36000 MILE WARRANTY RAN OUT? *AK

VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESS THE NOISE WOULD GO AWAY. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 10 TIMES. DEALER SAID THEY HAVE DONE ENOUGH & IT WASN'T ANYTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP & THEY FOUND THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE ROTATED AND/ OR REPLACED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

INTERMITTENT STALLING WHILE DRIVING OR AT A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON ONE OCCASION ,AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING.*AK

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING INTO A CURVED PARKING SPACE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE AIR CONDITIONING LINE LEADING TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE (FOR REAR COOLING) RUBBED AGAINST THE POWER STEERING LINE, CAUSING THE AIR CONDITIONING LINE TO RUPTURE. IF THIS HAD CAUSED THE RUPTURE OF THE POWER STEERING LINE, SIGNIFICANT SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE OCCURRED. ADDITIONALLY, THE LOSS OF THE TOTAL COOLANT DUE TO THE RUPTURED AIR CONDITIONING LINE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN THE VEHICLE AND ONE THAT WARRANTS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD.

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR GOING THROUGH A DRIVE TROUGH MAY CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I AM A LETTER CARRIER FOR THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE IN WHITESTONE, NY. WE HAVE 33 1998 FORD WINDSTARS IN OUR FLEET. I HAVE NOTICED 3 RECURRENT PROBLEMS IN OUR VANS, IN THE THREE YEARS THAT WE HAVE HAD THEM. FIRST, THE VEHICLES HAVE MANUAL CRANK WINDOWS, NOT POWER WINDOWS. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR HAS FAILED ON SEVERAL VEHICLES, PERHAPS 6 OF THEM, AND ON A FEW OF THEM, FAILED MORE THAN ONCE. THERE HAS GOT TO BE BETTER MATERIAL USED IN THESE WINDOW REGULATORS FOR THE FUTURE. THE FAILURE RATE IS REALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THE SECOND PROBLEM THAT I HAVE NOTICED, IS A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. I HAVE HEARD THIS ON MANY VEHICLES SO IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS ALSO AN ENGINEERING DEFECT. THE THIRD RECURRENT PROBLEM IS A STRANGE ONE. WHEN THE WEATHER GETS WARM, THE COMPUTER READS THAT THERE IS AN OPEN DOOR, YET ALL OF THE DOORS ARE SECURELY LOCKED. THE REMINDER CHIMES WILL DING, THE ICON WILL APPEAR ON THE DASH, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON. STRANGELY ENOUGH, WHEN THE SPEED IS OVER 15MPH, THE CHIMES WILL STOP DINGING, BUT THE DASHBOARD ICON WILL STAY LIT. ONE OF OUR VEHICLES HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP 8 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND THEY STILL CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS! IF I SEE THESE RECURRENT PROBLEMS ON A SMALL SAMPLE OF 32 VEHICLES, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM MUST HAPPEN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHEREVER WINDSTARS ARE BEING USED. SOMEBODY IN AUTHORITY, PLEASE INVESTIGATE THESE PROBLEMS! THANKS.

I BELIEVE FORD HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH SWAY BAR LINKS. I OWN A 1995 TAURUS, 1998 WINDSTAR, AND 2000 TAURUS. THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE LINKS ON THE 2000 HAVE BEEN REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. I ALSO KNOW OTHER FORD OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM ALSO AWARE OF A RECALL ON EXPLORERS FOR SWAY BAR LINKS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING IN WARM WEATHER ,MAKING SUDDEN STOPS/PARKING AND WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMAITON.*AK AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO FAULTY MODULE, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ADJAR SWITCH WAS STICKING CAUSING THE DOOR ADJAR LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, OUTER TIE ROD FAILED CAUSING NOISE IN THE FRONT END, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LOSS OF POWER/SLIPPING DUE TO FAULTY TRANSMISSION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE STALLED, DEALER REPLACED SENSOR, SPEEDOMETER WAS OFF. NLM

OUR 1998 FORD WINDSTAR VAN ERUPTED IN FIRE WHILE OFF AND PARKED IN DRIVE WAY. IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN THAT DAY. THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE DASH ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND SPREAD SO QUICKLY THAT THE VAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. COMPLETE LOSS OF EVERY GEAR. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF AND AVOID INCIDENT, BUT THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. NEEDED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND WAS GIVEN THE OPTION TO PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR $495. *AK

I HAVE HEARD OF MANY PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS ON THIS MODEL. *AK

COMPUTER MODULE THAT CONTROLS ABS SYSTEM FAILED, ALSO AFFECTS THE TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE, THAT ALSO HAS FAILED. COST TO REPLACE PART IS $980. PLUS LABOR. THIS IS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM, WHICH IS PART OF THE VEHICLES SAFETY FEATURES AND A FAILURE SO EARLIER IN THE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE IS ABSURD. THE MAINTENANCE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT ON THIS BUT WE CAN'T FIND IT. MY SISTER AND BROTHER-IN-LAW HAVE THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF WINDSTAR AND ARE HAVING A FAILURE OF THEIR TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE WHICH IS INTERMITTENT BUT THEIR DEALER CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

PAINT IS PEELING OFF LARGE AREAS OF ROOF AND SIDES

I HAVE RETURNED MULTIPLE TIMES TO THE DEALER WITH A "HARD SHIFT" PROBLEM, FIRST TO SECOND. I EVEN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AND REFERRED ME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, ONE THAT OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS, AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER DROVE MY CAR FOR A DAY, BUT EVIDENTLY DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEM. AS SOON AS I GOT THE CAR BACK, THE PROBLEM WAS BACK. I HAVE SPENT UPWARDS OF $3000, FOR REPAIRS THAT I WAS TOLD WOULD RECTIFY THE PROBLEM, BUT IT PERSISTS. THIS INCLUDED EXTENSIVE FRONT END WORK THAT THEY CLAIMED WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM; THIS INCLUDED A FRONT-END ALIGNMENT AND SUB-FRAME SHIFT; POWER STEERING FLUSH; REPLACE FRONT STRUTS; REPLACE FRONT SHOCKS; REPLACE FRONT SWAY BAR, LINKS; PROBLEM PERSISTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH FRONT TWO COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND VEHICLE'S FRONT DROPPED. *AK ALSO A TIRE ON THE RIGHT SIDE BLEW OUT. THE SPRING WAS REPLACED. *YH

ALTHOUGH NOT APPARENT ON NEW LABELS, THE COMPOSITION IS PLASTIC COVERING OVER PRINTED BASE, WITH THE BASE HAVING THE NECESSARY ADHESSIVE TO AFFIX TO THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. WHILE USING A CLEAN, DRY CLOTH TO CLEAN UP AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I WIPED OVER THE LABELS AND THE PLASTIC OUTER COVERING SLID, SMEARING THE PRINTED INFORMATION AND MAKING THE ENGLISH LABEL ILLEGIBLE. THE BRAKE WARNING STATEMENT IS STILL ENTIRELY VISIBLE, BUT ONLY THE FRENCH VERSION PRINT IS LEGIBLE, SINCE I DID NOT RUB OVER IT. AT THE TIME, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS WARM, SINCE THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING. *AK

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE/ EITHER TURNING OR COMING TO A STOP THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND NEAR FRONT WHEELS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT SUBFRAME STRUT SLEEVES NEED TO BE WELDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE IGNITION STOPPED AND THIS IS LATER THAN THE REPORTED IGNITION PROBLEMS REPORTED IN THE DETROIT FREE PRESS ON 9-14-00. WHEN THE CAR WENT IN FOR WARRANTY WORK, FORD CLAIMED THAT IT WAS JUST A "COMPUTER PROBLEM." WHEN DRIVING A NEW CAR, I DON'T ENJOY HAVING THE CAR STOP FOR NO REASON, ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC. THIS IGNITION PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING IN LATER MODEL CARS AS MY WINDSTAR IS A 1998. I ALSO HAVE A DISGUSTING SMELL THAT EMANATES FROM THE HEATER/AIRCONDITIONER WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAS NOT EVER BEEN REPAIRED. THEY PUT IN DEODORIZER, BUT THE SMELL STILL REEKS WHEN THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING IS PUT ON AT ANY LEVEL. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

THE VAN WOULD STALL OUT AT LOW SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY WHEN TURNING. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WHILE TURNING ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE FORD DEALER SAID THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THEY CHARGED ME TO REPROGRAM THE P CM MODULE. I WROTE TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE I CONSIDERED IT A SAFETY ISSUE. FURTHER, THE COMPANY WAS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR. *AK

VEHICLE SHOOK CONTINUOUSLY WHEN BEING DRIVEN. FRONT END WAS ALIGNED, THE BEARINGS, SHAFT, AND THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *AK

MY FRONT END SOUNDS AS IF LEFT FRONT WHEEL IS GOING TO FALL OFF. WHEN WE DRIVE THE VAN SHAKES ALL OVER, FEELS VERY UNSAFE WE'RE NO LONGER DRIVING IT UNTIL ITS REPAIRED. *AK

NO SUMMARY

CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND STRUT ROD BUSHING RETAINER LOOSE AND THE SUBFRAME CRACKED. REPAIRS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SUSPECTED THAT FAILURES DUE TO EARLIER TRANSMISSION WORK ON VEHICLE. FORD CONTACTED. *AK *ML

THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, BUT HAS STILL SLIPPED AGAIN, I AM WRITING THIS AFTER HEARING THE REPORT ON TV ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 95 MINIVANS. THIS OCCURED WHEN I STOPPED AT A LIGHT, AND WHEN IT WOULD FINALLY GO FORWARD, IT GAVE US ALL A REAL HARD JERK, THEN DROVE IT MORE AND ABOUT 86 MILES LATER, IT DID IT AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSSION, BUT I AM STILL NOT SURE OF THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AND NO ACTION TAKEN. THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE DAY-LIGHT ON THE VAN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERESHIP AND WITH THE LETTER AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING THERE. I WONDER IF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE 95 PROBLEMS???*AK

ON FEB. 27 OF THIS YEAR, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

ON FEB. 27 OF THIS YEAR, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

THE VAN STALLED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS. AFTER STOPPING AND THEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE VAN CREPT ALONG. AFTER GOING THROUGH THE RANGE OF GEARS SEVERAL TIMES THEN IT STARTING MOVING AGAIN. *AK

ON FEBRUARY 19, 2000, I TOOK MY 1998 WINDSTAR VAN TO BROADWAY FORD IN IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO BECAUSE THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN STAYING ON ALL THE TIME. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A FRONT AXLE SPEED SENSOR AND A NEW AXLE. THIS WAS CAUSING THE ABS SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. THE SERVICE MANAGER PROVIDED ME WITH A QUOTATION OF $554.21 (SEE ATTACHED QUOTE) TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES ON WET AND SNOWY PAVEMENT, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML

WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH THE CAR DOWNSHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR! *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF. DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE PART TO CORRECT PROBLEM IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. *AK *ML

PERSISTENT LOUD GROAN OR RUBBING SOUND OCCURS WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO LEFT AND WHEN TURNING TO RIGHT WHEN STRAIGHTENING OUT FROM LEFT TURN. FRONT END SHOP ADVISED STRUTS AND STRUT SUPPORT BRACKETS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $588. VEHICLE IS 6,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. SHOP SUPERVISOR EXPRESSED SUPRISE THAT SUCH COMPONENTS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. BECAUSE OF SERVICE BACK-UPS DEALER HAS NOT YET ADVISED ON PROPER SOLUTION.

CHILD WEIGHING 33 POUNDS SITS IN THE BUILT-IN CHILD SEATIN WHICH HARNESS IS TOO HIGH, AND DOES NOT PROTECT THE CHILD CORRECTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TRANSMISSION STALLS DURING DOWN SHIFTING AT LOW SPEEDS. SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD,THREE TIMES HAS BEEN REPAIRED,FIRST TIME @ 32000,3600,65,000. DEALER SAID THAT IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM,BUT THERE IS NO FIX. *NLM

WHEN WE FIRST TOOK OUR WINDSTAR IN THE FRONT END WAS MAKING A GROWLING & GRINDING NOISE, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING HARD AND JUMPING. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION OUT THEY SAID EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE NORMAL, BUT THEY CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND IT HAD "METAL" IN IT. THEY ALSO TOLS US THAT THE FRONT LEFT & RIGHT TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY "HAD A DEFECT" . THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN MY VAN 2 TIMES NOW, IT STILL DOES NOT SHIFT LIKE IT SHOULD BUT THEY "CAN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE" AND NOW THEY WANT TO "FLUSH" MY POWER STEERING FLUID THEY SAY THE POWER STEERING FLUID HAS BROKEN DOWN. WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT THIS THAY TELL ME THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE CHECKED WITH SEVERAL INDEPENDANT MECHANICS AND THEY TELL ME THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP IS GOING BAD, OR THE RACK & PINION IS GOING OUT. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING CAUSING THIS. THIS VAN IS NOT 2 YEARS OLD YET AND THERE ARE TO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VAN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS NO STEERING AT ALL. DRIVER COULD HARDLY GET THE VAN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VAN WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERHSHIP. BROKEN STEERING: POWER ASSIST BELT WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK