three months after spending 2000 dollars for the transmission, the engine light came on, and they had to replace the upper intake gasket, that cost me another 500.00 dollars. So in 3 months time, I spent 2500 dollars, there is ALOT more.
The Engine Check Light was coming on very intermittenly { onece every 2 or 3 months} since I got the van 6 years ago.
Initialy I just reset it, as there were several electrical gremlins that I had to resolve. Finaly after the electirical gremlims have been 100% excomunicated, the engine light would come back more and more often and lately it was coming back on in just a few days, so I took the van to the local dealer for this and a safety recall.
Here is "My Beef" with this problem :
1/ This is clearly a faulty desing, I NEVER had a intake manifold fail, and I DO drive cars into the ground! [ My daily driver ( not the van) is 21 years old with 170K miles and going strong :) ]
2/ I asked the dealer if Ford has any extended warranties or recalls to cover at least part of this cost, the answer was no.
3/ I was starting to have "faith" in Ford, as the van has been very reliable after the electrical issues were solved, the intake manifild gasket was not even in consideration that it may fail. My short lived faith has pretty much evaporated, as now I feel that ANY part of the van can have a total breakdown - there is just NO excuse with today's technologies to have an intake manifold fail!
Everytime I get the van scanned, they give me some codes having to do with an electrical problem...Now its been sitting in front of my house since February cause it won't pass inspection and I don't know what to do about it.
Apparently Ford saw it fit to install plenum isolator bolts that deteriorate in oil, so the bolts at some point need replacing.
I took the car to the dealer and they said Ford takes no responsibility for this repair. They said it was going to cost upwards of $700 if they had to re-flash the computer.
I have owned three Ford vehicles: an Aerostar, a '95 Windstar and a '03 Windstar and every one of them has had a major defect. Ford fixed the '95 Windstar once, but it failed after that and they refused to fix it.
No more Fords for me ever! I see now why the imports are moving in!
OK - here we go again. My check engine light came back on while having the transmission repaired, indicating engine code PO171 PO174 for engine to lean. Well, last month I took the van to Precision Tune, who replaced the Upper Intake Gasket (that was Ford's recommended fix). So I took it back to Precision Tune and they said yep!, the gasket is leaking again, but we have to special order the parts to fix it this time and Ford is now recommending the replacement of the insulated bolts, which Precision Tune wants to charge me an additional $169.00. - $169.00 dollars for bolts - no way - I'd rather pay $5,000.00 for a hammer.
Engine Light came on, took car to Precision Tune - Needed Tune up and had codes indicating engine running too lean. Tried replacing all the little stuff - didn't work. Took it back to shop. New Gasket kit fixed that problem. Then the next month, the transmission went out.................................................
At 55K miles the intake must be replaced (another Fix Or Repair Daily) since they used a plastic seal for the engine and now it has melted. Ford will not recall this as it not a safety issue -- but causes the engine light to stay on, oh AND SUCK MORE GAS. This was my 4th and final Ford. If Ford can not stand behind their product, I can not buy another.
I also posted issues with the Electrical on the van. I can't understand why the American auto makers don't a products that stands up, I've got an Accord with 130K miles (1999) and it has not been in for anything other than routine maintenance. -- Ford, GM and Chrysler need to wake up
THE PO171/0174 PROBLEM SURFACED. THE CAR WANTS TO STALL IN COLD WEATHER UNTIL IT WARMS UP AFTER DRIVING MORE THAN 10 MINUTES. I FOUND THE REPAIR THAT WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM ON THE WINDSTAR GOOGLE SITE. AND IT WILL COST ME 110.00 IN PARTS AND TAKE ME 3 HRS TO FIX. MUST BE A PRETTY GOOD DIY'ER TO DO THIS...OTHERWISE FORD WILL CHARGE $500 TO DO THIS WHICH SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAVE 2 OF THESE VANS AND I AM DISGUSTED WITH THE POOR ENGINEERING THAT WENT INTO THESE VANS. I WILL GO BACK TO DODGE OR CHRYSLER WHEN THESE EXPIRE.
the engine light is on. the lean code is p0171 and p0174. the tbs 03-16-1 saying to change intake gasket, bolts, reprogram pcm. Do some searchese online, this problem seems very common for ford. why didn't ford have re-called all cars to fix the problem. this is second Ford car I bought. I totally lost the confident in the Ford. I have to follow what most people do now to buy a Japanese car. it is a shame.
FORD screws up the van by putting a PLASTIC VALVE INTAKE on the van and then doesn't want to own up to paying for it when it melts. They redesigned the system to be fixed when it goes wrong which includes COMPLETELY PUTTING IN A NEW MANIFOLD! I will not purchase another Ford again. HAD to have it fixed to meet emission standards in Texas. HAD TOO!
Bought Van in May of 2003. In August 2003 Ford issued to their dealerships a TSB, stating that some Windstars built in 2003, were built using a faulty manifold gasket and Bolt. In 2006, my van failed emissions 3 times and required a repair bill of $868 dollars. When I asked Ford "why no recall notice was issued" they stated that "It's not a safety issue and we're not obligated to issue a recall" in other words: screw you we got our money and now you gotta pay us to fix YOUR problem... hehe
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
three months after spending 2000 dollars for the transmission, the engine light came on, and they had to replace the upper intake gasket, that cost me another 500.00 dollars. So in 3 months time, I spent 2500 dollars, there is ALOT more.
- spikey, Easthampton, MA, US