2000 Ford Windstar Engine Problems

Car overheats even though it does not shown on the meter and when stopped and cut off it bubbles severely

Going down the road car starts to sputter and then we'll cut off while driving and black smoke goes every dangerous it's happened twice already got it checked says nothing

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OVERNIGHT AND WAS DRIVEN HOME THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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 AND MODEL, FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND EVEN PUT OUT A REPAIR KIT JUST FOR THE ISSUE, BUT STILL REFUSES TO RECALL THE VEHICLE AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. WELL YOUR LITTLE KIT MAYBE INEXPENSIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN FIX IT THEM SELVES BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TO PAY A MECHANIC TO DO THE WORK ITS MORE THEN A SIMPLE REPAIR. IF A CAR AS BEEN TREATED GOOD BY ITS OWNER, AS NOT BEEN ABUSED AND MAINTENANCE KEPT UP WITH OVER THE YEARS, THEN THE ONLY MAJOR (ABOVE $1000) REPAIRS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE, ARE REPAIRS DUE TO ACCIDENTS OR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. WHEN ALMOST EVER ONE WHO OWES ONE OF THEM AS THE SAME PROBLEM, AROUND THE SAME TIME, THEN IT IS A DEFECT IN THE MAKING OF THE CAR AND SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FORD COMPANY. THE FACT THAT FORD HAD TO COME UP WITH A REPAIR KIT, IS ADMITTING THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE VAN. I SHOULD HAVE CHECK THIS WEBSITE BEFORE I BOUGHT THE VAN. DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE! *TR

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

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 FORD REALIZED THIS I THINK I'M NOT ALONE OUT THERE DEALING THE SAME PROBLEMS...THANK YOU LOOKING FORWARD FOR THE RESPONSE... *TR

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

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.

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

FORD WINDSTAR 2000: MY CAR ENGINE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT ON WHEN START THE ENGINE. ALSO HAS OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING WHEN START ENGINE AND WHEN SWIFT GEARS. *TR

MY 2000 FORD WINDSTAR HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT STARTED IN LATE 2008. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER WAS HARD TOO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING. AS THE MONTHS WENT BY THE LEAKING GOT WORSE. IN MAY OF 2009 THERE WAS NOW QUITE A BIT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE NEED FOR FLUID TO BE ADDED IN ORDER FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO WORK. PROBLEM FIXED IN JULY OF 2009. TRANSMISSION OIL SEAL WAS DEFECTIVE ON THE VAN, EVEN THOUGH IT ONLY HAD 75,000 MILES ON IT. HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACED AS WELL. TOTAL PRICE: $1700. *TR

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I HAD IT DIAGNOSED WITH CODES P0171, AND P0174, ENGINE TOO LEAN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD FROM THE FORD DEALER, AND OTHER MECHANICS I CALLED THAT IT IS A COMMON THING ON FORD WINDSTARS, AND THAT IT'S NOT A IF IT WILL HAPPEN PROBLEM, IT'S A WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN PROBLEM. IT'S A DESIGN FLAW IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS, WHICH PRICES RANGING FROM $800 TO $1500 TO REPAIR. FORD SHOULD DO A RECALL ON ALL WINDSTARS AND HAVE THESE PROBLEMS FIXED FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS AT NO CHARGE. *TR

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

TL*CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE THE UPPER INPUT AND THE UPPER GASKET REPLACED. THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER, PERFORMED A TUNE UP, AND REPLACED THE IGNITION WIRE. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS ,WHICH TOTALED $900. THE DIAGNOSIS LISTED CODE PO133 , SENSOR SLOW RESPONSE. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ANOTHER FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE CONTACT'S FOOT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL OR WHEN THE VEHICLE IDLED. THE RPM NEEDLE ALSO FLUCTUATED FROM HIGH TO LOW. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 101,016. *AK

THE INTAKE WENT AT 58,000 MILES BROUGHT TO FORD DEALER AND IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY . 1 YEAR LATER HAD SAME PROBLEM AND VAN WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND FORD REFUSED TO COVER HAD TO PAY $1,800 DOLLARS. THEN LAST YEAR THE TRANSMISSION WENT VAN HAD 78,000 MILES. FORD WILL NOT FIX THEY WOULD NOT REPO IT. THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO SUE ME FOR A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *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.