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 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…”

“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”

“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”