1995 Ford Windstar: engine overheating

Filed Mar 30, 2007 · Brakes, Engine · 132,838 miles · SC

Purchased the van used in 2004. A few weeks later the transmission had to be rebuilt. Shortly after that the brake lights came on. Mechanic could not find anything wrong with the brakes, although periodically they made a noise and would stiffen up, then the pedal would go slack and then return to normal. The muffler fell off and was put back on. The check engine light had been on, when hooked up to the computer it only showed codes for the exhaust system. Then it started overheating and a bit of white smoke came from the tailpipe. The intake manifold gasket was replaced. 2 days later the overdrive light started blinking and the van didn't have much power and would stall out while emitting a thick cloud of white smoke from the tailpipe. Mechanic says now the head gasket is blown.

Filed Feb 8, 2005 · Engine · 84,918 miles · MA

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.

Filed Sep 7, 2004 · Engine · 67,000 miles · CA

Engine overheated once. Mechanic said coolant was leaking from timing chain cover. While saving for repair, have kept coolant added and engine has not overheated again, but now engine surges while idling, misses sometimes, and has low compression in three cylinders. Mechanic said all due to coolant leak, and engine unsafe, may blow at any time. Dealer said there was a ford information campaign on problem. I was not notified. Only have 69000 miles on vehicle, but ford told dealer they would not assist in repair. Please give any information about problem to help me when I call ford myself. Thank you!

Filed Jul 13, 2004 · Engine · 74,133 miles · NJ

Took 1995 ford windstar to haldeman ford (this where I purchased the van), because it was overheating, they made the repair which we paid $614.54 and told us that we needed a head gasket, we had an extended warranty for the used vehicle and that was suppose to be included on the warranty, but they told us that because we did not maintenance the car the proper we had to pay for it ourself, and that we had to buy a new engine (not a head gasket like they said at first) and pay out of our pocket $3,000 not including labor. I need to know what steps should we take in order for some one to hear us out. I also have copies of the warranty, receipts for the oil change and the receipt that I had paid for the repair. Thank you .

Filed Jun 16, 2004 · Engine · MD

On february 2001 dealership replaced the head gasket. Two years later the same problem recurred, engine overheated. Mechanic replaced the head gasket at consumer's expense of $2500.

Filed Mar 12, 2004 · Engine · WY

1995 ford windstar overheating - blown head gasket.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine · MI

To whom it may concern, in june of this year(2002) I was shopping for a vehicle for my wife and found a 1995 windstar at pat mccraken ford in dewitt michigan. It was in nice shape and ran good. I had no idea of the headgasket problem that I was about to inherit. Around the middle to the last of november my wife was driving home and it overheated. I replaced the thermostat, radiator cap and waterpump before taking it back to the dealer. He wants to charge me $900.00 to replace the headgaskets not including new heads which might be bad. On a trade-in on something else he only wants to give me $1000.00 for the van, which I know he will fix for his cost and put back on his lot to cheat some other unsuspecting person. What makes me mad is that he knew before he put it on his lot that the 1995 windstar's were prone to engine failures. Being unemployed at the present time I didn't need this problem. Terry

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine · 89,523 miles · NH

The engine headgasket on my ford windstar has failed a total of 4 times in a 4 year period (57117 miles, 57722 miles, 71713 miles and 89523 miles), resulting in total engine failure because of coolant leaking into and fouling internal parts. The initial defective engine design was never addressed and installing new headgaskets provided only a temporary bandaid solution until the extended warranty period ran out.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Transmission · VA

Case 1 my family was coming home from vacation when the engine blew while we were on the highway. Smoke came up from under the hood and we were force to stop the van on a crowded highway. Thanks to a nearby truck driver who stopped behind us, we were able to call someone and get to safety. It took a lot of negotiation for me to get ford to take care of this matter, but they finally did. Now again on our recent trip to ga on 08-28-03 while driving home, our check engine light came on and overdrive light started blinking and the transmission blew. Transmission fluid leaked all out and on the back of our van too. It also started smoking underneath the hood and from the tailpipe. We were informed by freedom ford in norfolk va that we had transmission failure. Our check light has come on numerous occasions and despite their action it still keeps coming on. In addition, our overdrive lights blink, our cruise control do not work, the door adjar lights stays on at times even when the doors all locked and causing the inside interiors lights to stay on, our gears do not shift properly and gets stuck between gears and upon acceleration it sometimes hesitates, repaired coolant leak from timing cover gasket and front crankshaft seal, coil ignition, the air condition when on makes these strange noises, etc. Replaced. We are very dissatisfied with ford windstars and have spent more money on repairs than what it was worth. We even still owe on the van. Ford needs to issue a recalll or a refund. This is not a safe vehicle to drive. Please keep me informed. Thanks and god bless.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Transmission · 61,576 miles · IL

On 6/13/2003, at 57049 miles, our 1995 windstar overheated and seemed to be losing coolant so we took it to zimmerman ford, st. Charles, il to be checked out. They reported no problem found and we paid $66.79 for a cooling system service and lube service. On october 4th,2003, the check engine light on our windstar went on. We took it to the same dealership to be checked. They charged $111 for sbds tests and told us we had head gasket failure and quoted $2100 to repair. We contacted five other dealerships in the chicago area who quoted between $900 and $1600 to do the job. Our van is currently with family ford of west chicago being fixed. We have been told to expect a bill of about $1300. Moving from zimmerman to family ford was not just a cost decision. Zimmerman refused point plank to help us get help from ford. Family ford have agreed to keep the faulty parts and help us in any way they can. We have contacted ford at several levels trying to persuade them that their 7 year / 100,000 extended warranty, plus the 6 year / 75,000 mile extended warranty that we purchased both imply that the head gasket should not have failed at 60,000 miles as ours did. We have also put forth the argument that the original extended warranty 5 year or 60,000 states or not whichever comes first so we feel we have a case to be covered under the terms of this warranty, given that we reported a possible problem at 57049 miles. Ford has said (several times by phone and e-mail)that they are unable to help as we are outside the terms of the extended warranty. They also say that they have very few complaints on this vehicle any more so they will not make an exception for me. I was told that they have made no exceptions outside the 7 year / 100,000 parameters. I feel that we have been penalized by ford because we have a low mileage on our vehicle and the poor engine construction on the 1995 windstar, in our case, still failed prematurely at 60,000.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Lights · 107,829 miles · UN

2003 - door ajar light 2002 - blew head gasket; 2002 - heater core replaced 2001 - ignition coil pack & ignition leads replaced 2001 - front tie rod ends replaced 2000 - refrigerant coolant loss 1998 - egr valve replaced 1998 - transmission fluid cooler hoses replaced 1997 - blew head gasket, repaired under warranty

Filed Nov 3, 2003 · Engine · FL

Vehicle overheated. The cylinder head gasket was replaced. *mr while traveling, the vehicle overheated on three occasions. When the third occasion occurred, the mechanic found the main head gasket was cracked. *scc *jb