1996 Ford Windstar: misfire or rough idle

Filed May 7, 2011 · Engine · MO

Check engine stays on after tuneup ... Does not lose speed ... Runs rough after accelerating and doesn't not overheat ....what is the problem.

Filed Jan 4, 2008 · Engine · 58,101 miles · PA

Rough idling, "hiccupping" while driving, no heat--went in for a tune up and thermostat and was told its the head gasket.

Filed Mar 7, 2006 · Electrical, Fuel system · 72,000 miles · CA

Engine dies after either very short (1 second or less) or no misfire. Always on hot afternoon after long period highway driving, typically interstate with speed in the 70's. Only once on a secondary road speeds of 45 - 50. All times in the rolling hills of utah, wyoming, and western north dakota. All six incidents occurred during a cross country trip in july, 2005 with odometer readings in the 70,000's. Typically, when it happens, the engine speed and throttle are continually adjusting to maintain speed across the hills. First indication often is simply the car slowing down rather that cruising along. All other electrical (air, radio, windows, etc) not affected. This is very dangerous. Other than sometimes a one second misfire, there is no warning. The car may be passing a truck, in a middle freeway lane, on on a road with no shoulder when it happens. Wherever and whenever it happens, the car simply coasts as the driver pulls off the road to extent possible. The engine will not restart for 15 minutes or so. Then it starts as if nothing ever happened, and car is good until the next incident. I made detailed notes of each incident, and can provide additional info on specifics of what was going on with car at the time. I took car to a ford dealer. The dealer did diagnostics and could not identify problem. I have refrained from driving under similar highway conditions since then. The van was purchased new in connecticut in feb, 1997.

Filed Sep 27, 2004 · Engine · 147,000 miles · MN

1996 ford windstar, misfired under normal highway driving, the check engine light started flashing. This is indicative of a misfire according to the owners manual. Upon further research, this is a very common problem to the 1996 model. The computer will say the engine is misfire in cylinder x when it is actually a misfire in cylinder y. Have been told that this is anything from a faulty spark plug to a blown piston ring, causing a loss of compression in a cylinder. Seems to be a very very very common problem among 1996 windstars.

Filed Jun 9, 2004 · Engine · 68,000 miles · NY

1996 ford windstar with headgasket problem. I have contacted fors, but they say there is no record of the 1996 engines having premature head gasket failure. My windstar, bought new has 68,000 miles. I have been smelling antifreeze for the past 3 years, but it has now gotten much worse. Brought car to mechaninc due to engine misfiring, one of the sysmptoms listed for the head gasket failure. The reapiar will cost over $2,000.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine · 20,000 miles · IL

Misfiring and losing coolant. Am sure it is a head gasket problem. Father-in-law currently in dispute with ford for same model/year and they won't reimburse him. May attempt repair myself if ford unwilling to recall or put right. Also, speedometer failure intermittent or incorrect reading.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine · 83,000 miles · CA

I had symptoms of water in the exhaust, rough idle, and hydraulic lock of the engine. Took to the shop, the head gasket was blown on #1 cylinder, and the connecting rod was bent on the cylinder, which has necessitated replacement of the engine. Ford has been contacted by me and by the dealer to the district rep, to no avail. After reading all the literature on the web about this problem, and it's continuing thru the 95 models which are covered to the 96 models which aren't; I need further help.

Filed Nov 10, 2003 · Engine · 60,100 miles · FL

At 60000 miles check engine light came on, indicating a misfire on cylinder 1. Mechanic pulled plug and found coolant in cylinder due to a blown head gasket.

Filed Oct 25, 2003 · Engine · 69,900 miles · PA

1996 ford windstar engine failure - systemic head gasket problem with the v6 3.8l engine, which ford has known about for many years. Symptoms: hard to start, rough idle, white smoke from tail pipe, engine coolant dripping from exhaust, oil looks like brown mayonnaise.

Filed Jun 20, 2003 · Engine · 84,452 miles · SD

Problems with head gaskets / if compression check had been done bending of piston rods may not have occurred. *mr the consumer experienced, rough idle along with the smell of anti freeze(indicated a head gasket problem), the engine light had come on as a result of a misfire code(the radiator was flushed), there were noises that had come from the engine(lost power/slowed to a crawl), and the consumer was told that something had come loose in the engine. (there was an intermittent miss in cylinder #1) the rough idle and the smell of antifreeze was repaired, the service dealer recommended the consumer replace the engine. *scc

Filed Apr 8, 2003 · Engine · 84,452 miles · SD

I purchased a 1996 ford windstar in september of 1998. It had 15,000 miles on it. It has the 3.8l v6 engine. The van currently has 84,452 miles on the odometer. On march 28, 2003 the check engine light appeared. I took the vehicle to my local ford dealer to be fixed. They advised that the engine had a miss-fire on cylinder number 1. They checked the spark plug, spark plug wire and coil. They did not determine why the engine misfired and concluded that it must have been a fluke. I paid for the work completed. I drove approximately one half mile and the check engine light again appeared. On march 28th, I was informed by the shop forman that the fuel injector on number 1 cylinder was not working. A fuel injector was ordered and installed. On monday, march 31, 2003 I paid a bill for $136.31 for the repair of the fuel injector. As I drove the windstar to my home the check engine light appeared. The shop forman advised me that the fuel injector was not the problem and that an alternate engine computer was tried. On wednesday, april 2, 2003 I was advised that an engine knock had developed. It was caused by antifreeze leaking through a head gasket into cylinder number 1. The water in the cylinder caused the piston rod to bend ruining the engine. A replacement engine will cost $3400. I asked the shop forman if an engine compression check had been done during the engine diagnosis. He advise that no compression check was done since a pressure check of the engine had been done by this shop a few months previous because the coolant level was low. I have found many testimonials and complaints regarding the 1996 3.8l v6 engine. I believe that ford should pay for the new engine.

Filed Mar 14, 2003 · Engine · 69,000 miles · GA

Check engine light comes on< goes off< comes on< goes off< comes on< stays on< goes off! And the dealership (greene ford, gainesville, ga.) always has a different reason for the problem at a cost of approximately. $600 or more to fix each time, to no end. The first time the check engine light came on the imrcs were suppose to be the problem according to the dealerships disagnostics test (cost $80.00) they replaced and supposedly fixed the problem, (cost $560.00). Light came on next day while taking a family vacation out of state. Had an independent machanic perform a tune up on vehicle, replaced plugs, wires, oil change, throttle body cleaned (cost $223.00) the check engine light came back on within two days. Upon the next return to the dealership the diagnostics test (cost another $80.00) reported a code egr insufficient flow and a #4 cylinder misfire (est. Repair costs $600.00). Had a dpfe sensor replaced ($76.00) the check engine light came back on! It is amazing to me that these so called dealerships (experts) with their so called (diagnostics tests) have not the foggiest clue about how to fix this problem. It is also disturbing that after reveiwing the number of complaints on this website, that the federal safety agency has not ordered ford to stop playing games and force a recall for these problems. It is apparent that others had the same symptoms and problems in the past that never get resolved until the head gaskets fail and the repair bills go from $600.00 to $2000.00. I am accusing ford of knowingly and without regard to the best intrests of their customers allowing major problems to exist and persist in an effort to increase their profits at the customers expense. Ford corparation should be assamed, but they have shown no acceptance of responability. And the dealerships are no better, everytime we discuss this problem with them, we get different answers and costs from day to day and it appears if you complain to much you get to pay even more. Thanks ford, for nothing!