2002 Ford Windstar: check engine light

Filed May 30, 2014 · Brakes · 120,000 miles · NC

My ABS light is on and my brake light will also be on at times. Have had brake work done and checked several times. They find nothing wrong with brakes. Told I could get new ABS computer system put in but nothing wrong with brakes and that would just be $$$$$$ and I have already spent several hundreds of dollars on it. Even had new brake pads put on again in 2014 with a new caliper, still light appears. It goes off and then it seems when driven for a while lights come back on. At times I do smell something like it is hot but did not find anything. I am also having my engine light staying on. Code is showing lean fuel. Mechanics have done all kinds of test including I think a smoke test and showing no leaks. I have spent a lot of money trying to get this problem fixed and having no success. I am using certified mechanics and my husband has also been in the front end business for over 30 years and known as one of the best. So I have my ABS light and brake light and my engine light on???? Bought used van 2009 I now have 144,000 and I keep my van serviced.

Filed Nov 17, 2013 · Brakes · 52,000 miles · NC

Left ford dealership with my just purchased 02 ford windstar. Within 10 miles of dealership ABS and brake light came on. Returned to dealership on monday. Tried to charge me diagnostic fee for issue.... Wouldn't fix problem unless I paid for parts and labor. I complained numerous times. Said wasn't their problem and not a recall. Still having issue. Now vehicle has ABS light on (without brake light). Check engine light came on. Barely made it home.... Going back to dealership tomorrow. I will never again purchase a ford. Especially not from dealership that won't correct problem even though I paid $2k extra for extended warranty.

Filed Feb 21, 2013 · Engine · 69,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford windstar. The contact stated that the check engine light warning light continued to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, where numerous attempts were made to correct the failure. The dealer also reset the computer system but the remedy only lasted for approximately three months before recurring. The manufacturer was notified and stated that there was no recall for the vehicle and that they could not assist. The failure mileage was 69,000.

Filed Dec 9, 2012 · Brakes, Engine · KY

The 1st problem, had a check engine light on my 2001 ford windstar, c1518 "intake manifold runner control stuck open." after reading forums, most pointed to a plastic "bushing" clip coming off leaving a control arm 2nd problem, ABS chk light and brk chk light come on after driving for a few minutes, ABS module and ABS sensor went out.

Filed Jun 1, 2012 · Acceleration, Brakes · 94,000 miles · IA

Purchased this vehicle in january 2012 and have had nothing but problems with it. According to ford all recalls have been done on this vehicle but here is a list of the issues with the van: ABS light comes on, check engine light comes on, van has no cruise control at all, and last friday I could not put the van in gear. After the ford dealership "repaired" the solenoid for the van now all of a sudden there is currently no rear brake lights. This van is less than safe to be on the road and have seen that some of the recalls would have solved the speed control issue but the ford factory will not answer any of my questions. Take a look online and you will see thousands of people with the same issues we are having and it was brought to the attention of ford that we are having the same issues as thousands of other people so this is beyond a problematic vehicle.the vehicle is currently sitting at the local ford dealer while they try and figure out what is wrong with the light system. This vehicle has been in the shop twice since we have owned it and this is costing us hundreds (so far) to fix issues that everyone with this vehicle is having. The latest issues have LED to us being without a vehicle for almost a week and we have a disabled child in the home and this is unacceptable.

Filed Feb 23, 2012 · Fuel system · 95,000 miles · CO

Engine light came on, unable to pump gas, gas blow back when attempting to fill, takes several minutes and attempts to fill tank. Have taken it to several shops unable to find problem, engine light claims to be bleeding problem, have dropped tank, changed fill valve, fuel filter, fuel pump, 3 fuel caps and still have issue.

Filed Jun 15, 2011 · Brakes · 125,000 miles · TN

All the time when I'm driving the ABS/brake light stays on, the vehicle does not stop properly. The #10 and 15 fuse blows out regularly and causes the air, odometer, overdrive to not work. I smell burning electricity, and see smoke coming from hood while driving. Some morning my van doesn't start due to battery drainage. Check engine light will not stay off causing it not pass inspection. Brake fluid leaking. I truly believe that the brake fluid leak is causing these problems, and it looks like I'm not the only person. With the speed control recall the ABS module and ECM needed to be included.

Filed May 19, 2011 · Engine, Transmission · 50,000 miles · MD

Check engine light on - 2002 ford windstar - seems to be common complaint online service bulletin issued in 2003 - diagnostics says it's the o2 sensor, this is not the case vehicle idles erratically at stops - some hesitation - now hesitates and runs bad in rain I've replaced the transmission twice - engine once - crappy vehicle.

Filed Sep 27, 2010 · Brakes · 91,000 miles · WI

We have a 2002 ford windstar. The brake lights and ABS lights and the check engine light have been on for some time now. I recently had the recall work done on the vehicle for the scds switch. The first day of driving the vehicle after the recall work was completed I lost all braking ability on my way to work on a highway. I called the dealership that completed the recall work and was told they did the recall work and it could not have possibly caused the brakes to go completely out. I have read on countless websites and forums that many owners of this model year have had similar issues with the ABS lights and brake lights in their vehicles. Every time I have it looked it I am told it is something different. The transmission is also going in this vehicle. I feel it is too low in miles (90,000) to be having this many issues and such costly repairs. I hope that ford does something about these issues before someone is seriously injured as I could have been this morning.

Filed Sep 22, 2010 · Brakes, Electrical · NY

In september 2009 the mechanic at the dealer where I bought my windstar told me the ABS module is bad and that I need a new one and have to go to the ford dealer directly and pay around $800.00 and have it reset by their computer. This has cost me lots of money because I already spent $600.00 on rear brakes because of not knowing this is a common problem with ford windstar.also, immediately after purchasing this vehicle in 2007, the locks on the van don't work. Sometimes it locks by remote and sometimes the locks all work, but, the driver side. This is a pain. Now, I have a problem with the 'check engine' light coming on and I have had various mechanics try to reset the light and it will come back on again and again! I have spent hundreds on this van to have it in shape, but always something arises. Despite the cruise control recall, I have not had any problem with it and use it all the time, but will have to have it done. I wish ford to fix all the problems this type of van has and so I won't have to spend hundreds, again, or I will have to get rid of it, which is a shame because I really love the tv, even though the screen give me problems and the vcr no longer works.

Filed Aug 31, 2010 · Brakes · MD

Abs dashboard light -- for over a year now we have been dealing with a ABS dashboard light which comes on and off. The majority of the time it has been on. We have had computers hooked up trying to diagnose the issue with false diagnosis. In addition to the ABS light the engine light also will come on and off with the same outcomes, sometimes vehicle will show hesitating during cold weather and then light will emerge. In the past few months we have started having an issue with the right tail light remaining on after the vehicle has been turned off. We tried several different remedies with this problem too but eventually it too returns. If left alone the light will eventually shut itself off but makes the red tail light shield very hot to the touch. We have been told that all of the above problems it may be related and may be a relay problem . This has been a very frustrating problem and I worry about the ABS problem being a safety problem. I have two children who ride in this vehicle constantly with me, one of them has heart problems and is on coumadin therapy and even a minor incident could be major and life threatening to him. I ask you to please look into this problem. I am aware that there are many others experiencing the same problems with their ford windstar minivans too, a simple search on the internet shows many frustrated consumers. Thank you in advance for your help and investigation into this matter.. Take care.

Filed Aug 30, 2010 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 56,000 miles · OR

I have a 2002 ford windstar mini van. At 56,xxx miles I had to replace the transmission. About 6 month after that I started experiencing a blizzard of lights on my dash indicating the following alerts for ABS/brakes, trac off & check traction control. This light blizzard appears each time I drive my van for a short period of time and remains on the dash until I stop the van and restart. Went to the transmission shop and they said it was not related to the tranny replacement. Took the van in to ford dealership for the 2009 recall jumper and they said the ABS/traction control was not related to the leaking brake cylinder so they wouldn't fix it. A short time ago I started getting a check engine light too. Tried to go thru deq but the van failed emissions test. Went to a mechanic and he couldn't locate the problem but the check engine light is off so I went to deq and passed but I still an having a problem with the original light blizzard (ABS/tc). I had not experienced any problems with the braking system to date but I haven't had to slam them either. Next week it's off to the ford dealership since no one else can determine a problem resolution. I've searched this problem on the internet and there seems to be quite a few windstar/gm products with similar problems. It really points back to a poor quality product!