Five problems related to radiator have been reported for the 1998 Ford Windstar. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
No problems with the Windstar before the incident. The vehicle was parked and unattended when the owner was alerted by other residents that it was on fire. The smoke was white in color and coming from the front left area of the engine compartment. At the time the fire department arrived, the fire had made its way through the fire wall into the passenger compartment. The investigator determined the fire appeared to have started in the front left corner of the engine compartment evident by the heavier burning in that area there is a v-pattern noted on the back side of the radiator pointing to the center of the engine. The fire appeared to have breached the fire wall at the area where the main wiring harness and steering columns come through into the passenger compartment. Cause was ruled undetermined.
My heat wouldn't come on sometimes, then the hot light came on. Had it in the shop 2 times, everytime said it was fine, only changing out temp gauge. Dec 2005 3rd time took it in, same problem only oil light would also flicker at low idle pulling into parking spot. Took it back in and told them they had to find out what was wrong, it had been going on too long. Told then heavy residue on oil cap, could see dark marks around exhaust pipe. Loosing radiator fluid slowly. I am no mechanic but all I researched showed head gasket. To make story brief, they told me same day all was ok, computer read fine. I told them I was not satisfied and to keep testing. Took 3 days, then they call me to say the problem was that the head gasket had failed. Of course my extended warranty had ended 2 weeks before. They claimed I had been driving it with no oil and tried to get me to buy a new engine! I had been checking the oil myself, never ran low. Oil pan thick with gunk. I had it in for all reg maint, why would it have gotten that bad? $3200. 00 later I had new head gasket water pump, oil pump, and various seals and hoses. Picket it up, following day had it back for not wanting to start, rough idle. Another $175. 00 later I got it back. Unhappy to know this has been an on going issue and my 98 Windstar, fell in the age/miles time frame for the issue. Knowing that one van had this issue they should have know from all my descriptions what the problem was. If found 2 weeks earlier it would have been covered under warranty. Oil light still flickers now and then when pulling into parking spot. I will never but a Ford product again. Company was unwilling to work with me, give me any breaks.
My heating was working intermitently so I brought the vehicle to crown Ford in lynbrook to diagnose the problem. I was told that the head gasket needs to be replaced. The radiator also needs to be replaced due to the head gasket leaking into it. Cost for the repair would be approximately $2300. There was a recall on previous years vehicles and there are many tales of woe regarding this problem posted on the web. I don't believe Ford has fixed this problem sufficiently for the vehicles produced after 1996.
The first sign of trouble occurred when the vehicle was brought into the repair shop. Informed by the mechanic that there was a problem with the head gasket, in which the radiator fluid was leaking into the engine and that the repair cost would be approximately $1,500 (canadian). Ford was notified but refuses to acknowledge and to compensate the problem because it?s not covered in its extended warranty even though its warranty is for seven years or 160,000 km.
Radiator hose.