Check Engine Light On problems of the 2000 Ford Windstar

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 have, are repairs due to accidents or normal wear and tear. When almost ever one who owes one of them as the same problem, around the same time, then it is a defect in the making of the car and should be the responsibility of the Ford company. The fact that Ford had to come up with a repair kit, is admitting there is a defect with the van. I should have check this website before I bought the van. Do your research people!.

Check engine light has been on for several thousand miles, from about 40,000 to current 130,000. The code that comes up can be 1 of about 10 things. Nothing corrects this. I have the 3. 8l engine and the "check engine" light has been on. Had a mechanic pull the codes up and they are bank 1 running lean and bank 2 running lean (p0171) and (p0174). Was told could be mass airflow sensor, O2 sensor (1 of 4), vacuum issues, head gasket or a few others. I have replaced the maf sensor and all 4 O2 sensors at about $200. 00 a piece. Still on. 2nd issue. Noise from front end when turning. 3rd issue. Currently sitting at Ford dealer with fractured rear axle for last month. Also abs light goes on and off all the time.

Abs light lit check engine light on.

: the contact stated while driving 60 mph, the check engine light illuminated intermittently. During the time that the light was illuminated, the vehicle ran normally. While the check engine light was not illuminated, the vehicle was sluggish, and would not run smoothly. The vehicle was taken to a private repair shop, where the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the problem. The battery was replaced, however the problem became worse.

: the contact stated the vehicle's check engine light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent repair shop for inspection. The independent mechanic determined the left valve covers and upper intake gaskets were wrong for this type of vehicle and needed to be replaced.

I just did a copy/paste of what I sent to Ford:--description of issue/concern: I took my van in for service. The check engine light was on and I could smell and see oil on the left side of the engine. Turns out it was the front valve cover, and I'm told that there was a TSB on this problem. It cost me $1000. 00 to get this repaired. This is obviously a known problem, my in-laws have the same model Windstar and they had the same problem, it cost them more. I should not have to pay for repairs to parts that were made/engineered wrong by Ford. Now I hear of a problem with the cruise control causing fire, even without driving the van. It could be sitting in my driveway in the middle of the night and catch fire, and Ford is not going to fix this problem either. A fire in the van parked next to my house while me, my wife, and kids are sleeping, that's not a problem you are willing to fix?.

After pumping the brakes they could not stop the vehicle, and the check engine light was on. Dealer replaced the anti lock braking system , but the check engine light problem had not been repaired. . . . Also,overdrive light came on dealer replaced shaft sensor.

We have owned this 2000 Ford Windstar since February of 2002. I have lost count of how many times we have taken it back to the dealer because of the poor gas mileage. It was getting 13 mpg and the dealer said that was normal. But over the past 3 months we have taken it back to the dealer 8 times because of the check engine light. The dealership has replaced the upper/lower intake gaskets, fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel line, mass oxygen flow sensor, both O2 sensors, valve cover gaskets, and a couple of other things too. The gas mileage actually got worse after several of the repairs. We are averaging between 9 - 10 mpg. In addition to the engine problems, our door locks don't work right and the interior lights don't work at all automatically. . . We have to turn them on and off. The door locks on the sliding doors have to worked by hand. I am so sick and tired of this car. We have had to cancel two road trips because of the problems, because I don't trust the car out of town. It already left me stranded overnight because the transmission blew up two months after we bought it.

Right from the day I bought the van, I have had one issue or the other. Here are some of the major issues. 1. Tires - my new van had bumps on all 4 tires. Every tire dealer told me they would burst on driving. They were general tires. I went to Ford many times and opened a case with them also to no avail. After 12,000 miles, I decided to buy 4 new tires myself for the safety of my family at my own expense. 2. At 15,000 miles, I had to get my front brakes changed as they had reached their end of life. 3. At 15,000 miles, I also had to get my transmission fluid as well as drop pan changed as they worn out 4. At 30,000 miles, I had to get my front brake pads again changed (these were also worn out). What is surprising is that my rear brakes are fine 5. At 30,000 miles, I also had to get my transmission fluid as well as drop pan changed as they worn out 6. At 40,000 miles, my check engine light came on, for which I had to get the entire cooling system changed as well as had major engine work done to remove the light. The bill was in a few thousand, and I still don't know what they did to get it all fixed 7. At 45,000 miles, I had to get front rotors and brakes again. 8. At 45,000 miles I also had to get my front tie rods changed as they were squeaking 9. My automatic door sensor has never worked since I bought the van. If you shut the doors using the electronic door openers, and if something is in the way, it will still shut the door trapping the item, rather than reversing the process. 10. My drivers side power seats have just failed, and I am yet again faced with a large expense. I will never buy a Ford again.

Have had constant problems with my 2000 Ford Windstar since 40,000 miles. Have already done the overhaul for the check engine light and the abs light still comes on and off daily for the last 3 years. Replaced the cruise control activation switch 2 years ago, but I guess the leaking fluids have destroyed my ecu. Also have cleaned and checked all wheel sensors which has not helped at all. I used to be a Ford man, but after these problems and $$$ spend, I'm very cautious of Fords now!.

Ford admits this is known about the check engine light but won't pay to fix the problem due to being out of warranty. **** dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis****769755.

Engine pings and stutters. Engine check shows carbon build-up dealer -- marshall Ford replaced intake hoses and a long list of other things and now 2 years later I am stuck with a van with the engine light on and since the warranty is up, they refused to fix or tried to fix anything when this is the same problem that I had from day of purchase. Carbon builds up no matter what I do. The dealer had the van in for repair off and on a total of over two months.