My wife did the very same thing to my 2001!! (seriously! ;))
My trusted transmission repair shop reported the torque converter had pretty well self-destructed.
$1600 later we were, and ARE, happily "on the road again" (Willie Nelson)
sounds like your transaxles or transmission It could also be a bad wheel bearing - See "Related Questions" below for more
There are a few reasons for a transmission to growl. It could be that the vehicle is low on fluid, and the gears are starting to grind, it could be that there is dirt within the system causing it to grind as well.
The Windstar transmission could have a seal that leaks worse as the transmission gets hot and the fluid is under pressure. Go to a car wash and clean the transmission good. Watch for several days to see where the fluid is leaking from so that you can find and fix the leak.
Transmission fluid, if you have a bad radiator.
Could be the transmission!!!!
Yes, you could severely damage a transmission by shifting into reverse while moving forward. But the odds of the transmission actually going into reverse are not good because there are safety mechanisms in place to prevent it from happening.
Try this solution. http://www.leckemby.net/windstar/windstar01.html It seems that Windstars have a problem with the intake manifold.
What can cause the RPM on a car to jump while driving is a problem with the transmission. It could be a problem with the gears in the transmission itself.
If you aren't moving and it is making the noise, it may be the transmission or engine. if you are moving and it makes it, it could be a joint or a worn disc brake. If you aren't moving it is definitely not a joint.
You have a problem with your transmission. If it is only occasionally on - it could be just overheating. A dealer can retrieve the code to find out what the problem is.
could be failing transmission
A serious vacuum leak could cause that.