In addition to Ford, there are now third party manufacturers of the blend door motor/actuators - each has their own part number.
Check your local parts store and ask for it by name instead of the number.
See "Related Questions" below for more
Before replacing the thermostat or any other component of the Windstar's HVAC system, be sure to check your blend door for functionality FIRST. The most common issue with heat or A/C in the late model Ford windstar is a broken blend door. A broken blend door actuator is almost as common as a broken blend door itself. Typically, the fix requires disassembling the entire dash and replacing the whole plenum box, which can be a costly repair.
Behind the dashboard
There's the heater core itself - getting plugged upAnd then there's the blend door itself - they've been know to get stuck and/or break.See "Related Questions" below for more
Before replacing the thermostat, it is worth checking to see if the blend door is broken or the blend door actuator is failing. The most common issue relating to thermostat and climate control in Ford Windstar vans is the blend door. CHECK TO SEE IF IT IS BROKEN BEFORE REPLACING OTHER COMPONENTS (i.e. Thermostat, heater core, etc.). The Blend Door actuator on the Ford Windstar can be found by removing the glovebox. A broken blend door actuator is almost as common as a broken blend door itself. Typically, the fix requires disassembling the entire dash and replacing the whole plenum box, which can be a costly repair. Linked here is a video from www.heatertreater.net demonstrating how to access components of the plenum box for repair without disassembling the entire dash.
A common problem is that the blend door actuator or the blend door itself will break. The blend door actuator is just a small motor that opens a vent to allow the warm air to flow, it is cheap and fairly easy to replace with a radio removal tool. A professional could do the repair in less than 15 minutes. See "Related Questions" below for more information on the actuator motor repairs many others have done. However, on my 1999 Ford Windstar, the blend door itself broke. This repair is more costly and more difficult, perhaps $700 to $1000 to replace. I just tied a shoestring to my blend door. When you insert the blend door actuator if there is no slot for it the door is broken and you are up sh... creak. Hope it is the former. Another option is from a company called HeaterTreater - a method to repair a broken blend door without removing the dash. I haven't tried it, but the ideas behind it seem to make sense - and they have lots of videos showing the processes. http://www.heatertreater.net/Windstar%20Listing.html
my 2000 de ville hides the blend door activator behind the glove box to the left
The heater blend door is not run by vacuum. It is run by an electric actuator.
AnswerEven more common is the temperature blend door actuator/motor that drives the blend door fails.A $45 and 20-30 minute repair.See "Related Questions" below for moreAnswerThis is a fairly common Ford problem. What happens here, is that the blend door actuator moves normally, but the blend door is cracked where the actuator drive fits into it. You're going to need to replace the entire HVAC case. Contact your Ford dealer parts dept. and have your VIN handy. Keep some lube handy before making that phone call.
There is only one thermostat relating to heating/cooling on the Windstar, and that's the one on the engine.If you're looking for the temperature adjusting/setting control, that's the temperature blend door and the actuator motor that drives it, based on the dashboard slide adjuster.See "Related Questions" below for more
The temp blend door actuator would be found behind the dash assembly mounted to the HVAC box. Unfortunately the dash needs to be removed to gain access to the actuator.
The entire dash assembly needs to be removed to gain access to the blend door actuator. Big job, suggest acquiring a shop manual of you plan on doing this job yourself.
Blend door actuator.