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Ford Windstar LX
Introduced in 1995, the Windstar LX was a first generation Windstar model powered by a 155 hp 3.8 L V6 engine, which can generate up to 220 lb ft of torque.
1,653 Questions
How do you add a fog light in your Ford Windstar Lx 2001 bumper cover?
1) You could use a spiral type cutter to create the holes. 2) If you want the fog lights to look factory original, you could buy a front bumper cover (ebay or salvage yard) that has the cutouts already molded in. Ebay would end up around $100-$120 including shipping. Can't guess about availability / pricing from a junkyard.
Ford winstar 2001 shakes at 100km?
I have a 99 Windstar that also starts to shake at about 65mph. It also sounds like something is a bit loose on the drivers side up front. I just purchased the vehcile and was told that the tie rod end was loose and needed to replaced, not sure how much truth there is to this. I suspect there might also be something wrong with the strut. Plan on taking a closer look tomorrow because I just purchased the van this morning.
Hydraulic lifters will rattle a little when the engine first starts if the oil has leaked out. Typically that doesn't take too long to go away. Often the knocking noise when an engine first starts is because of worn rod bearings or "piston slap". If there is too much gap in the rod bearings you'll have some knocking when you first start that will last until oil has filled the oil lines. Piston slap takes a little longer to go away, and that's because it's a noise that's caused when the skirt of the piston pops from one Sid of the cylinder to the other. A worn piston will leave too much clearance at the bottom of the cylinder, allowing the piston to slap back and forth when it's running. As the engine warms, the piston expands and usually the noise either goes away or diminishes considerably.
It's often a guessing game to figure out which part is worn and causing the problem.
How much does it cost to have a water pump replaced on a Ford Windstar?
I paid $490 to have the water pump replaced.
1989 mini van windstar vacuum leak how much should they charge you?
Windstar's weren't built until 1995, so do you have an aerostar? or a totally different vehicle?
What could cause a Windstar to have no heat - or not be able to adjust the temperature?
- Check coolant level
- Heater core may be plugged or restricted
- Heater core may be air bound
- Thermostat may not be operating properly
- Water pump may not be circulating coolant
I have a 2001 Windstar which had the same problem. At first when you adjusted the temperature selector you could hear a slight thumping noise coming from the temperature selector. I dismantled everything to get to where the noise came from. After hours of messing around, this is what I found. In front of the housing for the heater and air conditioning, right behind the radio, there is a white plastic module about the size of a pack of cigarettes. It is mounted with 3 screws I believe. This unit has a wiring harness on it that has to be unplugged for removal. It also has an D shape actuator about 1 1/2 inches long protruding from the back side that fits into a damper for the heater core. This unit has a circuit board and motor that rotate the actuator, which in turn opens and closes the damper allowing the air to pass through the heater core. What happens is that the motor drives a couple of plastic gears that strip and do longer drive the actuator. I believe the unit is called a heater damper module, dealer item only. In my neck of the woods it's about $75
When removing radio it is MUCH easier to buy "radio removal tool" from Autozone, about $2
I have a 2001 Windstar with the same problem (thumping behind the dash,no heat)I was able to remove the module without taking out the radio by removing the bottom trim under the heater controls and reaching up behind the radio.. An 8mm socket did the trick. The name of the module is a "blend door actuator" I was able to pop it open and sure enough one of the little plastic gears was stripped.
The answers I found on this site saved me some $$ and time. So I thought I would add my 2 cents worth. Situation:1999 Windstar, thumping under dash, no front heat, rear heat worked fine. Per above, I removed lower trim piece and found the actuator, took it apart and found same stripped gears. Ordered part # 655-1552 from Napa "Heat and AC Actuator" for $44.77. Works perfectly now!
I have a 2000 Windstar with this problem. My husband removed the trim under the controls & replaced the blend door actuator. Problem solved. THANK YOU so much to all those responses above. You saved us tons of money & TIME! I will use this site more for advice.
October 29th, 2008- We also have a 2000 Windstar with the same no heat problem. I took our van to a trusted local mechanic and he agreed the blend door was in fact broken. Being a hands-on guy with a need to know more before I spent ~$800 for the repair I found this site. THANK YOU THANK YOU!! The information about the Heat and AC Actuator was correct and easy to replace. I got the replacement part from Advance Auto parts for $48 and a lifetime warranty to boot. Thanks again
November 5, 2008: Last week, we started seeing the same problems described (cold air only, faint clicking sound when changing the desired temperature on the controls) in our 2000 Ford Windstar. I was able to access the blend door actuator (easily identifiable ... white plastic, size of a pack of cards, three screws) by removing the lower plastic panel. This is the plastic panel that is on the floor and includes the small compartment that opens to store sunglasses, etc. (not the black trim surrounding the radio or temperature controls. I had to remove four plastic screws and anchors (two on each side by the drivers legs and the passengers legs). I had to disconnect the passenger side cigarette lighter to remove the panel completely from the car. Once unscrewed and lighter disconnected, I just pulled hard until the two friction clips gave way. In this way I did not have to remove the stereo. With hindsight, I might buy the stereo removal tools next time as removing and replacing the blend door actuator from below requires that I lie upside down on the seats with my head on the floor ... doable but awkward. Hint: while accessing the part from below is awkward, simply opening the cup holder/ash tray did wonders to make the part more accessible. Once I had removed the old blend door actuator, I opened it to see that the plastic gears had in fact stripped. I went to two auto parts stores and was unable to find a suitable replacement. Napa Auto Parts could have ordered one of the parts I read about above but he said it may not be the exact same part. He recommended I go to the nearby Dealer. The dealer did have the part (he keeps several in stock). It cost me about $70. He warned me that the gears may have stripped because an object may have fallen in the vent and could be blocking the blend door. If that is the case, replacing the part will only result in another broken blend door actuator. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to investigate this so I simply used a screw driver to rotate the blend door manually until I was satisfied that it had the proper range of motion. I replaced the blend door actuator (again, upside down on the passenger seat with my head on the floor) and the heater now works perfectly.
Your problem sounds like the common blend door problem on the Ford Expeditions, and Ford Explorer. The door is on a vertical axis and when it breaks, it can swing back and forth randomly giving heat or AC or nothing. The difference on acceleration is the force placed on the door swinging it one direction.
You can check the operation by fully opening the glove box, removing the actuator motor on top of the plenum box and examining the blend door axle. Pictures of the common fail signature are available on the heatertreater.net web site. There are several "free" fixes that mostly are worth what you pay for them. The solution on the web site is solid and proven over hundreds of vehicles and will resolve the problem once and for all.
The "Related Question" below is an extensive discussion on the 1999-2003 temperature control valve / heater control valve.
It is likely the information will be similar to the 1997 / 1998 Windstar
A Fuse?This happened to my 95 Windstar-I just replaces the fuse for the air mixture door.
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
CHECK THIS LINK http://www.automotiveforums.com/t524247.HTML
April 11, 2009: Your diagnosis was spot on! I removed the lower plastic panel (4 screws, unhook cig lighter), pulled out the ashtray/cup holder, and access wasn't too bad. Got a new actuator at Advance Auto ($46) and the whole job took about an hour. Thanks from Bay City, Michigan!
Checking the ThermostatDitto
I won't get into too much detail.
This forum saved me a few hundred bucks. How you determine its the heater actuator versus a stuck thermostat is simple. Most Windstars ( I have an 02) have 2 zones. The front zone will only blow cold air, but switch to the rear and turn on heat. If hot air flows, your thermostat is good.
If you hear a clicking sound behind the radio, it's your actuator and it's probably defective.
I ask my son in law to repair it ( he tinkers with cars all day ) and he repaired it 45 minutes.
CR, NJ
The part you are looking for is a blend motor. It is made of plastic . The gears teeth are broken or missing. This part moves a flap from normal cold air to the heated air. Only get heat when blend motor is engaged.
I just repaired this problem on my 2001 Windstar. The problem is usually the damper motor which is located behind the radio. The motor has a plastic gear inside and it wears out. If you know what you are doing it takes 30 minutes max to replace the motor. If this is your first attempt, plan on an hour. Go to a auto parts store and purchase the Ford radio removal kit, $5. Place the prongs into the holes on the radio until you feel them engage, no more than an inch and a half. Pull both wire hoops towards the doors and then pull the radio out. Once you have disconnected the radio, you will see a flat plastic unit about 3 x 4 inches. Remove the screws, I think there are three of them, using an 8mm socket with extensions. and one is not the same size as the other two, and pull the motor out, be careful not to break the stem. Remove slowly Get the replacement part from your favorite rip-off Ford dealer parts store. Usually about $70 bucks. I found that by calling around, I saved 10 bucks. Now do the reverse and you are good to go. I had the job quoted to me for $270 bucks so the 30 minutes spent is well worth it.. I hope this helped. edit.......I got the part for $48 at advanced auto parts. I had to plug the electric back up to the new actuator to get the"D" shaped peg to line up with the "D" shaped hole. The peg turned to exactly where it needed to go once plugged to electric. Took about 90 minutes to change out.
I am glad I can actually help someone else for once! It is your blend door actuator. It gets stuck between heat and cool and it breaks. That's what makes the clicking sound. I had to replace mine on my 2000 windstar and it was really easy, about 20 minutes to fix. It goes right behind your stereo and the part was only like $20 online. Just do a search for how to fix a blend door actuator and there are step by step instructions on a few different websites. I ! my 1999 winstar was doing this and it was the blend door
I HAVE A 97 BLAZER THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. FIRST I CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT (NOT WHAT FINALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT IT DID HELP IN THE LONG RUN)ONLY A $12.00 PART AND 30 MINUTES WORK. WHAT FINALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM WAS TO FLUSH OUT THE HEATER CORE. THERE SHOULD BE 2 HOSES GOING TO THE HEATER CORE THROUGH THE FIRE WALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK EACH HOSE OFF AT THE BLOCK AND FLUSHED THE HEATER CORE THROUGH THOSE HOSES. I FLUSHED IT BOTH DIRECTIONS AND THE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS THAT CAME OUT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. BUT THEN I HAD FULL HEAT AGAIN. .
the water pump might be going bad and not circulating as good as it should,i had that happen to an older Buick of mine. i replaced the water pump and it worked like new
That is the mix door actuator trying to move the door, it may be stuck or you might have a vacuum leak coming from the engine. The actuator may be bad as well. Feel the heater hoses in engine compartment if one is hot and other cool try flushing heater core. there is a actuator that moves the temperature blend door,the door that controls hot to cold.the gears in the motor are plastic.is it makes a clicking noise after you turn the heater on ,it broke answer a flapping sound is usually caused by a leaf or other matter falling down thru vents pull fan cover off and clean debis out, mostdoors are are controlled by cable or vacuum,not gears.as you didnt say a clicking sound i doubt very much it has anything to do with motor or gears It's the blend door on the HVAC box. It's what controls what temp air comes through the vents.
have the heater core cehecked out
I found this site when it got to the low 40's in southwest Florida last night and discovered I had no heat in my 2003 Windstar. I picked the part up at NAPA and installed it in less than 30 minutes. The only improvement I will add is to connect the electrical connector to the new part prior to installing it. Start the car and set the temp control to cold. This will position the actuator arm in the proper position to slide in easily. Shut the car off after this step, before finishing the installation.
This site saved me a bunch of money. The Ford garage wanted almost $100 for the part and said it would take 4 hours to install and not to attempt it myself. Thankfully they did not have the part in stock!
12-21-2009
2000 Ford Windstar SEL: Problem: Clicking sound behind radio and no front heat.
Solution: Replace "Blend Door Actuator."
Follow the instructions listed above but pay attention to the following:
I would just like to add that if u do this yourself make sure that u use the radio removal tool that u can buy at any auto parts store. And even though I had that I still had a hell of a time getting the retaining clips to disengage and release the radio. It took about 30-40 mins. Once I removed the radio I found out why (And this wasn't explained in the instructions that came with the tool). When u insert the u shaped tool in the 2 holes on each side of the radio, make sure to insert them about one to 1/2 inches and then pull each tool towards the right and left doors (respectively) of the van b4 u pull it out towards you. If u don't u won't disengage the retaining clips which hold the radio in place in the dash. I kept pulling towards me and that was futile b-cuz the clips were still locked in place.
Once I had the radio removed I had no trouble removing & replacing the blend door actuator motor. If this is the factory motor that u are replacing, then finding it will be easy because it's housing is an off white color and it is mounted to the black plastic duct work behind where the radio used to be b4 u removed it. It is held in place by 3 small bolts. Plan on using a long ratchet extension (I coupled 2 together) because it is a long reach to the heads of the bolts.
If the heating/cooling system is blowing cold air, make sure u hook up the electrical connector to the new part and set the front temp. control lever to full cold. This will facilitate placement of the shaft of the replacement part to line up with the "D" hole in the blend door control shaft. This is the part that pivots and moves the door to open, close or somewhere in between depending on where the temp. control lever is positioned. Total time to replace: 90 mins.
December,11,2010 Houston tx,grait tip I had the same problem with my windstar 2000 no heat blowing from the vents and a thumping noise and it really works did't take more than 40 min to raplace and get the part I got it from advance autoparts the part number is#604-203 the name is (air door actuator)this is how they have it named, like it help me
Where is the tcc solenoid located on a 1994 Chevy lumina apv 31?
The TCC solenoid is located in the transmission housing. It is accessible by jacking up the driver side of the vehicle, removing the wheel and the plastic parts that obstruct the end cover (of the transmission) view. You will need to remove the end cover to access the TCC. I have not replaced the solenoid yet but have done research to find the above information. I purchased the TCC for about $65.00cdn and the gasket that you will need to replace for $15.00cdn. The transmission oil will spill when you do this, make sure that the engine is cold. One source said that the difficult part is to get to the connector. I plan on splicing the wires by soldering and putting a shrink wrap on the connections for protection. I will provide update when I actually do the job.
How do you find a vacuum hose diagram for a 1986 Chevy k10 with a 350 and a eldabrock carb?
Try the edelbrock web site. You can get help from their toll free number. Try Autozone/Repair Info/Vehicle Repair Guide/Repair Guide Year/Repair Guide Make/Repair Guide Model/GM Full Size Trucks 180-1987/Gasoline Engine Emmission Controls
Any source for vacuum diagram routing - 1970 Oldsmobile 442 455 ci w Rochester carburetor?
Yes, the original chassis service manuals. You can find them on eBay from time to time. Not too hard to come buy.
How do you repair a rear door latch of an astro van?
I have a quick fix that won't cost anything. If yours broke like mine the part that actuates the latch can be made usable by drilling a 1/8 " hole in the part that is still attached to the inner lever. You can insert as I did a small metal rod in the drilled hole using it to open the latch. I used a small philps screw driver the shaft is harden and did not bend. Hint use one that has a lifetime warranty if it breaks you can get another one. Good luck. This fix is for the lower right rear door handle.
How to replace a Honda 1998 main relay?
sounds like you are having the same problem im having from what i heard there is 3 relays under the dash that you can switch to find out what is faulty so far i havent found it ....good luck
Is there an inline fuse to the stereo power wire on a 1997 Plymouth Neon?
yes you need to pull stereo out & you will see the fuse in the wiring harness. Do not have wiring harnesss in front of me but it was either the yellow or red wires. Just replaced my stereo.
What is the relation between the oxygen sensor and the idle rough speed?
The oxygen sensor, if defective, will give inaccurate readings to the engine management computer and may lead to a rough idle.
What order do the spark plug wires connect to the coil pack on a 1999 Ford Windstar 3.8l v6?
For a 1999 Ford Windstar , 3.8 liter V6 engine coil pack :
( Motorcraft DGE - 456 )
coil-----3 - 4
pack----2 - 6
plug-----1 - 5
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Also , the engine cylinder locations are numbered :
firewall
1-----2-----3
4-----5-----6
front of vehicle > driver
What is the spark plug gap on 1998 Ford Ranger V6 3.0 engine?
The gap should be stamped on the emissions plate located just under the hood. Otherwise check with your local auto parts store and they will tell you. Use the recommeded plug though. Not all plugs are compatible. They may say they are however performance may change accordingly.
What is the proper spark plug gap for a 1995 Mercury Cougar XR7 with a 4.6 V8?
According the the Chilton's manual I have for Courgars and T-Birds, its .054. Several references on the net seem to confirm this. Very wide if you ask me, I can't find a gapping tool that goes out that wide. I've had to use a combination of smaller feeler gauge blades and have been able to get .053 inches.
Where are the vehicle identification number on 2001 ford windstar?
The VIN number will always be located in the lower left(driver's) side of the drivers side windshield\dash area. You will have to view it from outside of the vehicle. It will be on a plate the is riveted to the dash. Hope this helps you.
Where are the oxygen sensors located in a 1998 Mazda 626 LX?
On the 98 Mazda 626 there are two oxygen sensors, one is located at the front bottom of engine on the drivers side. If I remember correctly it requires a 23mm wrench to remove. The other sensor is located under the bottom on the exhaust pipe just behind the cat. converter. I hope this will lead you in the right direction and good luck.
How do you reset the oxygen sensor on a 2003 Ford Windstar?
If an 02 sensor has failed, it can only be replaced.
See "Related Questions" below for more
What would cause the power seats not to work on a 1999 GMC Jimmy?
check for power i had a problem with one in my shop i had no power to the unit i belive it should be the larger orange wire from connector back probe it mine was broken under drivers feet cheers man good luck
Where are the insulator bolts located on an 01 ford windstar?
Just in case this is intended to find the notorious isolator bolts, that cause the 171 and 174 trouble codes and intake manifold vacuum leaks... See "Related Questions" below
Why does your Ford Windstar heater blower not work?
If the blower is completely dead and is not providing any air movement, the cause could be in the resistor block for the fan motor, the fuse, or the fan motor.
Check the fuse first. Refer to the owners manual for the fuse.
If you have one or more blower speeds, the problem is the resistor block.
The Ford Windstar blower has a resistor block that controls the various speeds of the blower motor. It is located on the passenger compartment side of the blower housing and can be replaced in five minutes. Unfortunately, I could only find the part at the Ford dealership who ripped me off for $20. You can find the part online for around $10.
If you do not have any speeds, you should verify the fan motor works by pulling it and connecting it to a 12 volt DC power source.
To pull the fan motor, you will have to remove the glove box to gain access to the 3 or 4 screws that hold the fan in place, although I did it without removing the glove box. The motor is attached to a large mounting plate that is at the bottom of the air plenum located behind the glove box. If you look up from the passenger floor you will see the motor hanging down. It is about the size of a soup can and is attached to a larger mounting plate. Once the connector is disconnected and the screws are out, you will have to turn the mounting plate to allow the motor to drop. Pay attention to the position as you pull it down as it needs to go back in the same twisting fashion.
I used a spare auto battery to test the motor, but you could use the one in the car, but just be careful to not short things out. Also, really brace the motor prior to connecting to battery as it has a lot of torque and could twist out of your hand.
If the motor is good and really spins up, then the problem is the resistor block is completely dead. (Replace the resistor block.)
If the fan does not spin, you can get a replacement from any junk yard. The parts guy at the yard can determine compatibility. Make sure he tests the fan before you buy it. Should cost about $10 - $15.
I repaired my fan by working it out of the housing, and freeing it up with WD-40. i then greased it up and it is fine, but I would recommend just getting a junk yard replacement. (much more time efficient!)
Blown fuse, bad switch, defective resistor pack, or a bad fan motor.
See "Related Questions" below for more
If the blower motor is the problem, it should make noise or fail to work until you hit it with a hammer.
If the blower resistor is the problem, the blower should work only when set to the highest speed.
