Ford Enthusiast

[psychpike]

Hello,

We've bought our POS money-pit Slowstar new in '97 - it's actually a '98 model year with a 3.8L engine. I hate this van. We've put almost $4K into front end and suspension repair work over the last year, and just when we thought we were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel our mechanic hits us with more bad news:

1. The fuel gauge is stuck on full. He tells me that the sending unit is integral to the fuel pump & filter assembly, and so we have to drain and remove the fuel tank and replace the pump and filter. Cost is $1100. Is this for real?

2. An intermittent squeak from the front end that is apparently the bearings in the water pump. $460.

3. Now the big one. The transmission won't shift into overdrive on the highway and the overdrive light starts to flash. The failure occured when I passed a vehicle on the road - it kicked down into third when I stepped on the accelerator to pass, and never went back into OD. The only stored code is a PO734 relating to an incorrect gear ratio. Actually, I've driven it for about 1400 km since the failure first occurred, and other than really crappy fuel economy it hasn't been a problem, although my mechanic says it could crater at any time.

Any guidance for any of these concerns is appreciated.

Thanks,
Doug