You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.
Ford WindstarIntroduced in the mid-1990s, the front-wheel-drive Ford Windstar minivan campaigned with an emphasis on, and reputation for, safety. And in the hotly contested family minivan market of the time, that was an especially solid piece of ground to be on. As long as buyers didn't need to haul adults in back on a regular basis, the Windstar served a family's needs just fine.
Ok this has only happened about 5 times in the past 3 months, but here goes.
1) Turn key and loud click noise, then nothing.
2)Turn key again and acts like battery is dead, but radio, lights everything works. Had battery and altnator checked and both are fine.
3)Unusual thing is if you jump it off after about 2 min it will start on the jump. But the engin sounds like it is choking and you would not believe the amount of white smoke pouring out of the tail pipe.
4)After about 10 min of driving the smoke goes away and it is fine for a while.
This is the 3.8 L .
Please help if at all possible.
I wanted to add that today when I finally got it started the mass amounts of white smoke smelled like coolant. Does this make any sense. How would coolant get into the injectors. If this is happening is there something that tells the starter to stop working. I may have two problems that seem to happen at the same time. Please help!
The coolant isn't coming in through your injectors. Sounds to me like you have a head gasket or intake gasket leaking or perhaps a cracked head. Either would let coolant escape into a cylinder.
When you park the car the presure builds in the coolant system and continues to force coolant into the cylinder or cylinders. If enough liquid leaks in on top of a piston on the compression stroke it would effectively lock the motor untill the liquid inside disapated or was forced out probably through a valve. Once this happens the engine would then crank and force the trapped fluid out the exhaust.
Try checking the Neutral Safety switch (chip/relay). Had our 98 in 3 times till they figured it out. Intermittant issue with the safety switch after fixing the starter/battery and security relay.
Yes you have a blown head gasket. By driving it you will damage the engine even more.
The engine is really an air pump that pumps air. Now when you introduce any type of liquid in it the engine can not compress liquids, only gases like air, when this happens you get locked up.
I bet your oil looks foamy like Coffee with Cream in it. Also your coolant might have Oil in it too.
Shopping for new cars can be a stressful experience especially if you don't have the right information. Our new car research center at CarEverything.com can help relieve this stress and bring the joy back to new car buying!
The Car Blog, or TCB for those who are acronymically inclined, is alive because some of today's top Web designers needed a place to drool and bitch about their motor vehicle obsessions.
Read the auto blog at Automotive.com to get the latest news and opinions, view the newest concept cars, and join discussions with auto experts from around the world.
'98 Windstar - Starting Problems 
Linear Mode
