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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.
We've only had our Windstar for 51K so I can't brag on it yet, but my wife loves the beast so that's the important part.
As for keeping Fords running: I use Castrol GTX oil (dino oil-synthetic is expensive!) and a double guard oil filter every 3K miles. Tune ups and all routine maintenance are done as scheduled.
The results:
'83 T-Bird traded with 187K miles. Bought by a friend of my mothers and ran for another 6 years before being totalled.
'87 Escort station wagon 160K miles, totalled due to electrical fire but ran great through a LOT of abuse prior to that time.
'94 Aerostar traded in with 215K on the clock, still ran with no dire problems and no serious repairs over the years we owned it.
Most everything I've owned has lived to pretty high mileage unless it was totalled, with the exception of 1 Chevy and a $400 beater Escort (the last owner killed it and it wasn't worth it to fix all of that neglect).
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Reality is the leading cause of stress avoid it as much as possible.
I can take a picture of a speedometer and say the same thing.
Why not? I got rediculous mileage out of an Aerostar. And I pulled the factory plugs out of that thing at about 160,000 miles (the mileage it had when I met my wife, I don't neglect vehicles this badly). They looked like crap, and it drove like a new van when they were replaced, but it still ran.
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Reality is the leading cause of stress avoid it as much as possible.
before i replaced plugs, it was actually running pretty smooth, after replacing plugs and wires i noticed a little more performance, maybe a tiny bit smoother but not much.
I checked my record book (i write down every mod or repair, dated and odometer) and i can't find any work on the plugs untill 235,000mi. cometo think of it, i've been relativily lucky with this windstar. only replaced tranny once at 112,000~mi and some minor stuff here and there.
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1998 Ford Windstar GL 3.8L 253,100 miles
2005 Toyota Prius Package 6 1.5L 135,000 miles
2006 Toyota Sienna LE 3.3L 36,000 miles
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This message was sent from my iPhone.
I've got a 3.8L '98 with just over 128,000. I'll be changing the tie rods and taking a look at the emergency brake this weekend, if time allows. It's due to have the plugs replaced. Other than normal maintenance it's not been too demanding. I've got the terrible Windstar Whine of the power steering pump, and the ps hose has blown out on me three times, which has really been the only annoyance.
Oh, that and it's blue. Every dark blue '98 Windstar I've ever seen is losing its paint, mine included.
I have a 95 with 171,00 on it. This summer put in new water pump. First repair, outside of 99,000 mile head gaskets, which Ford Motor Company paid for!, However have a new problem. It runs fine for about the first hour. Then transmission wants to go into "limp home mode. Just before that happens, the door ajar light goes on, and the overhead lights don't want to go off. Whats causing this-computer?
I've just enter the 200,000 mile high club but,,,,,,I now an overflowing reservoir tank and has a fluctuating temp. reading that can go to red line then drops quickly then climbs again (loss of heat when it starts climbing). I started by replacing the thermostat and sensor that regulates the fan. Then went and replaced the water pump and then the radiator. At idle while I was investigating and trying to bleed air (funnel with the radiator cap and thermostat removed plus bypassing the heater core/rear air there was no problem with circulation. All hoses were hot. When I got in and drove down the road the temp raised and the bottom hose on the radiator got cold. The overflow was full and bubbling. I have bought a new aftermarket cap and that did not change anything. I have even compression and a leak down test showed no indication of problems. Could it be Idle air control, ISC, or another sensor? Does the water jacket through the intake manifold or throttle body? Could it even be an oxygen sensor from the catalytic converter? I need an experts opinion.
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