Hey,
I have 98 winstar with 135 k. If I accelerate briskly from a stop or slow turn
there is a delay in the shift from 1st to 2nd gear. It will slam into 2nd and chirp the tires if I accelerated enough. I have learned to accelerate slowly to keep if from happening. Does this sound like a vss issue. I have no codes or other indications of a problem in other gears. Any one have a solution?

Here's what 2 transmission mechanics and a Ford dealer told me when the transmission on my '98 went out. It also developed a hard 1-2 shift before dying.
A. The transmission doesn't always post codes to the PCM. The best diagnostic is a professional transmission scanner that reads the transmission functions as the van is being driven. There are shops that will do this diagnostic at no or low cost.
B. As my torque converter died the metal shavings and other byproducts clogged or blocked the sensors from sending any codes. Failure was immenent but no one knew it.
C. Anyone who gets over 85,000 miles on this model transmission is either lucky or has had superb maintenance, with emphasis on lucky.

My advice is to get it to a shop and have it checked.

:banghead:

I had a 96 Windstar that cluncked starting around 85K or so. I ignored it and ended up getting 140k on it before I sold it.

My advise would be to change the trans fluid every 30k and hope for the best. Run it till the transmissions drops... then fix it.

You may find following of interest:
.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=503334&highlight=circlip

I had the same problem and it was the VSS
$20 part but a pain in the wallet to get it replace

If the speedo and is working when this happens, it probably isn't a VSS issue. In the AX4n And AX4S transaxles, hard 1-2 shift is a sign that the trans may be on the way out.