Just posting this in hopes to help someone.

About a year ago the van started having intermittent starting issues. The starter seemed fine, but I changed it any way. The second starter acted the same. It seemed if you could at least get a few "clicks" out of it, you could just hold the key, and eventually get it to go.

This time it just died and never started again. I went over all the fuses, relays, connectors, neutral safety switch, etc... I finally found that it was the PCM diode. It was rusted and even had jagged edges from arcing. I couldn't find a replacement right away, so I sanded it and it's working like new.

This cost me a tow, and two starters, so I hope it saves someone...

where is the pcm diode that you refer to?

I would like to know also, my Windstar is 9 years old now and I've never sanded that PCM diode... It's probably way overdue for the service...

Sorry, I guess I should have mentioned that it's in the under-hood fuse box, first row (#3 or #4?). It looks like a blade fuse, but one blade is perpendicular to the other.

bdahl: I don't think this need regular service. I only sanded mine because I couldn't find a replacement locally. It's a $5 part (should be $.50).