How Many Miles On Your Aerostar??????

[Knifeblade]

Originally Posted by 1car3vans

167000 on my 93 Aerostar The only problem is it won't shift into overdrive or 4th gear untill the trans is real warm. In northern Illinois in the winter it could be a while. Any ideas out there?

strongly suggest a trans fluid and filter change, but NOT a flush. Have then drop the pan instead.

[Knifeblade]

Mine has 145K on it, it's a "93 XL Sport trim

[anthrax_tony]

Whoo HOO!!! just bought another one (been a few years since i had my last aerostar) this ones a 95 with the 3.0 and 4 on the column, passenger window busted out, shattered back bumper and taillight but other wise in great shape for $400
When i test drove it the transmission was not even staying in gear, turned out the dipstickwas dry as a bone, guy said the trannyhad never been rebuilt/replaced - its got 180xxx
Who thinks the tranny will last?

[Knifeblade]

Well, that's NOT a good thing. I would think either you caught it just in time to keep the trans from frying, or it's already a time-bomb. In all honesty, I would not take long trips with it.

However, if ya have a buddy to follow you in his ride, take it out for a fairly long drive, see what happens. Better to plan for failure {in this case} than be twiddling your thumbs out in podunk stranded somewhere.

You most likely have the A4LD transmission. Since you say you owned one before, you know that Ford uses MERCON trans. fluid after 1988, not the Dexron II. And, since it was dry, if you have the time or cash, I'd drop the pan, clean the pan out and replace the filter. In a sense, once you added fresh fluid, you disturbed any gunk hanging around in there.

[anthrax_tony]

Well today I took it around town (we got some good sized hills in this town, like seattle and sanfrancisco) She did good, she sputters a little, I'm sure that plugs and wires in a full tune up will correct this.
she handles the hills fine and all all so familliar the way it runs and drives but when I got bold and floored it at about 35 on a straight away she kicked down to lower gear like its supposed to but when it hit that gear at higher RPM's there was a horible howling and a bump and grind felt throughout the van.
I'm sure that if I'm real nice to her she'll make it toor even past 200xxx in the meantime I got to get that window, taillight and tune up!

[Knifeblade]

Yeah, Anthrax, that sound is a harbinger of the trans. damage at higher speeds. Like you said, stay light with it, let the fluid re-lube all the parts, it should be great around town ride easily. Good luck with the rear plugs, they are....well.........This is a family forum .

Flex head socket adapter and/or flexhead ratchet sure help reduce "bad" words,

The bump and grind you related does concern me. I can only go by what you said, but check out those front Ball joints, and the driveshaft U-joints. I think if the trans. was allowed to go dry, so were the greasable components.

[vsluggo]

I have 90 Aerostar XT cargo van that has over 435,000 miles on it. I replaced the trnsmission at 300,000. I have never had the engine out. It has been tuned up 4 times. had 4 rack and pinions on it 2 radiators and a/c has been serviced I own 8 vehicles and this is the best auto I have ever owed. I keep it clean and changew the oil every 3-5000 miles, which with all the driving, is 6 to eight weeks,
It still get s 17-18 MPG ,

[mmerlinn]

1993 Aerostar just turned over 345,000 miles on original 3.0 engine and original A4LD transmission. Still get 23 miles per gallon. Only things replaced have been consumables like tires, alternator, oil, gas, spark plugs, and the like. Nothing major.

This is my second Aero. Am currently looking for my 3rd just in case this one decides it is time to die.

[mmerlinn]

Update on my 93 Aerostar.

Turned over 358,000 miles yesterday. And at the same time the motor started rattling at idle, so I know it won't last much longer. Still purrs like a kitten above idle and still gets 23mpg city and 26mpg highway. Going to be sorry to see this one go as I was hoping to get a half million miles out of it.

Needless to say, I am looking at Aeros. Around here they are priced $500 to $1000 with 100,000 to 200,000 miles on them and with no major problems. Just a matter of finding exactly the right one to replace this one with. At those prices, I might just buy two so I have a running spare.

[mmerlinn]

Hard to believe, but my 93 Aerostar is still going at 374,000 miles. Oil pressure sucks at idle (5 psi), but other than that it just keeps going, and going, and going, and going, and .................................................. ............