2001 Ford Windstar - No start, no crank

[prostar14]

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...

[northern piper]

where is the pcm diode that you refer to?

[bdahl385]

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...

[prostar14]

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).

[tsoprano]

Prostar, I don't know where you are...but man oh man, you saved me alot of time and headaches...if we ever cross paths...I owe you a beer...thanks the problem was exactly the diode...according to the ford diagnostics it looked to be the PCM..but it wasn't...I was minutes away from ordering a PCM until I decided to look up some 'google' info to see if others have had the same problem...thank God and thank Prostar!!

[prostar14]

I'm over in Ottawa. No beer needed, just pay it forward and post follow-ups when you find solutions. There's nothing I hate more than finding my problem described exactly on the web with no follow-up.

[JCD75]

Works like a charm. It is in position 501 on a 2001 Windstar. The cover of the power distribution box is tricky. There is only one catch on the back side on the left. Once you reach in and get the bottom of it it releases but takes some pressure and patience, I found one terminal rusted and corroded. Took some sanding, I finally used a fine file also since both surfaces are hard to get to. I put it back twice before it was clean enough to make contact. A small amount of WD40 helped.