I have a 1999 Windstar approx 108,000 miles on original motor and Trans.

This evening my daughter and myself were stopped at a fast food joint in the drive thru after a few minutes waiting I put the van in park. Food gets there I move selector into drive and commence to pull out then " WHAMMMM"...

I was like jeeesh ! I hit something in front of me....so I put selector into reverse back up a little, and nothing was there....Then sitting there with that oh crap / puzzled look on my face I select drive and nothing. As the puzzled look changes to sorrow then anger, I had to reverse out of the drive thru cattle chute and park the Van...

I look for tranny fluid, none, I check fluid level, OK, I check transaxles and they look OK, not hangin loose or flappin in the wind... I try drive forward once more and hear some metal like clangy sounds intermittent.. Then give up and go home to get truck and tow home....

I am thinking even at this moment "Why does reverse work and not forward " ?? Could a transaxle broke or came loose ??????

I guess I am looking at the inevitable, i.e. "Trans Shop, Rebuilt Trans, $1500.00 and a night of curling up in the fetal position while pondering all the other things I could have done with the $1500.00...

I am going to go out on a limb here and ask could something else be causing this, Or is my thinking I shelled or broke something the most logical and painful solution ??

Thanks
Best Regards
MW

Hi there I have a 1999 Windstar as well and had the exact same problem

Mine blew out at 30 000km, I was at a stop light and then when the light turned green i tried going forward and WHAMMM the van stopped and none of the gears worked except reverse. I got it towed to the ford dealer and they had to put a brand new tranny in it, they told me the inside of the tranny was stripped to pieces. I am currently on my 8th transmission at 200 000km all of them covered under warrenty. This 8th tranny seems to be the best but still harsh vibrations come out of it at 50-60km/h. Overall, i have to say at least you have only had one tranny screwed up and not 8. Damn Ford piece of crap.

Thanks for Reply D.T.F. "Good Username by the way !"
I am going to have shop rebuild "if possible" then i'm selling both of my Ford
piece of craps !!! other Ford is 1992 F150 and I had trans problems with it also... reverse went out at 103,000 miles... rebuilt it.... next vehicle will be Toyota..... Good Luck

Yeah, get a Toyota, thats what I have done now, actually I bought a Lexus Rx 330 and no regrets beautiful craftsmanship involved in the making of this vehicle. I had a 1989 Aerostar before this windstar and had it for 10 years nearly 300 000km and not one problem then someone ran a red light and hit me and the aerostar was a writeoff. I thought I better go for another FORD and nothing but hell