2000 Windstar shifting issues

I have a 2000 Windstar with 160,000 miles on it. I purchased this new. Lately I have been having issues with the shift selector. I have a hard time feeling when it should be in drive, the clicks between gears feel very soft and there is no real definitive click when it should be in drive. The selector shows it is in drive, yet it mat still be in neutral. It also feels like it should be in Park, but sometimes it isn't even though the selector is all the way up. Tonight it was on a slight incline and it was in Park, and it started slipping backwards.
It also feels like it is slipping when maintaining 40 mph. I am at a loss. Any ideas?

I suspect that a ball-spring-detent positioner internal to the tranny needs some repair. Probably not a big job, as tranny repairs go. And my comments here are not much help I know ....

... but I would suggest that the tranny (in Park) is not to be used as a hill-holder. That's what the manual brake is for. The tranny is just to be used as a fail-safe back-up for the manual brake. This can be verified by reading the owner's manual.

The slight incline I was referring to was a parking spot adjacent to a street. Maybe 3-4% grade. My transmission knowledge is none, but it seems that it is not "catching" the park pawl, and then it will roll. Just like shifting to drive you really cannot feel it.
I have no codes, no flashing OD light. Fluids have been changed religiously every 30K miles.
Not really sure how to explain the feeling I get when cruising at around 40 mph, it feels like the van stutters. Almost like it is running out of fuel but it is not the engine, it is in the drive train. A slight depress on the pedal and it goes away, but if it is maintaining speed it will start slipping. Could it be the torque converter? Is the something that can be repaired without a total rebuild?

If the tranny is an unrepaired original, ... well, you are extremely lucky, or good at maintenance,...perhaps both.

I would not be inclined to have the tranny repaired. Its costly, and the outcome is problematic. I am for mored inclined to buy a Ford reman, comes complete with all new electrics, friction stack...new seals and gaskets thruout...even fluid and converter. $2000 plus core. Plus labor if you do not replace yourself. I have 120k miles, and counting, on one in my '99.

If the tranny is an unrepaired original, ... well, you are extremely lucky, or good at maintenance,...perhaps both.

Is it that bad? My transmission is an unrepaired original and the only shifting issue I ever encountered was due to a dead ABS sensor which was causing the VSS to register only half the actual speed. This value was sent to the PCM causing mayhem in shifting management.

As a sidenote this is a relatively common issue on Ford models that use front ABS sensors as the source of vehicle speed data (they use rear sensors now). Because the symptoms replicated those caused by a serious transmission problem no doubt it was exploited by some unscrupulous tranny shops to bill fictitious -and very costly- repairs when all they did was replace a $30 ABS sensor, a 5-minute procedure tops. No doubt this could contribute to give a dubious rep to an otherwise ok transmission.

But then, as a former Caravan owner I guess all non-Chrysler transmissions look ok to me :lol:

There is also a theory that has been making the rounds for more than a decade about transmissions lasting longer in areas with cold winters (aka snow belt) due to the fact that parts and fluid temps are able to thoroughly cool down when not in use. I am not sure it really matters but is plausible I suppose.

On your year Windstar, the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS) aka Neutral Safety Switch is noted as failing.
Not an expensive repair to do as it sits on top of the transmission.

Is it that bad? My transmission is an unrepaired original ........

160K miles on a trouble-free-original Windstar tranny! .....yeah, I'd have to say that is unusual. I'm sure there are a few that have exceeded that, .... but the (unhappy) multitudes have gotten much less trouble-free service out of theirs.

Anyone have a happier experience? ... more Miles? (Stories that begin with "except for" don't count!)

160K miles on a trouble-free-original Windstar tranny! .....yeah, I'd have to say that is unusual. I'm sure there are a few that have exceeded that, .... but the (unhappy) multitudes have gotten much less trouble-free service out of theirs.

Anyone have a happier experience? ... more Miles? (Stories that begin with "except for" don't count!)

Well my Winnie and its tranny only have 185K kilometers which is about 120K miles, well under average for its age. May explain why it's lasting this long but there is also the fact that I pamper the tranny way more thoroughly than most drivers. Like I said, I used to own a Caravan, I must have been traumatized by the experience I guess lol

130K here on original transmission.

130K here on original transmission.

What model-year is your van?

2002 sel

2002 sel

Assuming you take good care of it (the tranny I mean) this comforts me in my opinion that there is no reason why a standard-quality original transmission shouldn't last as long as the vehicle it's installed on when proper maintenance is performed.

This is an original tranny, serviced every 30K since new. Never have towed with it. The shifting is normal, my big issue is when I put it in Park. It will show it is in park, but it will move and it feels like a hydro does when it slips. The power sliding doors will not open as if it is still in gear and the back up alarm will beep like it is in reverse. I am inclined to say it must not be seating into park. Would this be an issue with the neutral safety switch or woud it be mechanical inside of the tranny? Like I said the actual shifting down the road is fine, except for the holding 45mph, I get the same slipping feeling in the seat. Almost like it is shuddering between drive and over drive but not a hard shudder, just an ever so slight slip.

I may be wrong, but I don't think the switch affects the "lever feel" at all.

UPDATE:
I replaced the transmission neutral switch and the shifting is much improved. While changing it, I had to move the selector on the housing itself and there is a very hard definitive click between gears.
When I buttoned it all up, the selector inside the van is still very sloppy. I am thinking the shift cable is stretched or just wore out. Is the a way to adjust or shorten the cable? When I put it in drive I almost have to go all the way past the gear and then when it clickss, move the selector knob back up into drive. I really think it is the cable.

LAST UPDATE:
Transmission Range Selector fixed the weird shifting. Found another thread that mentioned two torx screws up under the dash that create slop with the actual selector. Sure enough both were about ready to fall out! Tightened both up and it is as good as the day I bought it!

I love it when something simple fixes a serious problem :)

A new Range selector, speed sensor, filter, and fluid change is a lot cheaper than a transmission shop.