Air Filter and A/C

Hey gang, spent the past 2 hours purusing through the forums. Got some good info on the CEL issues I've been having. After changing the fuel filter (since the van felt like it was trying to suck a cold shake through a coffee stirrer) and no luck, the help on the CEL will certainly help.

Two issues I could not find assistance on.

I bought the 96 3.8 Windstart used at 105,000 miles. My mistake I can tell already, but when you need wheels for work, you need wheels. And I definatly got what I paid for. This being said, I have no user manual for it. Where is the air filter located to be changed? I picked up the 3.8 fuel filter and its a weird cone... I've never changed one like this before so I'm having difficulty locating it.

I was having troubles with the door light issue (since the previous owners fix was just to remove the fuse) when I used help from this forum.. only to find out their kids must of hung off the side door cause when it shuts, its still open slightly at the top (you can see it doesn't line up right) and rain sometimes leaks in. This causes it not to line up properly with the button. So... I had to pull the fuse back out as the only quotes I could get to fix the door were insane. So I understand some of my electrical things dont work (read all the courtesy lights and back hatch light) The problem I'm having which I hope is in no way related, but my A/C and Heater only work on High fan speed. The other 3 speeds get no response. This is for the front controls only. The rear A/C and heater still work proper on all fan speeds.

Thanks a million,
Josh

Hi Josh
Your air filter is in the cylindrical housing just behind the battery. There is a circular clamp that you must release to open the housing. I also usually loosen the clamp on the "spined" intake hose to the throttle body and remove that half to make room for changing the filter. You will have to wrestle with it a bit.

Your fan speed issue is more that likely that the blower resitor pack is faulty. It could also be a relay that switches the resistor pack into the circuit.

I think you should be concerned with the door. It sounds like it does not close correctkly and may be an accident waiting to happen.

If the door is sagging at the hinges, you have th option of replacing the hinge pins and bushings, or using an alignment too (knurled pinch roller) to distort the lower hings back into position to align the door better.

The low speed blower problem is like a resistor, but may also be a power supply or fuse problem, since the lower 3 speeds are fused separately from the HIGH speed.

As I recall from the few I've worked on, the fuel filter is along the LH subframe rail under the driver's floor. IIRC, you'll need the line fitting release tool to remove the fuel lines from the filter.

Thanks for the replies. To respond to a few of them:

The air filter was right in front of my face, lol. Thanks for pointing it out. It was a pain in the you know what you get that circular clamp back on but I did it.

I had already changed the fuel filter, not questioning where it was :) But thanks for being helpful though :)

As far as the A/C I'll have to take a look into that. The fuse might quite possibly be the culprit since the previous owner yanked the one out for the courtesy lights.

As far as the passanger door, I'm not sure if its "sagging" as all of it lines up, just the very top part of the door seems to "bend" away from the frame slightly. It latches completely and even tried to rip the door open after shutting it only resulting in a sore arm. It comes away from the top side of the body at a maxium of 1/16" Its just enough to be noticable if you're looking. It rattles slightly when going over bumbps and rain will dribble through, as the weather seals are together but not tight. I'll take a look at the pins anyways, see if I can try something with that.

Oh and as a correction, it was 190k miles. So outside of the little tiny problems, and the possible dreaded EGP engine problem, this thing has been running good with no major repairs... outside of the back window being smashed out by some punks.

I don't think you ever mentioned whar code(s) you were getting.

Haven't taken it in yet to get the codes read. Doing that first thing tomorrow morning when work doesn't want me to pull 12 hours :banghead:

Haven't taken it in yet to get the codes read. Doing that first thing tomorrow morning when work doesn't want me to pull 12 hours :banghead:

From 1st post

Hey gang, spent the past 2 hours purusing through the forums. Got some good info on the CEL issues I've been having. After changing the fuel filter (since the van felt like it was trying to suck a cold shake through a coffee stirrer) and no luck, the help on the CEL will certainly help.


I ask because in your first post you mention that you were getting some good info on the CEL issues you were having but the CEL can indicate numerous different possibilites and getting the raw codes really is step 1.

Having said that though changing the air and fuel filters are always good ideas but the actual code will reveal a lot.

Josh

You heather fan problem is what was mentioned above. It's a resistor pack that under the dash on the right side. It's has a plug with a few wires coming out and is held in with two screws. The resistors are in the air flow of the fan to keep them cool. I went to the salvage yard and got a resistor pack from a much newer vehical. (mine was rusted and the resistors (coils of wire) were falling off)).

This is a quick fix.

Regards

Dan

I ask because in your first post you mention that you were getting some good info on the CEL issues you were having but the CEL can indicate numerous different possibilites and getting the raw codes really is step 1.

Having said that though changing the air and fuel filters are always good ideas but the actual code will reveal a lot.

Oh I mean reading through all the different CEL Codes on this forum and bookmarking each one so that when I find out the actual code, boom, I'll know the post to go to and won't need to ask the same CEL question for the 89382309382093 time :grinyes:

Hi Josh,

Are you sure it is the sliding door causing your courtesy light problem? On my 98 Windstar GL the light switches for the dome and courtesy lights are in the door latches (The part of the door the interlocks with the striker post that protrudes from the doorjam.) I had this same problem and found the solution on another forum...I don't see it mentioned on this one but if it is somewhere I apologize. Anyway, take a can of WD40 and saturate each of these latches, including the rear door. Spray it right into the door. Then reinstall your fuse and see what happens. You also might try cleaning the contacts on your sliding door. If these are touching the pins in the right place when the door is closed they should work ok even if the door is a little bent. This completely solved the problem for me for almost six months. Good luck!!