P0171 and P0174 = Bye bye, Windstar!

[dandi]

Well, push has come to shove and I'm no longer willing to put any money into this car - at 107k miles, it doesn't really owe me anything.... So staring at a bill for $1,000 for the SECOND intake manifold gasket - after just having put new brakes and rotors on - I'm tapped out with this car.

Good luck to you all!

Dan D
'99 Windstar
Central NJ USA

[DRW1000]

Well Brake pads and rotors are maintenance items. the fix for 171/174 is not to replace the intake manifold gasket but rather the Isolator bolts.

I don't think a 107000 Miles is extremely high mileage.

Of course just my opinions

[adbradley]

I think I'd rather attempt a $75 repair than have a car payment...

[bruker]

For about $50 in parts and about an hour and a half of my time I was able to replace the isolator bolts and intake gaskets and clear up the 171/174 codes on my 2001 Windstar with 185,000 miles on it.

[dandi]

Hmmm, well I just read that excellent tutorial by that lekemby.net guy... Having replaced the cylinder head gasket on my '76 MGB, I'm sure I could do this job. But dang, it's too cold out! Why couldn't this happen in June? ;-)

Dan D
'99 Windstar
Central NJ USA

[bruker]

I drove around for about 15,000 miles with the 171/174 code. Just wait until it warms up or you can get inside some where.

[MT-2500]

Also you might want to look over that TSB on them codes.
Sometimes the valve cover itself or a pcm reflash is required.
Depending on codes and vechicle manf date and exc.

[wiswind]

Print out the information on this link.......VERY good writeup on the TSB.....with pictures.

http://leckemby.net/windstar/windstar01.html

[phil-l]

Dandi -

And you can save some bucks on the valve cover. I believe it's possible to modify the original valve cover to incorporate the changes in the revised valve cover (which is about $60 at the dealer).

Read my comments here, and note the links to the pictures:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=476357

If you can replace the head gasket on an MGB, you'll have no problem with the isolator bolt fix in the leckemby.net procedure.

[DRW1000]

I personally don't believe that valve cover change is necessary. I do not believe the hole causes as much oil in the plenum as we are led to believe. I think it helps but is really just a clever way to get more money out of people. Besides they redesigned the bolts with rubber that is supposed to resist oil.

I also never bothered to Re-flash my PCM. I too think this is just a way fo Ford to make this a dealer only repair.

[dandi]

Thanks for all the input, guys. After thinking about it and discussing it over the week-end with my wife, our plan is to drive it until the weather warms a bit then do the repair. Our next emissions inspection isn't until January of 2007, so no need to get this done quickly.

I think my wife still wants to test-drive the Volvo XC90, though.....

Dan D
'99 Windstar
Central NJ USA

[12Ounce]

I have learned to love my '99 SEL. It took a while. A while for my to learn how to deal with all it's foibles.

In fact, I stopped and took a look at another '99 SEL the other day ... sitting in the owners driveway with a "for sale" sign ... a beauty with only 97k miles, (half of mine) no knicks, perfect paint ... all the bells and whistles. (I'd buy it, but my wife would surely shoot me for taking on another project.)

BUT ... if I could come up with the $45k+, I'd forget all about Winnies and own a XC90 V8 in a heartbeat. They're so attractive I have to turn my head when one comes down the road to avoid blushing. I've made an appointment with the dealer to drive one ... and then chickened out ... too shy, I guess.