99 Windstar 3.8 Died Need your thoughts please

[SlimJimRD]

My daughter was driving the van down the highway 65 mph and it shutters and dies.
I went and the car starter would click but not turn. Trades batteries and the same thing.
Hit the starter just in case although I did not think that was the problem. It would not turn over. I tried to spin the crankshaft by hand as I did not have a large enought socket.
So had it towed to a shop and they said the engine was seized which is kind of what I was afraid it was.
Oh and I am a couple hours from home.
Question is should I have them rebuild the engine for somewhere between $2,500-3,000 (this is an estimate) or go look for a new vehicle.
Van has 140,000 miles on it and value with engine running is about $4,000.
Thanks in advance for your comments
Steve

[northern piper]

Hi Steve

That sucks. Sorry. I know that the value on the market for your van is $4000 but what is its value to you? You're not going to get anything worth driving for the $2500-$3000 they've quoted for the repairs. So. I guess if you're done with the van and want to sell for parts ok but being away that may be difficult. Depending upon how the rest of the van is will also help your decision I think. A 99 with 140k isn't that high a mileage. Hows the trans?

[phil-l]

Sorry to hear of this problem. Situations like this can be a pain: Quickly making the correct decision with high-dollar implications while far away from home is tough.

Personally, I'm having a hard time believing the engine is truly seized (by "seized" I mean: A massive internal engine failure so serious that the crankshaft can no longer turn). If it is, I probably wouldn't want to rebuild that block anyway.

Yeah, it can happen - but you'll generally get lots of warning signs. Shuddering and dying at 65 mph - with no other symptoms - sounds more like an ignition/fuel/electrical issue to me.

The Ford 3.8 doesn't have the best reputation in the world - but many of the early problems had been worked out by '99. My '00 (virtually no engine changes between '99 and '00) has 130K and still runs fine. Others on this board have 3.8 engines with far more mileage - and no major internal work.

Have there been other warning symptoms recently? What's the engine's oil consumption history (in my experience, seized engines almost always show up with oil consumption issues first)? Any other maintenance info that would be useful in understanding this issue?

LATER EDIT:

To put this situation in perspective, rebuilt '99 Windstar engines show up on eBay for somewhere close to $2K,shipped. There are also some used engines listed; it looks like they can be had for $800-ish, shipped, depending on condition, etc.

[SlimJimRD]

I have not had any tranny problem.
I am going on what the mechanic is telling me. I have to assume he is honest and hopefully knows what he is doing. He has not pushed me into the engine overhaul replacement. He thinks it is probably not worth it to pull and rebuild. I have not seen any warning signs before this and figured I have one of the freak ones. When I was listening to the starter while my son was trying to start the van it did seem to engage the flywheel but not turn it. I then thought seized motor to myself. Also hard to say what actually happened vs what my daughter said. I had originally bought the van when we had totaled our 96 T&C about 6-7 years ago. We bought it from the guy who towed our van as we were going to Michigan to visit relatives and still were 7 hrs away.
That was a hard decision at the time to buy the van at 7am after being up all night. Worked out till now. At least this time I am at my daughter's and happen to have my other van with me so I do not need to make a snap decision on this one. I am leaning toward buying something else but have not shopped for a vehicle since 1999.

[12Ounce]

If you were going to rebuild the engine yourself ... I would advise "go for it" ... I've done it myself and it worked out well.

But having someone else do the work and make choices of what to do and what not to do ... hmmmm ... maybe its time for something newer. The tranny is apt to fail pretty soon also.

[SlimJimRD]

12 Ounce I agree with you. If I had been home I would have attempted to do this myself but of course that is not the case. Your advice with my problems on this van have always been right on the money, even when I did not think you were right as it did not make sense to me at the time.
Now that I am in the market for a new to me vehicle does anyone have suggestions on what to get or even what to stay away from?
Steve

[CnlK]

I assume your mechanic checked this, but it might be worth asking. Did he remove the serpentine belt and try to turn engine over? A seized alternator will prevent the engine from starting, seen it twice.

[SlimJimRD]

Had not heard that one but maybe I can look at that on Monday.

[12Ounce]

My wife advises that I am fond of the Ford Edge ... especially in a light blue or green. I suppose that is my next vehicle ... tho I hope to run the Winny up to 500k miles. Will probably reach 300k soon. May have to hand it off to one of the kids to finish the task.

[SlimJimRD]

I looked at the van today and the serpentine belt was off. Definately seized up.

[SlimJimRD]

So I found a way to get the van back home for about $250.
I also think I need to take the motor out from the bottom because the trans will need to come out at the same time. Any one know if that is correct or not?

[SlimJimRD]

So I decided not to bring the van home and fix. I think I have a buyer for the van, just hope it goes thru.
My wife was in FL last week and did some van shopping and decided on a Toyota or Chrysler T&C. I spent a week trying to find something used that did not cost almost as much as new. Did not have any luck to speak of. Then I got a good deal (I hope) on a new Chrysler T&C Limited here in NC so I do not have fly down to drive it back.

Once again I appreciate all the help I have gotten on the Windstar forum.
Steve