Check Engine Light

[twigbit]

Hi, I have a 1996 Ford Windstar Mini van, not too long ago the check engine light came on, had it checked out by a mechanic but he can't figure it out. Every now and then the check engine light flashes and the engine feels like its missing. Can someone help me out with any ideas please. thanks

[Rastan]

I recently bought a used '96 Windstar that had the CE light on, it went off when I replaced a very dirty air filter. Wish it were always that easy.

Is there an Auto-zone nearby? You can let them hook it up to their diagnostic machine, maybe that might point you in the right direction.

[jwebb37]

I had the same problem a few months back.My engine light was on and every now and then it would flash and start running really rough.But come to find out it was a relay which is under the hood at the top right corner.There are several relays, we just had to find which one was bad.That solved the problem.Hope this helps.

[twigbit]

Originally Posted by jwebb37

I had the same problem a few months back.My engine light was on and every now and then it would flash and start running really rough.But come to find out it was a relay which is under the hood at the top right corner.There are several relays, we just had to find which one was bad.That solved the problem.Hope this helps.

Hi, thank so much for the info. by any chance, do you know which relay was bad or how do you go about finding out which one is bad? thanks again so much

[jwebb37]

I do not remember which one it was because I actually replaced like 2 or 3 to be sure.I think there is about 6 of them in that box under the hood.I had no way of testing them,just trial and error.I got the relays at Ford and they were pretty cheap.

[Cleek]

That happened to our 96 windstar and it was a spark plug wire that was bad

Cleek

[Loonytoon101]

I have a 1998 Windstar and I am having a major problem with my service engine light. My mechanic replaced the EGR valve and a solonoid sensor and cleaned something. I don't have all the specifics, but then he reset the computer. The light went off but several miles later it's back on. They now suggest that we unscrew the bulb. I have spent almost $500. I certainly don't agree with their diagnosis. Could anyone give me a clue as to what I should do next. I have been dealing with this problem for 2 months. No one can seem to help me and I can't afford to keep spending at this rate. The car drives fine other than an occasional clunk in the front end when the car is cold?

[lewisnc100]

Originally Posted by Loonytoon101

I have a 1998 Windstar and I am having a major problem with my service engine light. My mechanic replaced the EGR valve and a solonoid sensor and cleaned something. I don't have all the specifics, but then he reset the computer. The light went off but several miles later it's back on. They now suggest that we unscrew the bulb. I have spent almost $500. I certainly don't agree with their diagnosis. Could anyone give me a clue as to what I should do next. I have been dealing with this problem for 2 months. No one can seem to help me and I can't afford to keep spending at this rate. The car drives fine other than an occasional clunk in the front end when the car is cold?

First find out what the specific code(s) were that triggered the check engine light. Sounds like your mechanic is taking the change parts till something fixes it approach. For diagnostic trouble codes there is a specific diagnostic chart that should be followed of items to check and replace only if necessary. You can get a subscription to ALLDATA to get access to these. Any mechanic that is recommending that you unscrew the bulb is an idiot, the trouble codes will still be in the computer and accessible via the OBDII connector which is what most states will use to inspect the vehicle each year resulting in a failure if you are in one of those states. Also by unscrewing the bulb you may be getting rid of the annoyance of a minor issue but will not see the light come on for more major issues that might arise in the future. I would ask for a full or partial refund since they replaced parts that had no affect on the issue.

By the way many get confused when the light goes off for a few days thinking that the issue went away and then it or something else came back. The check engine light is designed so that a single instance of most trouble codes will not trigger the light to come on, it must go through enough drive cycles to trigger the light to come back on. They cleared the code from the computer when they serviced your vehicle and for it to come back on within several miles means that the error was not fixed at all for any period of time. Likewise if the problem is corrected the light will go off after a certain number of drive cycles.

[stan738]

[EGR SOLENOID] Mine was a cylinder #1 misfire. IT IS FIXED NOW, it was the EGR SOLENOID not the egr valve. The bad solenoid was allowing vaccum to go to the egr valve during idle and low speeds causing the van to run VERY rough, and a blinking check engine light. FIXED. If you think about it, all of my cylinders should have misfired, but they did not. That leads me to believe that I also have clogged egr ports on cylinders 2-6.

[tarheel4eva]

Originally Posted by stan738

[EGR SOLENOID] Mine was a cylinder #1 misfire. IT IS FIXED NOW, it was the EGR SOLENOID not the egr valve. The bad solenoid was allowing vaccum to go to the egr valve during idle and low speeds causing the van to run VERY rough, and a blinking check engine light. FIXED. If you think about it, all of my cylinders should have misfired, but they did not. That leads me to believe that I also have clogged egr ports on cylinders 2-6.

EGR SOLENOID? I am still trying to find what and where that is? Is there a map of where these items online? I hear a hissing noise and I'm thinking this might be it, but not sure where it is. I have a broken vaccum hose on top of my split P/injection. It is located after the air filter, and after the grey item before it splits to the intake. Any help woudl greatly be appreciated.

[windrunner]

Originally Posted by tarheel4eva

EGR SOLENOID? I am still trying to find what and where that is? Is there a map of where these items online? I hear a hissing noise and I'm thinking this might be it, but not sure where it is. I have a broken vaccum hose on top of my split P/injection. It is located after the air filter, and after the grey item before it splits to the intake. Any help woudl greatly be appreciated.

Back to the AutoZone idea in a previous reply. Gotta start there so you know what code is causing the light. My '99 has the CE light on right now, and I've been finding a multitude of ideas as to what might fix it. The codes mine showed (free diagnostic hookup @ AutoZone) were P0171 & P0174. Do an internet search on those and you'll hit the jackpot. Even a few good explanations about what really causes this particular pairing of codes. FWIW, if yours turns out to be the same codes, I've read of people having an injector cleaning procedure done on a Taurus, replacing or cleaning the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor, or just running Greased Lightning Fuel System cleaner through it to get the problem 'fixed'. Based upon the best explanation I found, none of those ideas really fix the root cause -- the placement (or lack) of an oil baffle that which would keep oil from leaking into the front valve cover and blown into the valve, then sucked into the intake. Everything past that gets 'a good coating of gunk'. This would explain why some of the cleaning takes care of the CE light, but it won't last long.
HTH!

[02camery]

Hello, I still have an 1996 windstar - engine 3.0 V-6. There is alot of information on net regarding this engine. The head gasket problem will cause the motor to lock down, hence a new engine. I had the same problem with engine light and was given various fixes before engine blew.

[LKRANC]

My Abs Light Goes On On My 96 Windstar Only Wnen The Vehicle Is Traveling Past 65 Mph. So Far Mechanics Could NOT Find The Cause.
Please Advise.: