1998 Ford Windstar Electrical Proble

[dbelg39801]

Ok here is my problem....Sometimes my horn works sometimes not.....some time my blinkers work sometimes not......Engine is starting to do funny things like stall and chug...I also have the same problem with the door ajar light.....My traction light like to blink on road trips and when i shut it off and turn it back on it is fixed for a while.....WHAT A BIG PIECE OF !@#$.

Can you help me with the above?

I went through 1 transmission already. My inlaws have a 1995 windstar and they went through 3 transmissions. FORD IF YOU LOOK IN THIS FORUM TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOU VIEHICLES I GOT 1 THING TO SAY TO YOU....................YOU CAN TAKE THIS VAN AND PUT IT WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE.........IF I WAS TO WIN OR RECIEVE AS A GIFT ANY OF YOU VEHICLES I WILL TAKE THEM TO THE JUNK YARD AS QUICK AS I CAN......OR DRIVE IT OFF A CLIFF........YOUR CARS SUCK......I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN IN MY LIFE.............

[ModMech]

And given the attitude of FMC towards their loyal customers, they deserve your post.

[gwendolynrain]

rock on. ford sucks.

[rob68r]

Too late I just bought one "A 98 windstar"

[ModMech]

Well our '98 has been utterly trouble free, we've been lucky.

[fcrew]

I have a early '98 thats been a gem, I have had no problems with it and l'm the original owner.

[rrclyoung]

The only way to troubleshoot this type of electrical problem is to pick one symptom and troubleshoot it, this includes reading the codes...this will most likely take you to the "root cause" of most of your problems. You might want to remember that some of your codes may be "artifacts" of the real codes.....

If you plan on keeping this vehicle you might want to follow the below link to get the service manual and EVTM for your year model. you fix it once by yourself and they are paid for.

www.helminc.com

I have an 98' with 165,000 mi on it and still on the original engine and tranny, nothing but the usual stuff and an occasional SES light. Two things make a car last...the way you drive it and the way you maintain it.

[davwha]

The one thing that would cause all those intermittent problems is a bad ignition switch (not the ignition lock). The ignition switch is actually a multiple-switch that has several electrical contacts. One of the contacts is used to start the car, the other contacts apply voltage to all of the accessories. The contacts wear out and sometimes one or more will intermittently not connect when the ignition switch is turned to start the car. It is a common problem with every ford that I have owned.