1995 Windstar problem

[bigboyisme]

I am having a big problem with mine right now, it is a 3.8L. When I try to accelerate, I get a high pressure air leak sound from the engine, and my acceleration sucks. Any clues? I thought it may be an exhaust manifold gasket, possible? Or would it be a head gasket? Either way, I seem to be losing compression.

I haven't been able to detect whether the engine is blowing out or sucking in air. But it sounds like someone is blowing the engine off with a high pressure air hose. I'm sure someone here knows what that sounds like.

Another problem is that my rear brake lights don't work when I push the pedal and the cruise control doesn't wrk. I know it is possible that these are related somehow.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[lwgregory]

brake lights and cruise share a common ground. good luck I have similar problem that I can't find

[Rowdysrides]

The brake lights & cruise also may share the same switch.

An air leak is going to make a hissing sound. An exhaust leak makes a deeper throaty sound.

I would start with an engine compression test and another thing you can do to check for air leaks, is to take a can of carb cleaner and spray it around the intake and vacuum lines that would lead from the engine to other parts of the van and don't forget the brake booster. When the engine idle changes you found your leak.

Hope this helps.

[rogerramjet]

Originally Posted by bigboyisme

I am having a big problem with mine right now, it is a 3.8L. When I try to accelerate, I get a high pressure air leak sound from the engine, and my acceleration sucks. Any clues? I thought it may be an exhaust manifold gasket, possible? Or would it be a head gasket? Either way, I seem to be losing compression.

I haven't been able to detect whether the engine is blowing out or sucking in air. But it sounds like someone is blowing the engine off with a high pressure air hose. I'm sure someone here knows what that sounds like.

Another problem is that my rear brake lights don't work when I push the pedal and the cruise control doesn't wrk. I know it is possible that these are related somehow.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

If your brake light isn't working or you have a burnt out bulb or the Brake light sensor on your brake pedal is malfuntioning the cruise control won't work there is also a possibility that the TPS sensor on top of the transmission is faulty as my cruise stopped working when this sensor needed repalcing I presume you checked all your fuses first and repalced any burnt out bulbs
Good luck
Roger

[DRW1000]

Isn't the TPS on top of the throttle body? Is there perhaps a 2nd TPS on the transmission?

[wiswind]

TPS is located on the side of the throttle body.....on the side of the throttle body opposite the accelerator cable and cruise control cable.

The input from the TPS is used....along with a number of other inputs, to determine the shift points for the transmission.

I drove my '96 windstar with the TPS disconnected, and the main thing that I noticed was that the transmission would not downshift "into passing gear" when I romped on the accelerator.

There is a "neutral sense" switch on top of the transmission that senses what gear the selector is in......this has been known to fail.....and must be properly aligned.

A vacuum leak is sounding like a likely cause of problem.....The '95 has a different upper intake manifold than the '96 and newer windstars.....but I am sure that there are MANY opportunities for a hose to be off. My '96 has a number of vacuum hose connections on the back side of the upper intake manifold...and I would guess that the '95 will have a lot of vacuum hose connections as well.....even if positioned differently than mine.

[rogerramjet]

There are two sensors
One TPS Transmission Selector Position Sensor
on the Transmission
and a TPS Throttle position sensor on the Throttle body
THe Throttle body sensor would not affect his cruise control but the Transmission one would
Also the brake pedal sensor /Switch would affect both his brake lights and his cruise control as the Brake/switch/ sensor is what turns off the Cruise control and activates the brake lights. He should Check out the Haynes and or Chilton manuals each is good in their own way for some things the Haynes is better for detailed breakdowns for others the Chilton is better both are usually available at the public library as reference books and of course local autoshops like Autozone in US as well as Wal-mart sell theses usually for $15 to $20.

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