US Help please..!!

[burtiess]

I'm a windstar owner from the Netherlands and support in Europe for US cars is really none...
when running idle (traffic lights f.i.) feels as if the transmission wants to lock...when pulling up it all feels very hard... and as if the engine wants to choke..(RPM's down and up). enybody have any solutions/suggestions??

Having even a problem finding good technical info about the Windstar...does somebody help me out whre to find it...as well as parts ?

[12Ounce]

(me again)
Have you considered buying an electrical diagram book($55) and shop manual($150)? The authentic Ford shop manuals are available from www.helminc.com. Also the aftermarket reference books such as Haynes and/or Chilton's are available in Europe. About $20 each, stateside.

[wiswind]

2 other sources of information.

www.alldatadiy.com is about $25 for the first year, and then about $15 each year therafter.
Includes the FORD TSB's (Technical Service Buletins).

FREE Repair information can also be found at www.autozone.com

www.flatratetech.com will put you in touch with FORD dealership mechanics.

THIS forum is also very good, as I have gotten a LOT of information on problems that I did NOT find any place else.

For your particular problem......
One cause may be the air conditioning kicking in and out. When it kicks in.....the idle speed bumps up.....and this causes the car to want to pull forward. My car does this.
Whenever you have the heater controls in anything but "vent" or "off" the air conditioning compressor will cycle on and off. Even in "HEAT" setting, on the coldest day.

Try setting the heater control to "vent" and see if the problem is solved. If so (and I think that it will) then this is what is happening.

I would guess if the IAC (Idle Air Control) valve was acting up....it could make the problem worse.
The IAC is located on top of the upper intake manifold, next to the throttle body. It is held on by 2 bolts, and has an electrical connection.
The IAC controls the engine idle speed, whenever your foot is off of the accelerator. FORD says to replace it....not to clean it....but a shot of some "Sea Foam" or other cleaning oil may be a help. I would not worry about the IAC if you are not seeing any other problems with idle.

[wiswind]

Parts,
www.parts.com will give you a menu.....from which you choose your vehicle.
This will put you in touch with car dealerships that will sell parts online. I do NOT know if any of them will ship overseas......you will have to check into that. They will list 2 prices, the list price, and what they will sell it for......plus shipping.

www.rockauto.com I do not know if they will ship overseas either....but a good place to buy parts.