updated maint to do 99 w/109k

[jimsaco]

Just bought a 99 Windstar LX with 109k. I am suspicious of what regular maintenance has been done. I have looked on Edmunds and at the Ford website and find that the following are recommended. I was wondering if you all had other recommendations of things that I should do straight away.

oil change/oil filter
flush and replace coolant
auto trans fluid (what about the AT filter? I see no mention of that)
fuel filter
PCV valve
spark plugs
air filter

the rest I see are just inspection type things (look at the belts, brakes, ball joints etc)

How about replace brake fluid? Replace power steering fluid?

Any help is much appreciated. -Jim

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by jimsaco

Just bought a 99 Windstar LX with 109k. I am suspicious of what regular maintenance has been done. I have looked on Edmunds and at the Ford website and find that the following are recommended. I was wondering if you all had other recommendations of things that I should do straight away.

oil change/oil filter
flush and replace coolant
auto trans fluid (what about the AT filter? I see no mention of that)
fuel filter
PCV valve
spark plugs
air filter

the rest I see are just inspection type things (look at the belts, brakes, ball joints etc)

How about replace brake fluid? Replace power steering fluid?

Any help is much appreciated. -Jim

Jim

Here are my thoughts:

3000 on oil

5000-15,000 on air filter (depending on use/environment)

aprox 30,000 on plugs (I know they last longer, but I don't want to keep a plug in an engine for 100,000 and get it stuck)

15,000 to 50,000 on tranny. (depending on use)

Brake fluid-every 3-5 years-bleed to remove old that collects moisture.



Dan

[DRW1000]

Originally Posted by jimsaco

Just bought a 99 Windstar LX with 109k. I am suspicious of what regular maintenance has been done. I have looked on Edmunds and at the Ford website and find that the following are recommended. I was wondering if you all had other recommendations of things that I should do straight away.

oil change/oil filter
flush and replace coolant
auto trans fluid (what about the AT filter? I see no mention of that)
fuel filter
PCV valve
spark plugs
air filter

the rest I see are just inspection type things (look at the belts, brakes, ball joints etc)

How about replace brake fluid? Replace power steering fluid?

Any help is much appreciated. -Jim

Welcome to the world of Windstars.

If I just bought a 99 with 109K I would certainly do all that you have mentioned. There is some debate as to whether you should flush the tranny and open it up and change the filter or simply drop the pan and replace the filter. (This will only drain about 1/2 the fluid). I would as a minimum do this. The gasket is reusable. It would not hurt to change the steering and brake fluids too.

I would assume that the vehicle has passed a safety inspection which SHOULD have included an inspection of the brakes and steering components but it never hurts to look twice.

Since you have a 99 you will most likely develop an intake leak and clogged (or clogging EGR Ports). I would not do anything until you get the relevant codes and it is possible that it has already been addressed but keep it in mind. You can read about it searching for "Isolator bolts". Not too bad of a job for someone who is adventurous. Eventually the DPFE will fail too. It is a very easy job.


I don't want to scare you. Having a 99 that had those two problems and having gone through the repairs I would not hesistate in buying another 99. I only want you to know what to expect.

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