99 Windstar SE owner intro and problems

[JSAmbrose]

New to the forum - found it while looking for help on why we have no heat in the front and not being able to find the heater valve. From what I read- we don't have one? Am I right? Saw several posts on the blender/actuator. Would be interested in finding pictures regarding this.

We bought our Windstar 4 yrs ago used. We had to replace the transmission 2 yrs ago at only 60K miles.

I saw another post about front end clunking at slower speeds- we have that also.

We used to have loud squeaky noise while turning left - but only in the summer- couldn't ever figure that out and it eventually stopped. I hope that was a good thing.

Happy to have found this forum. We owe on our van one more year. We currently have 90K miles on it and hoping to hear from others that we can expect it to last a couple more years. This is our 3rd Windstar. First was a 1997 leased for 3 yrs- absolutely no problems, but it was only 3 yrs old. Loved it so much got a 1995 used and it had too many problems, so got this 1999.

Trying to do repairs myself, so all ideas/suggestions are appreciated and sorry if that is all listed someplace on this forum- I am new and don't know where everything is on the site yet -- just point me in the right direction.
Thanks!
John

[wiswind]

Welcome to the forum.
I have been lucky (knock on wood) and not had a problem with my heat controls.

You can do a search in this forum on key words and find past posts relative to your problem. Take note that 1999 was a major change year. 1995-1998 are pretty similar.....although they made some major changes to the engine in 1996.

The heater controls are vaccum actuated. There is ALWAYS hot coolant flowing through the heater core (when the engine is warm). The temperature control adjusts the "blend door" to determine how much air flows over the heater core.
The heater controls are vaccum actuated. If you look up under the dash you will see some silver bulbs that have vaccum lines going to them.
They not only have vaccum control for the blend door, there are vaccum controls to control where the air goes.....defrost, floor, pannel vents, and A/C

The source of the vaccum is a vaccum line connected to the upper intake manifold. There is a vaccum holding "tank"....a plastic box that is on the passenger side of the engine compartment.....near the windshield.....on my '96. Then vaccum lines goe to the various controls.

I would recommend that you do a search on " blend door "

[JSAmbrose]

Thanks for the welcome. Found a great set of pictures for the problem. Tried to do what was suggested with the blend door. Ended up leaving it out and we have heat, just can't regulate it. Will have to undo that for summer. Best we could come up.