2000 Windstar Issues

[floydfam]

I am having a problem starting the vehicle. Only happens from time to time sometimes it occurs more often then it will not happen for a while. I thought originally that I had a bad connection from the Battery - however the last few times it has happened I have jiggled the Oxygen Sensor cable and it has started right up.....Any Ideas?

Also both of my Radiator fans have stopped working - I have eliminated to fuse as a culprit - however I am not sure of the next step to take from here....Any help would be greatly appreciated.

This is my wife's vehicle and I want her and the kids to be safe.....

Thank You.....

[12Ounce]

Let's start with the radiator fans, as they are fairly easy.

The fans are hooked in parrallel, so they both run at the same speed ... or not. (That is: unless one motor is failing ... then they don't necessarily do the same thing at the same time.)

There are two fuses and two relays involved. Fuse #107 is the "power" supply to the relay contacts. Fuse #20 is the "control" supply to the relay coils. Both fuses are in the battery box.

The two relays: one hi-speed, one low-speed ... are in a special "dual auxiliary relay box" mounted close behind the engine air filter on the LH inside wheel well. "Low speed" is accomplished by a dropping resistor mounted in-line after the low-speed relay. Both relays get a ground path, for the relay coil, from the PCM.

The high-speed relay's ground path wire is LG/VT. The low-speed relay's ground path wire is DB. If you ground either of these two wires, while the key is in "on" position, the associated fan speed should occur. ... or you could determine which are the contact terminals for the relay base, and jumper them together.

[floydfam]

Thank you for your information. I apologize for how blunt I was in my first post. I have been fighting this now for about two weeks ans till no luck. I have a temperature sensor now that I am going to try and replace. Anyone know where it is located on the engine?

Thank You for your help.

[wiswind]

I have a '96 3.8L, which is somewhat different than yours.
However, I would be thinking that the temperature sensors would be in pretty much the same location.

I have 2 sensors on mine.
Both are located right next to the thermostat.
To find the thermostat, locate the TOP radiator hose, it is thick.
Follow it from the radiator to where it enters the engine.
The upper radiator hose connects to the thermostat housing.....which contains the thermostat.
On my '96, there is a temperature sensor located right above the thermotat.
The sensor screws into the engine, and has 2 wires.
This sensor (on the '96 engine) is for the temperature gauge in the dash board.
There is another temperature sensor located at about the 2:00 position as viewed from the driver's side of the engine.
This sensor (on the '96 engine) is the temperature sensor that is used by the computer (PCM).

I have pictures that show them in my pictures at
http://community.webshots.com/album/201931518cScpNK