Windstar tranny problem

luvmybronco · #1 03-06-2006, 08:17 PM

I was on a freeway two months ago, and the O/D light started flashing, and the trans was leaking fluid on exhaust with smoke everywhere. Towed it home, and took it into a shop, they replaced the trans front seal, torque conv., and also rebuilt the valve body and added a shift pac...Got it back and everything was O.K.
Then on another small trip on the freeway, the same thing happened...O/D light came on, and trans started leaking again dripping fluid on exhaust with smoke everywhere...It's back in the shop, but I'm wondering if the trans cooler isn't doing it's job, and causing the fluid to get hot, and blow the seal...Both times, it was highway driving...
Has anyone else have this problem?

C. Cleve · #2 03-07-2006, 06:44 AM

Hi, RE....Your trans oil leak, I think the trans shop is missing something, Like perhaps the band servo cover on the side of the trans, Also perhaps the VSS, sensor coul be leaking, Both are situated VERY close to the exhaust pipes,,,,,Hey it's worth a look.......Good Luck....Clay...

luvmybronco · #3 03-07-2006, 08:57 PM

Just found out today. 2nd gear is toast, and the trans needs a rebuild at 1600-1800...The leak on the second time wasn't comming from the same place. This time, when the trans started overheating, it was comming out of the vent tube, or dipstick tube...More than likely, it would have burned up the first time, if I hadn't stop, before it overheated...Anyways I'm TICKED...The Van was put up for sale a couple weeks ago, and I can't raise the price now...I'm cutting my losses...Getting it fixed, and selling it...These Windstar's are JUNK...Just fixed the PO171-174 code, not to mention paying 800 a few months ago for the first trans problem. Ford doesn't stand for Quality anymore...They just sell JUNK...83K miles should be nothing on these vans...From now on, I'm buying Toyota.... Hell, I had to have the 6 spd tranny rebuilt on my 2000 superduty two months after I bought it, and it only had 37K miles on it...The ONLY thing you should have to replace on a manual tranny, is a clutch and throw out baring at 37,000 miles...
From now on, I'm checking this website before I buy anything. Windstars (Fords in General) seem to be having ALOT of problems...I wish I knew of this site before I bought the windstar....Sorry for venting

joeuser742 · #4 03-08-2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmybronco

Just found out today. 2nd gear is toast, and the trans needs a rebuild at 1600-1800...The leak on the second time wasn't comming from the same place. This time, when the trans started overheating, it was comming out of the vent tube, or dipstick tube...More than likely, it would have burned up the first time, if I hadn't stop, before it overheated...Anyways I'm TICKED...The Van was put up for sale a couple weeks ago, and I can't raise the price now...I'm cutting my losses...Getting it fixed, and selling it...These Windstar's are JUNK...Just fixed the PO171-174 code, not to mention paying 800 a few months ago for the first trans problem. Ford doesn't stand for Quality anymore...They just sell JUNK...83K miles should be nothing on these vans...From now on, I'm buying Toyota.... Hell, I had to have the 6 spd tranny rebuilt on my 2000 superduty two months after I bought it, and it only had 37K miles on it...The ONLY thing you should have to replace on a manual tranny, is a clutch and throw out baring at 37,000 miles...
From now on, I'm checking this website before I buy anything. Windstars (Fords in General) seem to be having ALOT of problems...I wish I knew of this site before I bought the windstar....Sorry for venting

It actually sounds like they didn't know where the leak was coming from and just changed those parts. Because the vent hole is between the motor and trans, where it will look like you have a bad/leaky torque converter. Maybe you can complain and tell them that they changed the wrong parts.

As for the 2nd gear being toast, C. Cleve is right, it's probably just the band servo piston seal/o-ring. It took me 10 minutes to change. I bet that they also didn't use Mercon V trans fluid. It is a must in this trans. What year is your windstar?

I've always been a GM man and never really liked Ford, but I had a 97 Ford Ranger (125,000 miles) and just recently bought a 99 Ford Windstar with 145,000 miles. I had 2 problems with the Windstar, the p171/p174 code and the transmission spitting out fluid, shifting funny, and smoking on occasion. I just changed my fluid, filter, and the 1-2 intermediate piston seal and cover gasket, now it runs like it was new.

joeuser742 · #5 03-08-2006, 02:42 PM

Just found/remembered another common problem. The Trasmission Range Sensor or Neutral safety switch could be bad, that would cause no shifting or bad shifting.

C. Cleve · #6 03-09-2006, 06:29 AM

Hi, joeuser742, You are so right about the correct fluid useage, And the big thing is the trans shop having access to ALL the updates needed when repairing/overhauling one off these axode transmissions, Money well spent at a competent dealer is a bunch of money saved....See Ya, Clay..

98er · #7 03-10-2006, 05:00 AM

Regarding looking at a forum before buying, remember that lists are for those that need help or are griping. I have rarely seen forums where inviting memebrs to write that they're very happy about their machines. As for me, my '98 Windstar is perfect at 80K but I second your opinion that Ford quality is down.
Marc/Atlanta

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