Windstar Van Transmissions

[rtessoli]

Hello,

I have a 1995 Ford Windstar Van. Currently at 147,000 kilometers (88,000) miles. It is currently under extended warranty but running out fast (Sept 11/01). I am starting to experience automatic transmission problems.... It seems to be slipping when shifting between first and second causing the engine to overrev beyond 4,000 before shifting. Problem is it only does it occasionally (usually when engine cold) and the warranty people say it has to do it more and when the ajuster is driving the van before they will consider repair.

I was wondering if any other Windstar owners out there have experienced similar problems and if so:

1. How did the problem progress,
2. How long before it got worse
3. How long before complete failure,
4.Can I speed up the failure process, (ie before Sept 11)
5. Was the tramission repairable or did the entire tranny have to be replaced,
6. If it was repaired vs replaced how long did the repair last,
7. If I take the gamble to have the dealer remove the tranny in the hopes of finding the problem so warranty can view it, how easy is it to see the damage or wearing parts?

Any thing else you could tell me about what to expect would be great.

Thanks and hope to hear from some one soon.

RT

[Heep]

Ooo...that's a toughie. I worked at a Ford dealer quite recently as a co-op ed student. We had an auto Explorer in that was doing the same thing. I can't remember what the problem was, but my good friend and full-time mechanic and I rebuilt the whole thing and changed some parts. I will talk to him ASAP to find out what you can/should do about this.

[lovess]

i know these are old posts but on our 95 windstar it was the speed sensor. started to notice speedo needle to bounce and finally quit working wife kept driving it. finally went out cost over two grand to fix! more to story but got to go. later

[wehad it]

Hello,
Your transmission may give you no notice that it is going to fail. We are on our second Windstar (we didn't learn the first time) and we have "had it" (thus our username). We have a 1999 this time and it has 63,000 miles and the transmission band broke so it won't drive when in first. We also just replaced the brakes, and entire power-steering system. Not to mention tires and fuel plugs etc. We're about to trade it in as is and write Ford a very disappointing letter.

Good luck on your 95 Windstar, we had one of those too, do know about the many recalls on that car.



Wehadit.

[Sooma]

Hi RT, sorry to hear about your trouble. I too have a 1995 Windstar currently at 152,000 KM. Unfortunately it has taken me 8 months for the Service Advisor to finally see that my transmission is gone. Back in Oct. of 2002 I brought the van in for the first time with the problem. I called the Dealership twice a month to give them an update. Of course I heard the same excuse, "We cant fix or diagnose anything until it acts up when we are driving it". Well I finally went to the dealership and took the service manager for a long drive. Right away he said it was the transmission (duh). Unfortunately my warranty expired a month ago. So needless to say I am extremely disappointed with the dealership due to the fact that when I intially brough the van in for this I still had a warranty. Nothing I can do now. All I can say is to demand they take your van for as long as they need it to feel and see what is happening. It is going to cost me somewhere around 2200.00 to fix now. Make sure they take care of it before your warranty expires. Good Luck

[rsanders]

Why doesn't Ford fix the AXOD transmission used in the Windstar and Taurus, etc.? It's been broken for many years. Can some Ford guy explain this to me please?

[ModMech]

Why don't they fix them?

Well not to be crass, but because PEOPLE BUY THEM just the way they are. Just like the '95-'97 3.8L engines. It's been "common knowledge" that they fail headgaskets, it's been reported widly in the news media, yet people still buy them. Who's fault is that?

I REFUSED to even look at anything with the 3.8L engine. Sure, the sales people all said "well you can get a warrenty to cover that if it worries you." To which I said "HA!! ME get a warrenty? NO WAY! I'm NOT spending MY money to cover a FORD screw up, and I'm NOT buying ANYTHING with a 3.8L in it. Am I CLEAR?"

Generally, that would shut them right up.