2001 Windstar "Bucking" between 45-60 mph

[thibods]

Having a problem with 2001 Windstar "bucking" between 45- 60 mph .
Cannot find any vacuum leaks . Performed "leckemby" fix for the 0172,0174 codes I was getting . Replaced the DPFE , cleaned the MAF and EGR valve .Could the MAF be bad but not give an error code ?

Thanks in advance for the help,

[Mama's T-Bird]

My 97 started doing this at 80,000 miles. Since I was getting ready to have brake work done, I bought a fuel filter and took it to my mechanic. Replaced the filter, and as soon as it was started up, the fuel pump died. New fuel pump and fuel filter, and it stopped doing it. No codes ever came up.

[12Ounce]

Beginning in '99, there were several vans built with the harness "wrapped" the wrong way as it was attached to the firewall. The harnesses installed this way could rub against the ac tubing 'til some conductors were grounded/damaged. In my case, one of the damaged conductors fed a tranny shift solenoid ... caused bad lurching.

The production problem was eventually corrected, but it took a couple of years to discover and then correct. You have to remove the windschield cowling to inspect the harness properly.

[garync1]

Dang this could be my problem. After replacing the coil the problem went away. But it does it every now and again just not as bad.. I am stumped on this one I may pull the cowl off and check it out. I have a feeling this is going to start up again.. but I wonder after I reset the code i got, if it reset the cpu so it would not do it any more... I guess I should have test drove first. Before reseting the code. But mine i thought mine was the fuel pump or tranny first.But the code was a 181 and some backwards code error. I ordered a new code scanner to stop the wild codes i am getting with the cheap unit. Ill post back with more info later. Gary

[thibods]

Originally Posted by garync1

Dang this could be my problem. After replacing the coil the problem went away. But it does it every now and again just not as bad.. I am stumped on this one I may pull the cowl off and check it out. I have a feeling this is going to start up again.. but I wonder after I reset the code i got, if it reset the cpu so it would not do it any more... I guess I should have test drove first. Before reseting the code. But mine i thought mine was the fuel pump or tranny first.But the code was a 181 and some backwards code error. I ordered a new code scanner to stop the wild codes i am getting with the cheap unit. Ill post back with more info later. Gary

Thanks Gary , I appreciate the info .

[thibods]

I checked the harness but didn't find where it would have rubbed anywhere .

Thanks for the tip.

[thibods]

I just changed the fuel filter this past Nov . but haven't changed the pump . It's strange that it would do it between 45-60 mph though . Did your pump do it intermittenly or at a certain mph ?

Thanks

[Mama's T-Bird]

Mine did it very intermittently somewhere between 35-55 mph. Was on a 400 mile trip when it started, and it happened about 4 times on the trip.

[AUTOBOY32]

My 2001 windstar su bucks also around 45-60mph. changed spark plugs and wireset worked good for a while then started doing it again. Funny thing is that it started doing it around 20-35mph. now. And started doing when coming on to a dead stop. All that was yesterday. Today everything seems normal. My question is , If it's electrical like coil or sensors does it go away sometimes or the above mentioned acts 24/7 (all the time)? My next bet would be the gas filter, never been changed.

[thibods]

I found my problem yesterday . I had a plug wire . I replaced the coil last year and when it acts up it does it all the time . Sensors , I'm not sure about . They should give a fault . You can check the coil pack by using an ohmmeter . If you look at coil pack , check across the coil pack ; the ohms should be the same on all of them .

Check across the following : 1

[thibods]

I found my problem yesterday... bad plug wire . I replaced the coil pack last year , apprx. 65,000 miles .It should give a code of #2 cylinder misfiring or such as that . You can check the coil pack with an ohmmeter in the following order :

1 2 3
5 6 4
They should all read the same resistance ( close anyway). 6.5 - 11.5
If it is the coil pack it should happen all the time . Sensors I'm not sure about .

[AUTOBOY32]

THANKS for the fast reply. Since van is working fine as of now, my wife took it to visit her mom. Guess I'll test it tomorrow after work. Forgot to mention though, windstar hit 80k this weekend. I remembered also last summer went on a 500 mile trip, after filling full tank, after 20 miles or so noticed a slight buck going 60mph. ignored it. About 60 miles later bucking started bad and check engine started blinking and engine made a funny type of strong smell, then had to slow down to 20mph, slowly hit the gas till it reached 60-65mph again. If i accelerated quickly the bucking began. Anyways stopped at nearest town and poured a bottle of fuel injector cleaner. After a week and a second full tank, had some improvements.Then after two weeks everthing was normal. Till now .

[gabbie]

AUTOBOY32,

A bad head gasket caused my van to cut out intermittently around 45-50 mph. Once I got past that speed range it would stop. Eventually, it failed to start. I was able to start it later and had the gasket replaced at a garage. If your radiatior overflow tank level is always low, you might have this problem.

[kschaffer3]

The problem is the coil pack. It is notorious for going bad. If you take it off you should notice little hairline cracks with a brownish residue. Change the coil pack and your problem will be fixed.