hot engine hard start, poor idle

[charleyb]

As the weather warms up this spring we have an old problem from last summer re-occurring. Our 2001 Windstar when hot is intermittently hard to restart, and once restarted you must keep the revs up to keep it running for 5 minutes or so. This is bad since as you sit at a traffic light we must keep it revved to 1500-2000 rpm or it will quit. Hi electrical load, such as putting on the AC seems to make it worse, and the issue does go away after 5 minutes or so of driving making me think theres a not enough voltage to the EFI or something like that. My logic is that keeping it revved up increases the alt's output.

It ran fine all winter, a month ago we just had the 100,000 km thorough dealership service in which they serviced/checked the EFI and electrical. We mentioned this issue, they said they found no problems. Last summer when it was acting up I replaced the original battery and had the charging system checked ( both tested OK but replaced the batt anyways ) and that solved nothing. Any suggestions?

[12Ounce]

Your thinking is getting very close to what would be my guess ... dirty relay contacts that feed the PCM. If you had a '99, I could suggest what relay (near the battery) should be replaced ... I've had to replace mine a few times over the years. But your relay lay-out is different I think.

Look in your glovebox manual under "roadside emergencies" and see which relay is indicated for PCM supply. I would strongly suggest a new relay ... not a swap-about. If you cannot find which relay it is, post back.

Another relay that can be problematic is the "fuel pump relay" ... but it is less likely to be it I think.

[12Ounce]

And OH YEAH! Thanks to a no-start morning for me ... I'm reminded to mention the "starter interrupt relay".

Probably not your problem, but keep it in mind.

And be sure you are trying both "Park" and "Neutral" shift lever positions.

[phil-l]

12Ounce -

I'm curious... I've heard several folks discuss various Windstar relay problems on this forum in the past. Meanwhile, at 100K+ miles, I've seen no relay-related problems on my '00 (virtually electrically identical to '99).


So I'm wondering - Is something else at work here? Perhaps a combination of elecrical accessories or options that makes relay failure more likely? I'm just curious why, if this is such a common failure, I haven't seen it. Meanwhile, I've seen all other other common Windstar items for my model year (isolator bolts, cruise control switch, etc.).

[12Ounce]

It is curious. I think I have been the victim of the highest number on relay failures ... but I am quick to replace them, I admit. Maybe its the local water. Or perhaps my alternator voltage has been too high. Its an SEL ... all the bells and whistles available that year ... and I do use the trailer connections a good bit. 230 kmi's.

I have noticed on later Windstars ... or perhaps it was the Freestars ... the relays looked totally different, a different design. ??? Why.

[northern piper]

I'm with ya Phil. If it's a common windstar problem, I've had it. BUT, I've never replaced a relay yet.

With that I'm going to go and order 10 as that Murphy guy and his stinkin laws...

[PNS_AF]

Sounds eerily like my problem -- see "Odd/Irritating..." post from today. I don't understand why outside temp would affect the PCM relay so much, but mine seems to have gotten worse as the weather warms up also. How does it start when the engine is cold? Is your start problem only after the engine has reached full operating temp? Maybe in the winter (Upstate NY) the engine never really reaches full operating temp? That scenario is not likey if the thero is working correctly.