2001 Windstar SEL

[TripsDad]

I recently purchased this to haul my triplets around and have had problems since day 1(bought as is from dealer friend of father-in-law: go figure). Before my wife got home with it engine light came on for code 302. Already has new plugs and wires. On the second day started having power accessory problems listed in previous post. The fifth day ABS and brake light came on together and continue to come on sporadically. Fluid is to max, checked after reading some of the posts on here. Looking for some ideas on the 302 and abs/brake issues. I have gotten two of my other vehicles running in the last week with ideas from this af site and I am hoping for the same luck here. Thanks.

[catvents]

PO302 refer to a misfire on cylinder 2. According to your post, spark plugs and wires has been replaced so I would take a look at the ignition coil which is a regular issue on the Windstar.

[TripsDad]

Finally took some time to look at the engine issue. From what I read on a post somewhere most people were using Autolite or Motorcraft double platinum plugs and the Autolites were in mine. They did not look bad and the gap was good but my parts man at the Napa store said the OEM part was an iridium plug so I put a set of those from Autolite and some new wires in it. The coil I left alone, it looking as new as the plugs and wires I just pulled out. Someone who had it before must have tuned it up recently or been looking for this problem. I did the plugs from the top(THANKS for the idea) so I went ahead and checked the egr ports I read about all the time here, oh my. Now the port for cylinder 2 was clean as a whistle but the other ones were a different story. From the picture I saw on the page posts direct you to there is usually carbon build up around the inner rim of the port hole, mine had buildup standing as high as 3/4 inch above the hole or at least where the hole should be since I could not see down into but two of them including #2. Have put 300 or so miles on since this, no CEL, sounds and feels better, and my mpg well improved. Now if the brake lights and the electrical issue go as well I think I will be happy with this van.

[tripletdaddy]

Have you checked the brake pressure switch found under the master brake cylinder. It is common to find a fluid leak. This issue is posted at the top of the Windstar Forum front page. When you turn off van, than later start it up, the two brake lights should come on then turn off after startup. Do yours stay on or turn off, then later come on? Keep searching here and also try the Taurus forum. Are you having power accessory problems in addition to the power doors, locks, windows? I think you may be able to get wiring diagrams from Autozone.com for your year if not a previous year. I think your problem there is switch or ground related. You could try feeding ground and power seperately to problem things to see if they are functional. Are you having any trans related problems? There have been some weird problems created by the trans position sensor, trs. The brake pressure switch as well. If it leaked, it is known to leak on the trs and cause problems.