1997 Ford Windstar LX from North America - Comments

1998 Wind star door chime and dome lights are now a problem more often. Removing fuse # 19 under the steering wheel area also cuts out the power windows and windshield wipers. It's not fun crawling under the dash in the rain trying to stick the fuse back in.

About the door ajar dinging. I had a room mate with a ford ranger.

His truck had the same problem. The dinging only happened on the passenger door. We pulled the door panel and shorted the switch so it indicated the door was always closed. Then he just used the light switch to turn on the interior light. I would suggest checking each door. You should be able to replace the switch on the bad door. Try finding a Chilton's auto repair manual for your year vehicle. In the back there is a wiring diagram. It may be worth all the trouble.

Michael.

You should have used WD-40 spray on the door ajar swich. It works well for a while.

1997 Windstar - I was beginning to think I was the only one with all these problems. I too have had problems with the light staying on and "dinging". The head gasket cracked and ruined the motor - $4,000 - work done by Ford (and they say there is no problem). My speedometer also broke - several hundred more $$$, and now the transmission is also jerking. My brother in law works for Ford and we rec'd a discount when we purchased the vehicle. Some discount, the money we saved plus thousands more put back into the vehicle in only 6 years. Ford Claims none of it was under warranty. F.O.R.D. (fix or repair daily)

When my 1998 Wind star door ajar light started acting up, I decided to do some troubleshooting rather than randomly spraying WD40 all over everything. Here is the way I solved my problem. There are 5 door sensors, any one of which can cause the problem. All of the sensors report to the GEM (Generic Electronic Module) The GEM is located under the dash just above the gas pedal. I removed connector C234 and checked continuity using an ohm meter. The Black/ violet wire (pin 4) Goes to the left door ajar sensor. Should get continuity to ground with the door open and open circuit with the door closed. The Black Pink wire, (pin 16) goes to the right door. Should check the same as the left. The Black/ Lt Blue wire, (pin 5) goes to the left and right lift gate sensors. Should get continuity with the lift gate open, and open circuit with the lift gate closed. The black and white wire was where my problem was. (pin 17), Should have continuity with the door closed and open circuit with the door open. Mine was open all the time. I replaced the sensor on the rear latch of the sliding door and the problem was solved. Because these sensors are such a high fail item, I took the sensor apart and discovered the plunger has 2 o rings on it which were loaded with dirt. I cleaned the dirt out and put the sensor back together and the old sensor now works good. I will keep this one as a spare. Good Luck!! Dennis.

Has anyone resolved the clunking in the front suspension? I have 138,000 miles on my 97 Windstar and have had this problem for the last 4 years! I have had the van looked at by two different Ford Dealers and two other independent repair shops and no one can find the problem. I my case, the noise is worse when the humidity is low. When it is wet outside there is no noise at all. Any ideas? sdcotten@charter.net.

I have the 95 windstar and have been the sole owner. Unfortunately I have experienced all of the aforementioned problems. 1. THe head gasket has blown twice and now the temp gauge reads far beyond what used to be its normal range. 2. The passenger side sliding door reads periodically reads as ajar with the associated annoying chime. 3. I had to replace the door/ignition lock chambers as the keys just stoped working one day. 4. The ABS kicks on at the tail end of all stops due to faulty sensors. The steering column/pump has an extremely loud squeel whenever I turn. Only 85,000 mile on the odometer.

Other than that, she's a beaut;)

I just purchased a 96 windstar and have the same problems with the speedometer bouncing around and the door chiming and lights coming on. Ill try WD-40!

I can't believe Ford will not do a recall this is crazy!! We just purchased a used 1995 Ford Win-star, I really liked it, until my "door ajar light" started staying on along with my dome lights. Now it appears that the transmission is acting up!! I feel so bad, I really like my van, but can this "electrical problem" be fixed?? If anyone knows please respond.

Thanks,

James.

I am a second owner of 98 Ford Wind-star, which I purchased in 99 and since then I also have had problems with the sliding door ajar light being constantly on, the interior lights take forever to actually go off when you exit the vehicle.

Also the interior lights stay on when I get in the vehicle and don't usually go off until I am on the road a 1/2 mile into my drive, which makes it very hard to see at night and especially back up.

Now in 2003 I am having constant "electrical" problems with my passenger side window, which I thought I got fixed at Don Chalmers Ford dealership and paid 400.00, well guess what its out again and it not a fuse... I am a single parent and paid about 15,000 initially for my vehicle I wish it was more reliable, other than that I really like my van.

Bonnie Alb. NM.

I own a 1997 Windstar with just over 80,000 miles on it. In the last 6 months, the engine light has been coming on and off. I have spent more than $1000.00 trying to fix this problem, and each time they reset the computer and fiddle around with this or that, but to no avail. The problem is only fixed temporarily. I have been told that it is coming on for various reasons, including a loose gas cap, but with fixing all of these, the light still comes on every 6 weeks or so.

Dealership can't figure out what's wrong. Any suggestions?

This is the LAST time I ever buy a Ford.

Hi! We also have a crazy speedometer. I just called the dealership (before finding this site) and they acted like they had never heard of such thing! They said it would be $90 or more to diagnose the problem and then we should plan on spending at least a few hundred dollars to fix depending on wear the source of the problem is.

We also have the door ajar problem and I will try the WD40 trick.

I am so tired of this VAN! A couple of weeks ago we were almost killed (according to the dealer). We came out to a parking lot and found the front of our van on the ground. It was the front coils and the repair would have been over 4,000. After two days of argument ford agreed to fix at no cost due to a program it fell under. The dealer said if we would have been driving we would have been killed.

A week after we bought the van the engine had to be replaced (thankfully it was so soon after they did pay for that as well).

If any one has any ideas for the speedometer please post!

Thanks!

I too, have the problem with the "crazy" speedometer. After reading the many other comments with regard to this same problem, I also think that Ford Motor Company should do a recall!! Also if anyone can en lighten me as to where I might find a "junked Windstar, or a wrecked one, I might could obtain the Speedometer Head, at a reasonably priced amount, since both myself & my wife are physically disabled and only have a fixed income. (which is, nt very much!!) Please reply to: thumper@henderson.net Thanks, Jerry.

I have 95 Windstar. I also have the problem with the door ajar sensor on the back hatch. I'm trying the WD-40 thing now. We did fix the grinding, knocking noise in the front by drilling into one of the joints and shooting grease into it. This joint did not have a grease fitting (VERY POOR DESIGN FLAW) and got dried out and made horrible noises. We did this a year ago and so far the noise has been gone.

I also have another problem that we've yet to diagnose. The van acts weird when you are driving in mountains or in many ups and downs. It's like some sort of back pressure and the gas pedal stops responding. You can have it floored and nothing when all of a sudden "WHAM" it decides to GO. It will do this until you've been on flat land for a good period of time. Gets very aggravating on vacation.

I also have the jerky transmission, but I have electronic dash so I don't suffer the crazy speedometer.

I also used to be a big Ford fan, but not any more.

I too have a 1997 3.8 Windstar with all same problems.The check engine (misfire Cyl 4) was fixed by cleaning EGR valves. And gasket replacement (intake) chiming seems to only be a problem at night (of course the light stays on and can't see) Now after one yr reading codes replacing censors to find it was EGR and check engine light finally off and stumbling prob really gone (I was so proud my ford was running better than husbands precious Chevy) wouldn't you know trans. started acting up. Why doesnt Ford offer ext. warranty for all Windstars for trans.