Ford Windstar check engine light????

[FOOTDOC]

I have a 99 Ford Windstar with 40,000 miles on it. This car is babied by my wife and about a week ago the check engine light came on and has stayed on. I have a friend in our boy scout troop that is with Ford and he told me to run a couple of tanks of fuel thru it and see if the light shuts off. He also felt it might be an oxygen sensor problem. All fluid levels are OK and it seems to run fine. Any suggestions? Is there a way to reset the light or can that only be done at the dealership? Thanks for the info and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[Slushy Ice Hole]

We had the same probelm a couple of weeks ago with our 99. It was a couple of things on ours, the O2 sensor was shot, as was the PCV, and there was another sensor inside the valve cover that was shot as well. I couldn't reset the light my self, had the guys over at the shop reset it while the were doing the work. We had to reschedule our original appointment because all the parts were on back order through the Ford factories nation wide (a nation wide parts shortage - sounds like an epidemic to me). Any way we did get it fixed and it cost over $400.00 for the complete job. About $170 in labor, the rest in parts. Hopefully Ford motor company will get enough complaints that they will do a recall and get us some cash back for the repairs, I already called customer service and had them send out a form to fill out the complaint.

Good luck, and have a safe and happy new year!

[Buckeye]

You have to let a tech with diagnostic equipment reset the check engine light. The onboard computer either detected a malfunction or it came on at a prescribed mileage. If it seems to run well at an idle as well as at full power, I would not suspect anything to be wrong. Ask a tech at a trustworthy shop to check out why the computer turned it on then decide what to do.

[mbrandt]

A lot of times, the problem is a faulty fuel cap. If the car seems to be running ok, you can reset the light and then see if it comes back on. To reset it, just disconnect one of your battery cables (neg) for an hour or so. You have to give it a little time. There is a capcitor or something in there that needs to drain. Only problem with this is that you need to reset all your radio stations and stuff. Autozone stores check the code for free. They will tell you what is causing the light if it comes back on after the reset.

Mark

[Arkie eye jerker]

Most vehicles are set for check engine light to come on at preset milage, 40,000 or 50,000. They do this so you will take it back to the dealer and have it checked out. I have reset several vehicles by just removing the battery cable and placing it back on the battery. If their is a problem your check engine light will stay on after you do this, if it was at a preset point that caused it to come on the light will not come back on.

[Shep]

Yes you can reset it by removing the Neg battery cable from the battery. First, I would take it to Autozone, and get the code. Then you can go to www.actron.com and go to the CODE LOOKUP page, enter in the vehicle info, and it will tell you what the code means.

Good luck.

Tight Lines,

Shep

[sib]

Just replaced my EGR valve on my '97 Taurus. Brought it in to Autozone and they hooked it up to their analyzer, had the problem in 2 minutes. Even read the display myself, EGR "excessive flow". Put a new one on and now it's happy.

[Scott Richardson]

Keep it simple. I'd check for a faulty fuel cap first. My engine light came on twice in my Tundra and worried me until I read the owners manual which insisted that I crank that cap down hard. A bad seal does something to the vacuum and sets off the light.

[BD]

Find out what's wrong and get it corrected. When the service engine soon or check engine lights come on the computer in your vehicle reverts to a fail-safe mode. In this mode you will get to where you are going, but you will burn a lot more gas, and can screw up even more stuff than whatever caused the light to come on in the first place.

[ttwi]

This seems to be a real problem with Ford. I have a 2000 F-150 4x4 with only 27,000 miles and have had the lifgt come on 3 times, all three were oxygen sensors. I'm also on my second rear main seal. Have had 4 F-150's in my life, but this may well be the last one.

[ChevyTruckOwner]

Jeez, that is discouraging to hear. I have had 3 Chevy trucks and was thinking about changing to Fords based on the latest annual issue of Consumer Reports. The Fords showed way better than the Chevies.

I lost an alternator in my 1996 Silverado (bought new) at 48,000 miles. I had to have the fuel injectors cleaned at 38,000 miles ($200). I had to have the brakes done at 40,000 (as did my buddy with his 1998 Tahoe).

In my 2001 Silverado (also bought new) I had to have the races in the front differential replaced under warranty at 22,000 miles(customer service guy said it would have been about $1200 if I had to pay for it) and the slip yoke replaced under warranty too at 23,000 miles(customer service guy said it would have been about $200, if I remember right). The truck has only 24,000 miles on it and I baby it. Pulled a boat 4,500 miles over the past 24 months but it was only a 16 footer so there is no reason to be having these problems that I am aware of.

Now I am not sure what to think.

[J2025]

I had the same problem with my 95 aerostar , 3.0L motor. Dealer replace the oxygen sensor twice but it recurred about 6 months later. took it to a local mechanic he replaced it with a non ford piece and i havent had a problem since.

[Shep]

Don't be afraid of replacing your Chevy with a Ford. I've got 110K on my 97 F150 with 5.4L. Replaced one O2 sensor about 10K miles ago, and that is all the trouble I have had with the truck. Other than regular maintenance, tires and brakes are the only things I have spent money on. This has been a great truck, and I will buy another, in about 100K miles.

Tight Lines All,

Shep

[Scott Richardson]

So what was wrong with it? Any final word?

[FOOTDOC]

Yes, thanks for asking! I appreciate all the information from the readers on this site. First, I took the car to AutoZone and the computer there said that Bank 1 Too Lean. So, I took it to the local ford dealer and they informed me it was not that simple. They analyzed it and said it had a leaking manifold gasket and they cleaned some kind of ports. This was $325.00 for labor and material. Then they drove the car and the check engine light was STILL on and this time it told them to replace mass air flow sensor. This was about another $200.00. So, I have $245 in labor and $235 in parts with about another $50 in misc. As they were fixing this, I was on my way, driving to LOTW to walleye fish and called home to see if the car was done. When they told me they fixed it once only to have the check engine light continue, I was not too happy and felt perhaps a bit of scam was taking place. Anyway, it is fixed now and I was kind of in a position where they have the parts and knowledge to repair the vehicle and I needed the service performed. So, chalk one up to Ford. I don't know if I got ripped or not but it runs OK again and so we will see. BTW, the fishing at LOTW was incredible! I went out of Arenson's with my son and had a blast! What a resource!

[BLUEJEANS]

I HAVE A 98 WINDSTAR WITH 77,000 MILES ON IT. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME JUST RECENTLY. I TOOK TO THE LOCAL FORD MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT IT IS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT NEEDS REPLACED. HE SAID THAT IT WOULD BE $130.00 FOR THE REPLACEMENT PLUS OVER $100.00 A PIECE FOR 4 OXYGEN SENSORS. IT SURE SEEMS A BIT HIGH TO GET A LIGHT TO GO OFF.

[Okeyes]

It seems that the dealers also don't want to reset the light. Just because it is fixed, the light will stay on. It must be reset after repairs are made.
I also recommend asking the parts store for the name of a good mechanic. They can usually give you several. Not knocking all dealer mechanics, just going on what is in my area.

Okeyes