(sorry no Windstar section)

[bigron]

ok i have a 1998 Ford Windstar LX and its having issues, I went to get a transmission service cause the fluid was getting dirty. After that when i drive the car seems to jerk and stall and the rpms goes to like 5000 like the car slipped out of gear or something. I took it the the tranny shop where i got the tranny serviced, they ran a computer scan on it and came up with codes p1506 idle air control, what is that, i know codes p0301,p0303 were misfires i replaced the plugs and the wires, then the guy who installed the wires on the car says i have a lower intake leak , which leaks coolant into my oil,that means i need a lower intake gasket. Finally codes p0171, p0174 system banks too lean, HELP ME should i just junk the car and get another one or fix this stuff, i hope the tranny isnt going out, the way it stalls and doesnt want to shift gears, any tips on what this codes and stuff means and how to fix, or advice about keepin or junkin the van would be appreciated

[Bear River]

Your tranny should be all electric. The computer makes a shift strategy based upon load and speed, so if the information on either the load or speed is incorrect, it will effect the shifting. The lower intake leak is causing your too lean codes, but also gives the computer false information about load. The idle air controller is simple, it just goes on the throttle body, you can get a new one for about $50 and install it yourself in about ten minutes. However, I do think you have a serious transmission issue. Find a shop that can actually diagnose the transmission, since it seems this shop isn't doing that.

[rebocardo]

Okay, let me get this straight. It drove fine, then when you took it home from the repair place, it drove poor and popped codes?

If this is the case, I would look at something easily broken such as a vacuum hose.

> Finally codes p0171, p0174 system banks too lean

What this sounds like to me, is a wire, hose, or a connector is broken, for whatever reason, from someone mucking around under the hood. There should be a little valve setup with green buttons on your firewall, pass. side, see if the hoses to this were broken while doing the tune-up.

> After that when i drive the car seems to jerk and stall

On this I would question if the correct fluid was used.

Seems to me if it was working fine, then after the tranny service everything started to go wrong. I would think someone broke something or left it off to cause problems so they could charge you to repair something expensive and "fix" it in 10 minutes.

[bigron]

thanks for the input on the windstar, now my girl drove the car all day long and she says she hasnt had no problems with the shifting but if i was to go riding right now it would start now wanting to shift. Im kinda hoping all that is from the leaking intake, cause i dont have no money to do a new tranny,another issue is my upper intake leaking oil if their is oil coming out of my air filter case its like dripping out when i changed the air filter?

[Bear River]

The oil dripping out of the air filter case can be from a bad PCV valve, though the intake gaskets could theoretically cause it too. That oil in the intake will cause MAF sensor fouling, which can cause drivability issues, lost fuel economy, and shifting problems (the sensor tells the computer how much load the engine is under, which is part of the shift strategy)

[FTE/PARTS-GUY]

The IMRC(intake manifold runner controller) might be the problem, sold allot of these, the right hand side(radiator side) is usually the culprit.

F65Z9S514CC and the bushing F5RZ9F955AB

Ed

[93nighthawk]

I would say all of your codes is from leaking intake gaskets, very common problem on the Windy 3.8L. Have them replaced immediately. Most auto parts stores sell a set of gaskets and bolts for it.

As for the tranny issues, it could be caused by the intake leak, but like what has been said, it is all electric. The bad thing about those is that the transmision was barely sufficent to haul around a Taurus, but you slap a couple extra thousand pounds to the vehicle, the trans is lucky to last 100k mi.

The oil in the in by the filter is likely a bad PCV valve.

[marty600]

both the ford and chrysler minivans' trans. don't seem to hold up for real long,
sorry to say. The imports FWD vans are suspect when over 100k , also.
There is just too much heat and weight to trash a lightweight product (the trans),
IMHO.

[96_4wdr]

shop charges to rebuild tranny in Winstar, minimum $2500 and still have a weak prone to fail tranny.

shop charges to replace intake gaskets, min. $1000

time for something more dependable and better built.

[Bear River]

Yeah, there is not much that can be done to reinforce or beef up the Windstar/Taurus trans. However, the Aerostar uses a much stronger (not free from problems though) transmission, which can be reinforced too. I spent 2900 rebuilding and upgrading my trans, the shop says I should get at least another 200,000 before anything wears out.

[93nighthawk]

Originally Posted by 96_4wdr

shop charges to replace intake gaskets, min. $1000

time for something more dependable and better built.

$1000 for intake gaskets??!?!?!?!? We charge around $225 P&L to replace those gaskets and bolts.

[Aeroman59]

Originally Posted by 93nighthawk

$1000 for intake gaskets??!?!?!?!? We charge around $225 P&L to replace those gaskets and bolts.

Thats a deal, I'm coming to you if mine goes!

Shops round here can charge $120 + to change out a starter motor (labour only) on an Aero! I think that is way over the top, looks like about 1/2 hour job to me.

[Aeroman59]

>>>>>I took it the the tranny shop where i got the tranny serviced, they ran a computer scan on it and came up with codes p1506 idle air control, what is that, i know codes p0301,p0303 were misfires i replaced the plugs and the wires, then the guy who installed the wires on the car says i have a lower intake leak , which leaks coolant into my oil,that means i need a lower intake gasket. Finally codes p0171, p0174 system banks too lean, HELP ME should i just junk the car and get another one or fix this stuff, i hope the tranny isnt going out, the way it stalls and doesnt want to shift gears, any tips on what this codes and stuff means and how to fix,<<<<<<


Almost certainly that intake leak is the cause of the P0171/4. causes a system lean condition due to un-metered air in the fuel mixture. Also that coolant leak is going to wreak havoc with the bearings in your crankshaft & conn rods. I'd get this fixed first & then you may find that the tranny problem is not as bad as it was.

P1506 IAC overspeed error. The IAC is an air valve which is adjusted by the engine computer to control idle RPM's & low speed engine revolution. I would say the error here is also caused by the intake leak.

ATB Aeroman.

[bigron]

i appreciate the advice on my 98 windy 3.8L im getting all the intake gaskets replaced at noon today, ill let u all know how it drives afterward as well as the codes clearing up, i pray that their is no engine or tranny damage, i kinda got lucky my wife found a old mechanic through a co worker and he is gonna do the gaskets for $200, shops here was talkin $550 just to do the lower intake gaskets!


Thanks again yall, wish me luck

[TheHandyman]

Still sounds like you have some transmission issues, though you didn't say if the shop diagnosed it. With dirty fluid, slipping and jumping in gear... sound like serious issues. Decide if the van is worth the $$ you may need to put into it.