99 windstar transmission issues
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: shawnee KS
99 windstar transmission issues
need some help.Daughter drives van,never had any problems and suddenly no drive or reverse.Put it in gear ,no rpm drop, same for reverse.I put it in park and it will not roll so I don't believe its a linkage issue.Its like it has no torque converter. Fluid is at the full mark,and has no burnt smell . Its been my experience that a trans . usually starts slipping,or no up shift or makes some noises when its getting ready to puke. She stopped for a stop light, went to take off and it just rev-ed up like it was in neutral.Probably not an easy fix but thought I'd give you guys a try. Any clue as to what s wrong with this will be appreciated. thanks
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Windstar = front wheel drive, Aerostar = rear wheel drive, two completely different transmissions. In PARK, the parking prawl is engaged which keeps the car from rolling. You could still have linkage issues. Unless daughter moved the gear selector at the stop light, linkage is probably not the problem. Any fluid leaks? Hang around, we have a good tranny expert here in KhanTranitar who should be able to shed some light on your problem.
On edit: here is link to known Windstar problems. Several mirror your daughter's experience. I had heard Windstars had problems but some of these are downright scary! http://www.arfc.org/complaints/1999/...n/problem.aspx
On edit: here is link to known Windstar problems. Several mirror your daughter's experience. I had heard Windstars had problems but some of these are downright scary! http://www.arfc.org/complaints/1999/...n/problem.aspx
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Joined: Oct 2009
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The trans in the Windstar is basically a slightly upgraded version of the POS trans in the Taurus. Its a 100,000 mile trans.
The first thing to check is fluid level and condition. If the fluid has more than 30,000 miles, replace the fluid, but do not flush it. You can do a dynamic fluid exchange, which is sometimes called a gentle flush. It is not to be confused with the flush that most transmission and quick lube places do, which destroy your valve body. A dynamic fluid exchange just replaces the fluid.
If you are lucky, your issue is nothing more than low fluid. It is possible the torque converter has come apart internally, or that the splines have stripped off the shaft. A plugged filter can also sometimes cause a delayed or no engagement situation.
The Taurus had lots of transmission issues. The Windstar adds more weight and often more powerful torquey engines to the equation.
Unfortunately diagnosing your trans remotely is difficult. Start with the easy obvious stuff like checking fluids. Otherwise, you may have to take it to a trans shop. A lot of shops have free diagnostics.
The first thing to check is fluid level and condition. If the fluid has more than 30,000 miles, replace the fluid, but do not flush it. You can do a dynamic fluid exchange, which is sometimes called a gentle flush. It is not to be confused with the flush that most transmission and quick lube places do, which destroy your valve body. A dynamic fluid exchange just replaces the fluid.
If you are lucky, your issue is nothing more than low fluid. It is possible the torque converter has come apart internally, or that the splines have stripped off the shaft. A plugged filter can also sometimes cause a delayed or no engagement situation.
The Taurus had lots of transmission issues. The Windstar adds more weight and often more powerful torquey engines to the equation.
Unfortunately diagnosing your trans remotely is difficult. Start with the easy obvious stuff like checking fluids. Otherwise, you may have to take it to a trans shop. A lot of shops have free diagnostics.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,460
Likes: 6
From: Florida
we had a Mercury Sable Wagon (same Taurus front-wheel-drive drivetrain), and experienced a similar problem:
turned out to be the electronic Module ("black box") located right where the transmission shifter linkage connects to the transmission in the engine compartment, can be seen at the driver's side. If you have someone move the shifter from PARK to FIRST gear and viceversa as you look in the engine compartment, you can see the module under the linkage as it moves. Easy to remove and replace, and once module was replaced, the transmission shifting was resuscitated as if by magic.
since she had no pre-symptoms like slipping or the like, it might just be a sudden failure of that module assuming the Windstar has it. Something to check before you have the transmission "rebuilt".
turned out to be the electronic Module ("black box") located right where the transmission shifter linkage connects to the transmission in the engine compartment, can be seen at the driver's side. If you have someone move the shifter from PARK to FIRST gear and viceversa as you look in the engine compartment, you can see the module under the linkage as it moves. Easy to remove and replace, and once module was replaced, the transmission shifting was resuscitated as if by magic.
since she had no pre-symptoms like slipping or the like, it might just be a sudden failure of that module assuming the Windstar has it. Something to check before you have the transmission "rebuilt".
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