Hi everyone,

I know this is an Aerostar forum but there is not Windstar specific one.

Anyways, My 2001 Windstar has been acting up recently mainly the headlights flickering every now and then, car randomly stalling out on me - after it dies, I pull over and start it up right away and the ABS light came on.

Check engine light is on (presumably due to the car stalling out) but I do not seem to be able to read the codes, the code reader is working fine on my 2001 Expedition but on the Windstar it just sites there at 'connecting to vehicle'. I've tried disconnecting the battery for 10-15 mins and this made no difference, I also checked the fuse for the port was good so now I'm not sure what to check next.

Any ideas??
Thanks
James

 

I would take it to one of your local auto parts stores that do free code reading and see if theirs will pull the code.

From the sounds of it, you have some sort of electrical problem. You might want to see if they will check your battery/alternator when you pull your codes.

Another thing is to check the connections on your battery for looseness/corrosion.

 

Sounds like a bad ground to me, and if the lighter socket doesn't work, there is no power to the code reader either.

 

Well, I ended up taking it in to my regular mechanic for an oil change and had him give it the once over.

He could read the codes so I guess I need to buy a new code reader.

ABS light - he is diagnosing a new ABS pump, which may also at the same time need the ABS module if he cannot separate the 2 units. I'm not concerned about this, I'm only keeping the van for a few months to get me through winter.

Check Engine light - reset and only 1 code came back for an O2 sensor - again, I'm not too concerned.

As for the engine stalling out on me. It did not do it for them so I've been doing some more testing, driving round with OD off / only in 2nd gear, these did not make a difference. It only seems to happen when under power (driving up hills / quick take offs from standing / speeding up to pass), some times I get a shudder and at the same time the headlights will dim, other times the engine will just cut out on me.

I just wish it would die on me completely or at least have the problem more than the once a day I seem to be experiencing so at least they would have a better chance of figuring things out. It's a bit unnerving to be merging into traffic, giving it some gas only to have it stall on me.....