I have an 89 Aerostar XL that I just bought used. Since I'm a newbie to the breed (have been driving a Chrysler sedan for the last several years), I was just wondering if other posters could give me a rundown (or point me to a FAQ) of common issues for Aerostars of this vintage.

Here's some basic background:

89 Aerostar XL, 105,000 miles. Driven in New England its entire life.

Maintenance records show normal wear and tear replacements and regular oil/filter/lube jobs once ever 3-5K.

A few things I've noticed now that I've been driving it a couple of weeks:

Oil pressure drops when hot. I've made sure the engine is topped off with oil, but when the van has been driven for a while, bringing it to a full stop will send the pressure gauge low enough to turn the Engine light on. Am I looking at a fuel pump or some other weirdness?

Car "bogs" in wet weather/deep puddles. We had some torrential rains about a week ago and I noticed that whenever we'd get a really deep puddle under us, the lights would dim out and the voltmeter would drop pretty dramatically. There'd be a short "screech" of the alternator belt catching and then everything would be fine. Is this a wet/worn belt of sometime, short circuit grounding out with moisture, or something else?

Whining under the hood. There's a pretty steady whine that sounds to me like the power steering pump. I've been told by others that they're chronically noisy in this vehicle, but I'd appreciate any insight anyone can provide.

Fuel pump? I was advised by the previous owner that the fuel pump may be a problem. I can hear it kick in when the ignition is turned on, before the engine starts, but other than that haven't seen any problems. Are there any tell tale signs that a fuel pump is about to go?

That's it for now. If you can give me a heads up on this or any other issues that I should keep my eyes out on, I'd be grateful.

 

>Oil pressure drops when hot.
This could be as simple as a bad pressure switch or as bad as a worn out/failed oil pump or excessive clearances in the engine. The only way to tell is to measure the pressure. Also, try running a higher viscosity oil. Does the light come on only at idle or at all engine speeds?

>Car "bogs" in wet weather/deep puddles.
From what you describe, the belt is a likely suspect. But then again, you'll need to do some troubleshooting to really pinpoint the problem.
>
>[b]Whining under the hood.
Be happy that the whining is confined to under the hood. I hear whining inside coming from my two oldest kids in addition to the whine from the power steering pump. (The youngest kid just screams.) Ford power steering pumps have a reputation for whining and it's usually not a serious problem unless really loud or there is a change in the whine.

>[b]Fuel pump?
Fuel pumps usually get real flaky when they're on their way out. The fuel cutoff inertia switch can sometimes be a problem, but you wouldn't hear the pump run if it were acting up.

Other issues
Watch for water leaks from the side rear window and the rear hatch. Also, I've heard complaints that the power door lock switches are junk but I haven't had any problems with them yet.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 29-Jan-02 AT 04:30 PM (EST)]just my 2c's based on my own experiences on my '90 3.0 2wd xl
I'm no expert + I am still learning + I do not remember the right names for the parts.. but here goes... ^_^

>>>>>I have an 89 Aerostar XL that I just bought used. Since I'm a newbie to the breed (have been driving a Chrysler sedan for the last several years), I was just wondering if other posters could give me a rundown (or point me to a FAQ) of common issues for Aerostars of this vintage.
Here's some basic background:

>>>>>89 Aerostar XL, 105,000 miles. Driven in New England its entire life.

hey!! I live in new england too! plainfield to be exact! wher do you live?

>>>>Maintenance records show normal wear and tear replacements and regular oil/filter/lube jobs once ever 3-5K.

>>>>>>A few things I've noticed now that I've been driving it a couple of weeks:

>>>>>>>>Oil pressure drops when hot. I've made sure the engine is topped off with oil, but when the van has been driven for a while, bringing it to a full stop will send the pressure gauge low enough to turn the Engine light on. Am I looking at a fuel pump or some other weirdness?

this could be a clogged oil pump pickup restricting pump efficiency... there is a valve that will compensate and maintain the correct pressure at all times at different engine rpm's. If you have enough rpm's that valve would open or close more & make up for the restricted oil flow and generate enough pressure... but when your engine slows down if your oil pickup is too restricted you may not have enough oil pressure regardless of that valve trying compensate...
Your oil pick up can be found by dropping the oil pan under the van, if you do it, make sure you have a gastket and the appropiate tools for torqing the bolts and a good worlplace to pick up the oil mess

at any rate a low oil pressure condition is not a good thing for the engine and I would look into resolving this as soon as possible before lack of lubrication damages your engine and turns into lots of $$$'s

If you don't want to drop the oil pan (recommended) you could try a quart of marvel mystery oil in your crankcase, let it sit overnight and run the engine for 10-20mins then drain, this *may* flush and unclog whatever the problem is or may cause even further obstruction by the now free aditional sludge..

>>>>>>>>Car "bogs" in wet weather/deep puddles. We had some torrential rains about a week ago and I noticed that whenever we'd get a really deep puddle under us, the lights would dim out and the voltmeter would drop pretty dramatically. There'd be a short "screech" of the alternator belt catching and then everything would be fine. Is this a wet/worn belt of sometime, short circuit grounding out with moisture, or something else?

I had the same thing happen on my van, one of the belts was worn and it would slip, thus not making the alternator turn properly, that's why you get the voltage drop. the screech comes from the belt slipping... this would happen to me too when wet or when oil would spill when adding oil ot the crankcase. The st*pid oil filler cap is right over the alternator & belt so you always manage to drip some over it unless you cover it with a rag at the time...
the previous owner I guess made a point of always spilling oil on that belt until I got the van at each oil change...

>>>>>>>>Whining under the hood. There's a pretty steady whine that sounds to me like the power steering pump. I've been told by others that they're chronically noisy in this vehicle, but I'd appreciate any insight anyone can provide.

have you checked the fluid level? if low, any leaks or sticky/wet hoses? if the previous owner ran the power steering pump without fluid for an extended period of time he could have worn the bearings on the pump thus causing the whine...

>>>>>>>>Fuel pump? I was advised by the previous owner that the fuel pump may be a problem. I can hear it kick in when the ignition is turned on, before the engine starts, but other than that haven't seen any problems. Are there any tell tale signs that a fuel pump is about to go?

this may sound lame, but as you hear it run when you turn the ignition, at least you know that it somewhat *works* before even looking at this any further as I understand the van drives, check the oil pressure issue, it is much more important.

That's it for now. If you can give me a heads up on this or any other issues that I should keep my eyes out on, I'd be grateful.


again this is only my 2 c's I have been a lurker on this board for along time and have really enjoyed and learnt a lot. My aerostar is running great thanks to all you guys (asavage, aerocolorado and all others) THANKS!!!!

If anyone can provide any better or more in depth sugestions it would be great as I am doing this at work and I don't have enough time to write proper answers...

 

>I have an 89 Aerostar XL that I just bought used.

Me too. 3.0l, AT, 161k (I've owned it for two years/20k)

>Oil pressure drops when hot. I've made sure the
>engine is topped off with oil, but when the van has been
>driven for a while, bringing it to a full stop will send the
>pressure gauge low enough to turn the Engine light on.

This doesn't sound good.

There is a TSB for abnormally high wear on the No. 1 main bearing, related to some harmonic generated by the accessories . . . let me see if I can find it . . . OK, I found it, but it doesn't seem to relate to low oil pressure, only noise. The fix is to replace the No. 1 main bearing, and convert the Front End Accessory Drive (FEAD, really, I don't make this stuff up!) to the later, single belt "serpentine" system. The TSB runs on and on about diagnosing the noise, but doesn't mention low oil pressure as an issue. Mine makes a bit of racket idling, now that I've converted to synthetic oil, which has a lighter base viscosity.

Well . . .
Could you have oil dilution, from a leaking injector, which dilutes the oil with fuel? Sniff the dipstick. Smells like fuel? Look for a fuel system leak. I think this would pretty much have to be an injector or fuel regulator problem -- more likely the latter.

Beyond that, hope for a failed oil pressure relief valve. I had a car that had the symptom you describe, pulled the pump and found blue RTV fragments propping open the pressure relief valve a bit. Another case for keeping your work clean, and not using excessive amounts of sealant when buttoning up an engine.

>Car "bogs" in wet weather/deep puddles. We had some
>torrential rains about a week ago and I noticed that
>whenever we'd get a really deep puddle under us, the lights
>would dim out and the voltmeter would drop pretty
>dramatically. There'd be a short "screech" of the alternator
>belt catching and then everything would be fine. Is this a
>wet/worn belt of sometime, short circuit grounding out with
>moisture, or something else?

At least on the '89 with A/C, Ford didn't design much of a "wrap" on the alt pulley, so belt tension needs to be kept up pretty tight. Almost certainly, this is your problem. Buy and replace both belts, since you don't know their history.

As Nuku mentioned, it's embarassing easy to drip oil on the alt drive area when adding oil. For this reason, I use a paper funnel if I'm doing an oil change, or try to find a hill to park on if I'm topping up. It's a lousy design. Fortunately, mine doesn't use a lot of oil

>Whining under the hood. There's a pretty steady whine
>that sounds to me like the power steering pump. I've been
>told by others that they're chronically noisy in this
>vehicle, but I'd appreciate any insight anyone can provide.

Ouch! That one's a sore spot with me.
I have installed FOUR PS pumps in 20k miles, and they're all noisy. My advice: change the PS fluid, then live with it. I'm beginning to despair of finding a definitive noise solution. I've heard several other vans make the same racket.

>Fuel pump? I was advised by the previous owner that
>the fuel pump may be a problem. I can hear it kick in when
>the ignition is turned on, before the engine starts, but
>other than that haven't seen any problems. Are there any
>tell tale signs that a fuel pump is about to go?

"Stalling when hot" was my first clue, when mine was dying. I'd be idling, and it'd gradually die and not restart. Wait 10 minutes and it would fire right up. After a few days of this, I finally put a gauge on the system, found the fuel pressure to be too low, out of tolerance. I replaced the pump and that fixed it. It's a moderate amount of work, because unlike other Ford products of that era, there is no floor access plate, so you have to remove the (plastic) tank completely in order to replace the fuel pump.

I put in an aftermarket pump, and am sorry that I did. If the electronic dash reads "2" or "0", and I park on a hill nose-down, it won't start, until I coast down to a level surface. No fuel pressure, it won't pick up enough fuel with the tank level low and parked on a hill. I've had this happen many times. Now I just don't park on a hill with low fuel level anymore. Eventually, I'll buy a Ford pump and replace it again.

Note: if you replace the fuel pump yourself, try HARD to get most of the fuel out of the tank first. There is no tank drain, so you have to siphon it. The tank is a LOT easier to handle when it's empty or nearly so.

Also, replace the flexible grommet in the tank top, to which the fuel fill pipe attaches. I had to drop my tank again almost immediately after replacing the pump, because when I'd fill the tank, it would leak at that grommet. "In stock" at Ford, meaning that it's a common replacement part.

>That's it for now. If you can give me a heads up on this or
>any other issues that I should keep my eyes out on, I'd be
>grateful.

AT? Change the ATF and filter, NOW!
The A4LD trans is not terribly reliable for most folks if neglected. Note that junkyard prices for them (if they even have one) are still above $600 -- a good indication of supply and demand! I paid $1600 for my rebuild -- carry-out price (!) and that's within a couple hundred bux of the top end of what you'd pay, but still, changing the ATF and filter is a lot cheaper, if messy.

Install an inline filter on the cooler return line, too. Under $20, they seem to do a decent job of filtering more junk.

The TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) (located on the throttle body) dies after a while. Will give you lots of notice: it will lose a little power and drop out of OD, with a "Check Engine" light. Back off the throttle, or accelerate slightly, and it'll run fine again, and the CE light will go out. Again and again. Easy to replace, under $50 for the sensor, no adjustment necessary.

For other issues, scan the archives here (ie, read old msgs) or use the "Search" on "89", which was a year when many Aeros were sold, and we seem to have a lot of "89" owners here.

Buy BOTH the Haynes and the Chiltons manuals, because they each have areas of information that don't overlap. I also bought the two-volume Ford manual set: Chassis, Engine (which, irritatingly, does not include either a wiring diagram NOR emission diagnostics: Ford wants me to buy two MORE manuals for that information!).

The AllData CD is a very nice addition as well, $25 anywhere, $20 if you look around a bit. Some lousy graphics, and I'm not real fond of the user interface, plus it only runs under Windoze, but it does have all the Ford TSBs (Technical Service Bulletins) for the rig, for an additional $20. You need AllData CD No. 5A (Ford, Chrysler, Jeep, AMC 1988-89). You get only ONE vechicle per registration, but it's still worth the $40, IMO. It also has a good diagnostic for troubleshooting the cruise control, something that the Haynes & Chiltons don't. The Ford manual does, but the AllData CD actually presents the data better in this case. The CD also has wiring diagram fragments: better than nothing, when you need one

Regards,
Al S.

 

Thanks to all who replied! This is great info! And Nuku, I live in Mashpee, on the Cape. The van started life in Sturbridge, tho.

 

about the oil drip thing.

i use a $.99 spout that attaches to the oil bottle. it fits down in the fill hole pretty good. you just twist it open *after you put it in the fill hole* and you will find that you drip far less oil on stuff.

i bought it at wal-mart.

-hope this helps-

regards, mike

 

>i use a $.99 spout that attaches to the oil bottle.

I haven't found one that works with the larger diameter used on the Castrol Syntec bottles. That's why I use a paper funnel. Roll up, say, a paper plate, or a cereal box. Discard when done.

Regards,
Al S.