Hello , i have a 2000 windstar 3.8l, the service engine light is on and when i drive it seems fine until i maintain speed around 50 mph. Then the service engine light starts to flash and feels like its missing. I took it to auto zone and the code it had was missfire detected in cylinder no. 4 . The guy there said prob. a spark plug or wire. I've had all new spark plugs and wires and ignition coil pack and egr valve replaced. nothing has helped is there something else i should check?also besides that problem i've had the transmission fixed twice and the air conditioner three times and o2 sensors go bad, and rear main seal in the engine go bad. All in a 6 week time period.I dont know how much i can afford any suggestions that might help save me some money is very appreciated. thank you very muck kathy
ETA: I also changed out the no.4 fuel injector as well . Also the transmission place said they think the torq converter might be going bad but they are not sure...could the torq converter cause a missfire in a no. 4 cylinder? thanks again

 

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Suggestion, trade in your Windy for an Aero. Alot less issues.

First your tranny problems, the tranny is very weak and has been notorious to go out in Tauri (the platform and drivetrain that the Windy is based on). You add an extra couple thousand pounds and you can expect it to go out more often. A shift kit does help the life expectancy (see transgo kit) and an aftermarket tranny cooler (the stock one is pitiful) If the tranny is going there is usually codes in the PCM. Also you mentioned that the Tranny was re-built in the past 6 months, didn't they replace the torque converter when they had it off? (it should be on the reciept). If so I would take it back to the shop and have them fix it for free.

As for your missfire isssue. I doubt that the tranny is causing it. Yes a flashing CE light indicates that the PCM detected a missfire. Sense it popped on and stayed on, there should be other codes. What were the exact codes that the parts store gave you?

What brand of plugs and wires did you use? If you did not use Motorcraft or Autolite, I would lean to believe that is what is causing your problem. Fords are very picky when it comes to plugs and wires, if you use something besides OEM, the engine tends to run horrible along with misfires and bad gas millage. The DIS system realy hates Bosch for some reason.

Another issue that it might be (hopefully not) is that you have a leaking head gasket (VERY COMMON issue with the 3.8L). An easy way to tell if you have a blown head gasket is to look in the coolant resivour tank and see if there are bubles comming up pretty constantly. Engine needs to be pulled if that has happened. Also another tale tell sign is running hotter than normal.

Hopefully this has helped you some. With the exact codes it would be a lot easier to narrow down, I just gave some suggestions of common issues that it 'might be' based on previous experience.

 

Seems we need a Windstar forum here...anyway I have a '99 Windstar problem I thought I would post. My cruise control has quit working and everything else is fine except for the bank1 and bank2 too lean error code that everyone seems to get eventually. Would this error code disable the Cruise control? I've seen other posts elsewhere where people would lose the cruise control and A/c because of a blown fuse due to brake fluid leaking on something but my A/C is working fine.