I have a 1999 Windstar with 80,000+ miles, and a few weeks ago after coming back from town, I started smelling something burning or hot. Then when I stopped there was smoke pouring out of the hood and from the back. First mistake, I let someone in training look at it, although I thought his father was overseeing to some extent. We thought I had a leak somewhere from the transmission since my fluid level was way down and I noticed a spot on the ground. They checked it over but couldn't find a leak. This happened a couple more times and they took it back in. Now they say it is the transmission cooler causing the transmission to heat up and blow out the fluid. When it would start smoking the overdrive off light would also come on and blink. It would also kind of jerk. If I let it cool down and put in transmission fluid if needed, it would be okay for a while. I knew there was a problem so I didn't drive it very much at all. Now the last time I drove it, it was cool and had transmission fluid, but it felt like the transmission was slipping. The only other time it was driven was to the shop where it is now. They want to possibly put in a used transmission instead of replacing the cooler. Would this be the thing to do? I really can't afford a new transmission and would have to save for a used or rebuilt one even. Is it that expensive to replace the cooler where it would be better to put in a new transmission? I trust these people aren't trying to cheat me money wise because they are kind of family, but they aren't transmission specialists and are having someone else help them with this. That person is the one I don't know anything about, although they trust him and use him all the time. Other people I know have used them for years for all kinds of repairs and highly recommend them. Is it possible that I burned up my transmission and they don't want to tell me because they didn't catch it at first?

 

A new cooler installed should be about $100. A used trans, installed, is probably about $1000. You do the math.

 

Well, I called the parts dept. and guess what, the 1999 Windstar doesn't even have a transmission cooler. It is just hooked up to the radiator by a pipe that does the cooling. Now I don't know what to do. Is there a problem with the pipe or is my transmission going out, or could it be something else.

 

Hold On now, it does have a transmission cooler. just not an external cooler. it is in the radiator, and is water and air cooled. The only way to replace the cooler is to replace the radiator. If the van was mine I would have the radiator flushed and pressure checked for leeks, and replacethe trans. It sound like the trans is tost, but ifyou just replace the trans, you will be left with the origanal problem that tosted the last one, causing you to have troubles again. hope this helps
Brad