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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 10:18 PM
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Unhappy 98 Windstar

I am looking for anyone who can help point me to the location of the computer for this 3.8 model. I have purchased a reman replacement, and I cannot find the thing. I have looked behind the glove box, the right kick on pass. side, the left fender by the firewall, behind console under stereo, under driver side dash. Must be a huge secret place I guess?? Any idea would be helpful. Thanks!
 
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Old Sep 13, 2006 | 04:47 AM
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Hi and welcome to FTE! Thread moved to General Automotive Discussion. Enjoy the site.

Read this for some info that will help you around the site: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...92&postcount=2

-Matt
 
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Old Sep 13, 2006 | 05:07 AM
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'98 Ford Manual says it's located "Behind RH side of I/P".

Open the hood and follow the main engine wire harness to the passenger side of the firewall and you will come to the PCM harness connector. The PCM itself is actually mounted inside the vehicle (on the other side of the firewall).
 
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Old Sep 13, 2006 | 05:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Rockledge
'98 Ford Manual says it's located "Behind RH side of I/P".

Open the hood and follow the main engine wire harness to the passenger side of the firewall and you will come to the PCM harness connector. The PCM itself is actually mounted inside the vehicle (on the other side of the firewall).
Thanks so much for the help!
 
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Old Sep 13, 2006 | 06:07 PM
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Originally Posted by muzick
Thanks so much for the help!
The computer is pretty much where you said. However, it is actually under the hood on the passenger side(bolted directly to the firewall). To get to it you need to remove the radio antenna, wiper arms, plastic shield (remove plastic tube for wiper fluid before pulling the shield off). Next you will need to remove the lower plastic cowl that the wiper motor is attatched to. You do not need to pull the wiper motor to get the cover off. Next you need to unbolt the harness connector and the two nuts to the plastic hold down cover. Presto! Pull the computer straight out and replace everything in reverse order. Hopefully this will help someone out who needs to replace the same item.
 
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Old Sep 13, 2006 | 06:16 PM
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Ok, now that I have been through all that, I am still in need of some more advice. I replaced the computer, and that did fix two of the problems I was having. Now I am still having a problem with the transmission, which I believe is also an electrical issue. The tranny runs fine at first, then the speedometer needle drops down to 0 and it seems to downshift. After a couple of minutes, the needle goes back to whatever speed I am at and everything is ok. This happens at speeds above 30 (so far as I have experienced). Any ideas on the problem? I have seen people asking similar questions and have been given various answers on a couple of different sensors/computers that it might be. Thanks in advance to any help given.
 
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Old Sep 13, 2006 | 07:03 PM
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Regarding the tranny/speedo issue, I would suspect a vehicle speed sensor (VSS) issue. The VSS is mounted on the tranny.
 
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Old Sep 13, 2006 | 08:42 PM
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Smile

That's what I have been hearing about. Thanks for the confirmation. Now for the silly question. Where about is it? Drivers side, I imagine. I can find the shift linkage, but not the wires for the sensor. Maybe it is under the battery box or some place like that?



Originally Posted by Rockledge
Regarding the tranny/speedo issue, I would suspect a vehicle speed sensor (VSS) issue. The VSS is mounted on the tranny.
 
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Old Sep 13, 2006 | 11:15 PM
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The manual doesn't tell me exactly where it is on the tranny. Look for a sensor that has a two-wire harness connector. The wire colors are Dark Green w/White stripe (DG/W) and Pink w/Orange stripe (PK/O).
 
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Old Sep 14, 2006 | 05:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Rockledge
The manual doesn't tell me exactly where it is on the tranny. Look for a sensor that has a two-wire harness connector. The wire colors are Dark Green w/White stripe (DG/W) and Pink w/Orange stripe (PK/O).
Thanks. I believe I have found the general area. It is supposed to be at the rear of the engine on the tranny. Not easy to get at either. Might have to do a bit of removal on the top side of the engine to reach it I am told. Been through this a time or two, and I am not looking forward to it at all. Looks like hours of fun. :/
 
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Old Sep 14, 2006 | 06:56 PM
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This was a real pain!!!!
Originally Posted by muzick
Thanks. I believe I have found the general area. It is supposed to be at the rear of the engine on the tranny. Not easy to get at either. Might have to do a bit of removal on the top side of the engine to reach it I am told. Been through this a time or two, and I am not looking forward to it at all. Looks like hours of fun. :/
 

Last edited by muzick; Sep 14, 2006 at 07:39 PM.
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