Hi there!
Just thought i would share our new addition, The transmission recently went out on my mom's '89 Dodge Cravan SE, So we have been looking for a new Van/SUV for her... And we stumbled upon this:

At a local abandoned car auction, She was running and actually driving/moving around when we got there.
We drove her home for $380.

'89 Aerostar XL.
She's got 118,000 miles, a FULL! tank of gas... lol?, 3.0 V6 Auto/ W Overdrive, 3.73 7.5 Conventional Axle, And random other goodies.

Also has the limo tint in the back and 2-tone paint:


We have no experience with Aerostars... but we have owned fords before (I own an '84 Thunderbird), So i wasnt aware that these also had trans issues... Should we be super paranoid? Is there anything we should do right away as a safe guard?
Mom's all excited and loves her new van, And i would hate for the trans to go out AGAIN (*Kicks the dodge*->Planeteray gears blew).

Thanks for the look!

 

These are tough vans, not like that wimpy Dodge
As a trans maintenance baseline, change the fluid and filter. I recommend a synthetic like Mobil 1 to minimize friction. I also prefer the Fram trans (not oil) filter. They are larger than any other filters I've seen. Don't forget the little o-rings. I would also recommend checking the vacuum modulator on the passenger side. Pull the vacuum line and see if any fluid leaks out - it shouldn't.
Then go about the regular maintenance like oil change and air filter. If you get ambitious, pull the error codes and see if you have any hidden issues.

 

Aesthetikz,

Welcome to the club

 

Sounds like a steal.

Welcome to the forum.

 

Cool...$300 for the van, $80 for the gas! It looks like it's similarly equipped to my '92. I was told the 2 tone was usually on the XLT, not the XL...might've been a custom order (like mine was).

Congrats!

 

Not too bad. Nice score. A BIG YELLOW "A" on the back glass? Must be some sort of a good luck omen. A for AEROstar right?
The 1989 extended is the first year for the longer version of this van. In 1990 it made Motor Trends "TRUCK of the YEAR!"
Your sliding door trim that is hanging down. Go ahead and use some clear silicon rubber caulk on it before it falls off all together. If it gets lost you might get a rain leak.
The tranny's that were used in the earlier Aero's weren't as beefy as the transmissions they put in the later ones but will last with proper care. The advice for you to use the synthetic would be best. Personally i would change out the trans filter and then have the whole system purged with totally new stuff. Just changing out what you have in the pan will only net you about 4 knew quarts, but a total flush will result in all 14 quarts changed since the rest is hidden in the torque converter and hung up in your lines and trans cooler.
Also as a new start have the disk brake pads and the rear brake shoes looked at also.
To use this web site to your best ability go to the top and hit forums and then search. Type in what exact words you need to find and then go to the bottom of the screen and highlight Aerostars.----Good Luck and welcome to the forum.-----Boz

 

One nice thing about Aerostars, is that you can spend money on things like new shocks, better tires, etc as opposed to spending on making the van run. No one ever spends money to make an older Caravan nice again, since there are too many other problems to keep up with.

 

Also just noticed a hitch on there...if it's seen some trailer towing in its day, the transmission might be a little weak...I put on a second cooler (the later Aeros come with a barely-adequate cooler) and I've not had a problem since...the best $100 I've spent on the Aero.

And, stranger still, I also just noticed the dent on the rear quarter just below the light...I just did the same damage to my van backing up too close to a wall. If that had the newer headlights and a Tan/Green paint scheme, it'd be my van!

 

Here's Mine:

 

Nice Taurus8
Not the normal paint scheme
I need to get off my duff and post some of mine.
Well, I did post before (in my gallery) my black/silver Aero for the sun roof install. By the way, I thought they never put sunroofs in the aerostars. They did in 1986. I have proof.--Boz

 

Haha i kind of hate dodges now... weve owned 3, and had nothing but problems... The caravan being THE WORST.
The Thunderbird, and now the Aerostar has made me a fan of ford.

She was actually nearly out of oil when we got her, so we filled her up.
air filter is CLEAN, looks brand new.
looks to have a new radiator.
Tranny fluid is questionable... its full up, Clear~but slightly dark, instead of red? and has a dark musky smell.
All seals and hoses look to be working, no leaks.

Ran the codes, and it came up CLEAN! w/ ignition off AND on.

Dad has been driving her to and from work the past week, his volvo has been down for maintenance (probably not the best idea... since we haven't changed the trans stuffs, but no choice atm).
He says she drives like charm! no problems at all, super smooth.

He has been keeping an eye on the mileage (to she what she gets) but... he has put about 108 miles on and says the fuel gauge hasn't moved?

Thanks for all the welcomes and such!
This looks like a great place.

And nice van taurus8!
Yea, we really love the paint scheme (and the fact it actually has nice paint at all! lol!)
The caravan had the defective factory base coat, which made anything put over it peel...

We need to get some things fixed still, The interior being the worst off.
It almost seems like every interior panel was removed at one point... the door panels were put back poorly, and apparently the passenger power window switches was lost during this, the slider panels were broken, and the power door locks and drivers controlled passenger power window switch became in-operable...

The overhead lights were all blown, fixed those last night.

The display on the stereo does not work? all the back lightings work~but the tuner/clock digital display is blank...

Drivers side view mirror is broken.

And the drivers seat back seems like its unbolted from one side, so it leans back to the right.

As well as the trans flush/filter change.

But all is fixable!

 

Sounds like a good deal. Ge that old tranny fluid out of there though, otherwise that will come back to bite you.

The clock display is the bulb inside is burned out. I used an LCD type display, where the digits become transparent and allow a backlight to shine through. That backlight is a single bulb. If you replace that bulb with an LED type, you will never have to replace it again.

 

ok so ive noticed whenever i turned the volume up on the stereo, it would get distorted (especially on anything with bass).
I was really discouraged by this, but i figured it had to be the head unit or wiring (especially with the dim and sometimes no tuning display.

So i pulled the head unit out and immediately noticed several wires that werent connected to anything...
One is a black wire attached to the bolt on the back of the unit (ground slash anti theft?).
and the 2 others are SPLICED into existing wires going into the unit, ones is red and has an inline fuse (250v 4amp), there is no sign of where this would plug into.
The other is just a green wire, it looks like it may have pulled/broke from the harness somewhere?.

I took apart the ashtray and cubby below to look around and actually found another fuse and female end of the inline setup, had been crimped but no wire in it anymore.
Also found that the cigg lighter was unplugged.

Im finding ALOT of things loose, unplugged and not working on the interior... im thinking this entire interior was apart at one point.

But im trying to figure out whee these stereo wires go, and hopefully that will get the premium sound working good again.

 

is this stock or an aftermarket unit?

stock
http://www.installdr.com/Harnesses/Ford-Wiring.pdf