Back behind the wheel of a Ford again!

[84GrandMarquis]

This time it's a Windstar. I know not a panther, but still a Ford. Let me start by saying my neighbors gave it to me so that was very nice of them. I wasn't in the market for a minivan but I couldn't resist. Anyway it's a 2000 Ford Windstar SE that they bought brand new. I can still remember when they got it 14 years ago. Time flies

It's got 115k on the clock and runs great. It's pretty clean and I really like it. The ABS & Traction Control light's are on too so that's something I'll address when I get around to it. I'm thinking it's one of the wheel speed sensors. The only thing that's a little annoying is the speedo is off. It read's 10mph to slow, and once it reads 25 (really 35mph) it almost stops moving all together. It reads 30 but feels more like 50. I was thinking maybe it's the Vehicle Speed Sensor, but the tranny shifts smooth & I've heard that a bad VSS also gave hard shifts as an indicator. Could a bad wheel speed sensor also be throwing off the speedo?

[L1011tristar17]

Nice! A car is a car, and it's even better that it was free! We had a '96 Windstar when I was growing up but it had lots of problems. We still kept it for 10 years.

[sly]

if you can get your hands on an OBD-II monitor (a reader that can also monitor things) you can make it monitor VSS and see if it's reading correctly or not. Wonderful way to check sensors.

[TecNickal]

Since you're in New York - get the rear "axle" checked for rot. Ford had a recall on it. I know it's not an axle in the rear, but you don't want to loose control of the van.

IIRC - speedometer input on those is given from the vehicle speed sensor, so you may need to buy a new sensor and replace it. That van uses the AX4S transmission (same design as found in the Taurus/Sable, but with different bellhousing, etc).

ABS sensors, and tone rings on the axles should be checked if they are cracked, missing, etc. False reading = ABS/TC light.

[84GrandMarquis]

Rear Axle has already been replaced so I'm in good shape. I have a cheap-o OBD-II scanner that couldn't pull any codes. One of my brother's friends has a nice scanner that does all the fancy stuff so I'll have to borrow it. Also the front heater stopped blowing hot, rear cabin heater is still good so I'll have to fix that too. But hey, free is free, I can't complain!

[sly]

heater is probably the blend door actuator.

[84GrandMarquis]

heater is probably the blend door actuator.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll start there. It was making a weird clicking noise from behind the hvac controls before it quit so I guess that's what it was.

I know it sounds silly but I can't seem to remove the cover to the interior fuse panel... I was hoping to get to the bottom of why the interior lights are dead & disconnect the theft system while I'm at it because it is way too sensitive and annoying. Already ripped out the alarm itself

[84GrandMarquis]

Spent this afternoon replacing the actuator and the heat's working great now, thanks for the tip Sly

[sly]

heat is good

[purplebomb302]

Nice score. Doesn't matter what vehicle it is. If it's free and road worthy and drivable I'll drive it.