What a quirky vehicle. I really wish I had bought a Chevy instead! I didn't realize the heater core was leaking fumes so bad inside the van because it got worse gradually. When the van broke down and I started driving our spare truck, I couldn't believe how clear my head and lungs felt. Now that the power steering pump is fixed, I can't stand the fumes. It is a distinct smell that stays in my head for a while. I could buy the heater core for under $100 dollars. No one I knows wants to change it, says you have to go through the dashboard. Maybe I'll just give it a try myself. Do I want to pay a mechanic when I will be buying something else soon?
I really like the way the Windstar drives but it has been a lemon. The 2 oil gasket leaks of course were under warranty, but the antifreeze leaks out of the engine since reaching 100,000 miles. I parked in the garage for the first time this year this week and noticed it is leaking oil again.
The dome lights stay on so I had to take out the dome lights so the battery would not die after shutting the car off. The Door ajar light stays on since about 60,000 miles. Sometimes I lock the van at the driver's door, the sliding door doesn't lock until after it is opened and then closed. Of course it probably just needs a new sensor on the electrical door contact.
The brakes squeak so bad it was embarrassing. I had trouble with the brakes for years and had them redone four times. I had the sensors changed. Nothing worked. One out of every fifty times I would press on the brake and nothing would happen for five seconds, which is a long time if you are trying to stop. Finally, after all these years they stopped squeaking and are working perfect. I had tried brandishing them in but nothing helped yet now they are working fine after doing nothing for a year. Must be a miracle. Thank you Jesus.
The transmission does not go into gear in first, it hesitates and then pops / clunks into second. Yet, I am very glad it still goes. Once I was out driving and the van would not hardly go, I had to drive 25 all the way home. It has never done that since. Must be another miracle!
I had the front end redone with joints, struts etc, and the mini van still has funny noises at 70 on the highway which freaks out the passengers; who won't venture out with me anymore.
The interior, handling and safety design are top rate. The mechanical things are poor including the fact that the engine seals get worn out.
Though I have had many tire places try to fix my tire leaks, I have to add 15-20 psi to my tires weekly. The aluminum rims can corrode, but they have been a pain.
The pulley holding the (serpentine?) engine's belt is a cheap plastic compared to some I've seen in Chevy. They do wear out on any vehicle, but why not put a better quality one in?
The mini van sometimes clunks in front when I'm turning slowly to the left. The van makes various noises, I cannot identify them all, I have better things to do.
This van has an electrical plug in chip above the passengers wheel under the hood above the wheel well. This came unhooked and we didn't know it, and we took the van in to find out why the van would not start. No one could figure it out. My teenager found the problem, this computer plug-in came unhooked. Sometimes it came unhooked later when going over a bump and the van would stall.
Well, at least it has gotten me from point A to point B. Someone recently ran me off the road and I felt no impact at all. The mini van rides really nice too, if only it was mechanically sound and not need so many odd repairs.
Well, I guess that's it. At least it runs. Some people can't even drive their vehicle. Some will never even own a vehicle. Sometimes our biggest pet peeves are really a rich blessing.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
What a quirky vehicle. I really wish I had bought a Chevy instead! I didn't realize the heater core was leaking fumes so bad inside the van because it got worse gradually. When the van broke down and I started driving our spare truck, I couldn't believe how clear my head and lungs felt. Now that the power steering pump is fixed, I can't stand the fumes. It is a distinct smell that stays in my head for a while. I could buy the heater core for under $100 dollars. No one I knows wants to change it, says you have to go through the dashboard. Maybe I'll just give it a try myself. Do I want to pay a mechanic when I will be buying something else soon?
I really like the way the Windstar drives but it has been a lemon. The 2 oil gasket leaks of course were under warranty, but the antifreeze leaks out of the engine since reaching 100,000 miles. I parked in the garage for the first time this year this week and noticed it is leaking oil again.
The dome lights stay on so I had to take out the dome lights so the battery would not die after shutting the car off. The Door ajar light stays on since about 60,000 miles. Sometimes I lock the van at the driver's door, the sliding door doesn't lock until after it is opened and then closed. Of course it probably just needs a new sensor on the electrical door contact.
The brakes squeak so bad it was embarrassing. I had trouble with the brakes for years and had them redone four times. I had the sensors changed. Nothing worked. One out of every fifty times I would press on the brake and nothing would happen for five seconds, which is a long time if you are trying to stop. Finally, after all these years they stopped squeaking and are working perfect. I had tried brandishing them in but nothing helped yet now they are working fine after doing nothing for a year. Must be a miracle. Thank you Jesus.
The transmission does not go into gear in first, it hesitates and then pops / clunks into second. Yet, I am very glad it still goes. Once I was out driving and the van would not hardly go, I had to drive 25 all the way home. It has never done that since. Must be another miracle!
I had the front end redone with joints, struts etc, and the mini van still has funny noises at 70 on the highway which freaks out the passengers; who won't venture out with me anymore.
The interior, handling and safety design are top rate. The mechanical things are poor including the fact that the engine seals get worn out.
Though I have had many tire places try to fix my tire leaks, I have to add 15-20 psi to my tires weekly. The aluminum rims can corrode, but they have been a pain.
The pulley holding the (serpentine?) engine's belt is a cheap plastic compared to some I've seen in Chevy. They do wear out on any vehicle, but why not put a better quality one in?
The mini van sometimes clunks in front when I'm turning slowly to the left. The van makes various noises, I cannot identify them all, I have better things to do.
This van has an electrical plug in chip above the passengers wheel under the hood above the wheel well. This came unhooked and we didn't know it, and we took the van in to find out why the van would not start. No one could figure it out. My teenager found the problem, this computer plug-in came unhooked. Sometimes it came unhooked later when going over a bump and the van would stall.
Well, at least it has gotten me from point A to point B. Someone recently ran me off the road and I felt no impact at all. The mini van rides really nice too, if only it was mechanically sound and not need so many odd repairs.
Well, I guess that's it. At least it runs. Some people can't even drive their vehicle. Some will never even own a vehicle. Sometimes our biggest pet peeves are really a rich blessing.
- huff, Howell, MI, US