max power Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 The service van is up to its old habits again. The neighbor and I were talking in the driveway yesterday and noticed big drops of oil in the snow. Immediately suspecting the only non Toyota on the property, I crawled under the Windstar to see where it was leaking from. The good news: its dry as a bone.The bad news: The fucking sway bar is snapped in half!!!!I call Ford about the current recalls today; Cruise Control- which it doesnt have but they want me to bring it in anyway and, Oh yeah, the rear axle could SNAP IN HALF while driving causing a loss of control catastrophy, but for some reason my particular van isnt included although when I bring it in for the cruise control recall (it doesnt even have cruise) they'll do me a solid and have a look at it!!!! Although they acknowledge that the sway bars are hollow pipe and do break, there is no recall at this time. That is, there will be no recall untill someone dies from this bloated Taurus rolling down the road in mid turn.And you wonder why I am such a Toyota fanboy. At least they own up to their problems and fix them.So, after a year of ownership and 5,000 miles on a 40,000 mile van I have had to replaced all the brakes, rotors drums and hardware, Rebuild the transmission, replace the sway bars and its begging for new O2 sensors.Fuck You Mr. Ford. Never again.If I could get anything near what I have in this piece of shit, I'd sell it in a heartbeat./rant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Trade for a Hi-Point?I feel your pain. I had a 87 Aerostar. One transmission. 2 sets of rear springs, heater cores, it was just a bad vehicle to have.Oh, and the 89 ford probe I had. Worked great when it ran, PIA to work on. I do almost like the new Taurus, but not really a Ford fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagr Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Yeah. Mr. Ford fucked my good once. Never again. 2000 Ford Focus or Fuk-Us as I liked to call it. Bought brand new in December of 1999. About 10 recalls and multiple other non covered failures. The engine was prolly the best part of the car though. Everything else was junk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 shoulda got a diesel e350 instead of that woman van Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 In doing research, all I read about is guys having to replaced the motors on these things at low mileages, but most of them were built with the 3.8 which has heat and head warpage issues. About the only good thing about this one is that it has the 3.0 which is supposedly a good motor, at least by Ford standards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 shoulda got a diesel e350 instead of that woman vanYeah, cuz I want to spend $3.50+ on a gallon of fuel for a near 200k leaking time bomb and still have a payment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Yeah, cuz I want to spend $3.50+ on a gallon of fuel for a near 200k leaking time bomb and still have a payment. 200k is just broken in bubbythis truck is an 01 (not mine) and still on original everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jst2fst Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 You should probably mention it's a retired postal van. Seriously though, I've seen sway bars snap on damn near everything.A quick search: http://www.google.com/search?q=snapped+sway+barThe first link is for a Lexus with a snapped TRD sway bar. The second for an F150. So there you have it. Carparts.com has the entire kit (sway bar, clamps, endlinks, etc) starting at $72.99. Let me know when you want to swap it out. Shouldn't take long at all. The hardest part will be breaking the endlinks loose. They rust. It sucks. But with some heat and an impact wrench it's no big deal. Hell, we could get you a thicker one and make that beast handle like it on rails. Lower it maybe? Which vehicle was leaking oil if it wasn't the van? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
champ01 Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 I have a 99 windstar, and it is now sitting in the driveway undriveable. When I got the letter for the rear axle recall I put it up on the lift at work, and took a look. That's when I found the front subframe is rusted through at the right rear mount also. It would be a good idea to check yours also. If it is then you can file a complaint with the NHTSA. They are investigating the front subframe for a recall also. Just a heads up.If they don't recall the front subframe then I have a parts van I'll sell ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 just take the broken swaybar out and call it a day? its not like youre gonna be autocrossing the thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
attackpainter Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Windstar's are the biggest pos's ford ever produced. And its a former mail truck? Since when do postal workers give a shit about vehicle matience. That thing was beat like Nicole brown simpson. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 You should probably mention it's a retired postal van. Seriously though, I've seen sway bars snap on damn near everything.A quick search: http://www.google.com/search?q=snapped+sway+barThe first link is for a Lexus with a snapped TRD sway bar. The second for an F150. So there you have it. Carparts.com has the entire kit (sway bar, clamps, endlinks, etc) starting at $72.99. Let me know when you want to swap it out. Shouldn't take long at all. The hardest part will be breaking the endlinks loose. They rust. It sucks. But with some heat and an impact wrench it's no big deal. Hell, we could get you a thicker one and make that beast handle like it on rails. Lower it maybe? Which vehicle was leaking oil if it wasn't the van?I found a solid kit for $50http://www.amazon.com/1995-1998-FORD-WINDSTAR-SWAY-BAR/dp/B004B29IBAAs long as I can get the bolts out of the holes, it shouldnt be a big deal. I'll cut the rest of it out. It just pisses me off that shit keeps falling off this thing. As far as it being a postal van, My cousin is a carrier and says that even though they get all short drive city miles, they are pretty well maintained. Driving it without the sway is a no go cuz I do auto cross the thing. It handled like shit coming home from Amanda Saturday.I think it was the butt sniffers moms POS car that was leaking oil in my driveway. It is in the snow at the very end of the drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Windstar's are the biggest pos's ford ever produced. And its a former mail truck? Since when do postal workers give a shit about vehicle matience. That thing was beat like Nicole brown simpson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 I found a solid kit for $50Amazon.com: 1995-1998 FORD WINDSTAR SWAY BAR: AutomotiveAs long as I can get the bolts out of the holes, it shouldnt be a big deal. I'll cut the rest of it out. It just pisses me off that shit keeps falling off this thing. As far as it being a postal van, My cousin is a carrier and says that even though they get all short drive city miles, they are pretty well maintained. Driving it without the sway is a no go cuz I do auto cross the thing. It handled like shit coming home from Amanda Saturday.I think it was the butt sniffers moms POS car that was leaking oil in my driveway. It is in the snow at the very end of the drive.that shit pisses me off man....if you know your vehicle leaks like a freight train, dont park it in the driveway...i had someone come over here trying to trade me a car for my mustang when it was for sale, and they leaked half a quart of oil all over my damn driveway parking there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 that shit pisses me off man....if you know your vehicle leaks like a freight train, dont park it in the driveway...i had someone come over here trying to trade me a car for my mustang when it was for sale, and they leaked half a quart of oil all over my damn driveway parking thereThats really the only good thing about having a gravel drive. It doesnt matter as much. It just kinda freaked me out when I saw it, but it wasnt any of our cars. Thats one thing I'll say about the Windstar, its engine is clean as a pin. It doesnt leak a thing....yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 http://www.millionmilechevy.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Thats really the only good thing about having a gravel drive. It doesnt matter as much. It just kinda freaked me out when I saw it, but it wasnt any of our cars. Thats one thing I'll say about the Windstar, its engine is clean as a pin. It doesnt leak a thing....yet.oh yea, forgot you got that fancy gravel stuff....our home owners assosciation wouldnt like that much if i had it here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Me and a homeowners assn. wouldnt work out too well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Me and a homeowners assn. wouldnt work out too well.I have a general distaste for the mere IDEA of a HOA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Although, Shawn vs. a HOA would make for some cool stories, I'm sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 It would include lots of car jumps and fire and exploding outhouses, kinda like a Dukes of Hazard episode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buildit Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 My caravan is pushing 100,000 with the biggest repair being a rear radiator hose. Go Mopar. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 My caravan is pushing 100,000 with the biggest repair being a rear radiator hose. Go Mopar. :-)Check your trans. Its about to fall out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 I had a Subbie with 250k on it when I lived in Louisville. Used it to drive back and forth to Columbus when I had my F truck since Parts kept falling off it. I put Yakima racks on it and used it as a work truck in the winter since the F truck was 2 WD and sucked in snow. Carried a 32' extension ladder on it that overhung the car by at least 2 feet at each end. Wish I had pictures.Best $400 I ever spent. Hell I think I cleaned it up and sold it for $600 after driving it for a year and fixing some minor things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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