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2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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babylove05
Novice
Nov 3, 2012, 11:50 AM
Post #1 of 17
(13120 views)
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2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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Hello. Bear with me, I am a mom with little to no mechanical experience. Really need some advice about what my van is doing!
A little background: We have a 2001 Ford Windstar LX. 3.8 Liter engine with 192 k miles. Oil changes have been irregular but not too long in between. Check engine light had been on for a couple months. Some chugging on acceleration, but nothing too terrible. Gauges on dash have recently started going crazy occasionally. Not sure if that has any correlation to my dying issue. Our brakes are also kind of bad. Leaking some brake fluid I just recently noticed. Again, not sure if that has any significance.
About a month ago, I went out to start my van after work and it wouldn't start. Turned over, but no start. Lights were on. Thought battery may be dead, but jump did not work. Came back about 3 hours later, started fine.
3 days later, it died in traffic at a stop light. Waited about 2 hours and started fine. Again all lights on but this time acted like it was out of gas. Got gas, still no start. Same as before waited a couple hours, and it was good as new.. This happened 3 or 4 more times in that week. Finally took it to the shop.
He said cam shaft sensor was bad. Had that replaced. Check engine light went off. Woohoo! Thought it was fixed! Ran great for 4 days. No dying or anything. Then it died. But this time, started back up within just a couple minutes and drove like nothing was ever wrong with it. This happened a few times in that week.
Took it back to the shop and mechanic looked at it, but it wasn't dying while there with him so he couldn't find anything wrong. We took it home and replaced the fuel filter ourselves to rule that out. Had the battery, alternator and starter tested, all fine.
Yesterday was the worst. Coming back from driving all morning, and it starts fine, and then dies while driving on the highway. This time though, it was silent. No chugging or shaking like usual it just "shut off". It would go maybe a 1/4 mile and die. When it died, the rmp went to zero immediately, lights stayed on and Power steering lasted about 10 seconds then cut out each time. We did this about 6 times to get home. Only about a mile and a half.
We were thinking fuel pump. But we listened for it to come on, and it does. But sounds really loud, almost like a spraying sound? Louder than normal. Battery also making a clicking sound when you turn the key (not sure if thats normal, again I am no expert lol). It still starts, but after yesterday we haven't driven it anywhere.
Don't want to take it back in just yet as we don't have the money to be fixing random things if they don't know exactly whats wrong. So I am hoping someone here can point me in the right direction? If you need any more info please ask!! I really want this thing fixed!! :(
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 3, 2012, 1:33 PM
Post #2 of 17
(13067 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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You admittedly said you know little about this which is fine. Know this though. You seriously shouldn't ignore and check engine light ESPECIALLY if you also notice it isn't running perfectly as more damage is highly likely than what might have been ONE issue to begin with.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IT IS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING? I don't care if this thing runs or moves it has to be able to stop! Is it using brake fluid and needing to be topped off or do you see something somewhere?
Codes were probably erased but some or more may be back now or not strong or long enough to keep check engine light on.
Brakes are a must and first.
Don't just blame a fuel pump without proper testing or you'll likely end us wasting $$ for the real fix if not that. You said money is tight but it need a go through to find assorted things that need attention - the sooner the better,
T
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babylove05
Novice
Nov 3, 2012, 1:48 PM
Post #3 of 17
(13059 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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Tom- I can see the brake fluid pooling around the little silver circle thing under the brake fluid reservoire. (Sorry, I don't know what it is called exactly) Brakes are working fine. No spots on the ground from it though. I have had to add it occasionally since I had brakes replaced but did not know it was leaking until few days ago when I looked.
Yeah I most definitely will not be replacing the fuel pump until I know for sure. Just thought it may be the culprit based on what it is doing? The mechanic we took it to put it on the rack and diagnosed it with a bad cam shaft sensor and that is all he found. But obviously did not fix the problem lol
So to avoid taking it to another shop just yet, I thought I would come here and ask and hope someone may have had similar problems and could point me in some direction..
When we first saw the check engine light, we started using Lucas religiously and after a couple weeks the engine light went off and it ran perfectly for months. We thought we had solved it. Then it came back on and shortly thereafter we started having this problem.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 3, 2012, 2:01 PM
Post #4 of 17
(13057 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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Forget the Lucas whatever - if it even might have helped something it's done and more will probably harm it worse.
Brake reservoir shows on top of the master cylinder like this.........
Not all will come as one and you would reuse the plastic tank sealed with rubber grommets to the master cylinder which is metal looking thing below it. If it just leaks right there only it is still serious but not so hard to fix but need to know for sure exactly where. Stinks but you need that known fixed with some help if need be,
T
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babylove05
Novice
Nov 3, 2012, 2:04 PM
Post #5 of 17
(13046 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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Oh okay. Thanks Tom for that info on my brake fluid. I appreciate it!
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babylove05
Novice
Nov 3, 2012, 2:13 PM
Post #6 of 17
(13041 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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Also thought I would mention the "theft" light is also blinking on the dash. It never did before, just started right around the time it started dying.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 4, 2012, 2:36 AM
Post #7 of 17
(13013 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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"Theft" light? I don't have procedures for that and if aftermarket you would need original instructions. It could disable engine from running or starting at all via a few ways but is apparently part of the troubles. Many require remote unlock, lock, unlock again type things/procedures to know you are the intended user. Might involve an original key also. This could take more than independent shops to get that part right or disabled so it can't get in the way.
Back: This vehicle needs help and will take some bucks. I have to default to saying there's no point in it running or driving if it can't stop. I can't think of anything to do with a brake fluid leak that would prevent the engine from starting.
Whole scene is not likely just one quick fix but an assortment of all functions checked and put back to dependable safe working order.
Might even be time to consider trading it out for another vehicle if it needs too much,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 4, 2012, 6:18 AM
Post #8 of 17
(13003 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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If you have a blinking theft light, then the immobilizer has kicked in. Other than just trying a different key, there is nothing you can do about this problem. The system cannot be bypassed and has to be working for the car to run. It will require a very expensive factory scan tool to be able to diagnose this issue so you're headed to either the dealer or an electrical specialty shop.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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babylove05
Novice
Jan 29, 2013, 1:29 AM
Post #9 of 17
(12685 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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Thought I would update and let you know that it was in fact the fuel pump. Had it replaced and all is great now. :)
Also had the brake fluid leak fixed. It was very minor.
Check engine light also went off after using the lucas for a couple of weeks. Its been off for a couple months now.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 29, 2013, 4:04 AM
Post #10 of 17
(12675 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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"lucas what?" That's about as brain dead as it gets! T
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Jan 29, 2013, 4:05 AM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 29, 2013, 4:26 AM
Post #11 of 17
(12669 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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So apparently the theft light is not blinking after all because you didn't resolve that with a fuel pump.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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babylove05
Novice
Jan 29, 2013, 5:26 PM
Post #12 of 17
(12643 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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Theft light was blinking. It went off on it's own. Not sure why obviously. I was just trying to figure out possibilities was all..
Tom, you are just rude. Being a woman who doesn't know much about car problems, I came here for advice. Not to be called names just because I don't know much about car issues. Or is it because I use the lucas injector cleaner? I dont really care. Thanks for the advice though, it was appreciated.
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babylove05
Novice
Feb 8, 2014, 12:07 AM
Post #15 of 17
(10538 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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Glad it was helpful to you! It took my mechanic a good 3 days to diagnose it. We were praying he was right as it cost us 497.00 to fix. It was perfect after that.
I swear by lucas now. We use it in our car as well.
I think Tom should be kicked off the help forums. He is just rude and condescending. As hard as he tried to make me feel ignorant he is the one who looks bad. If you read this Tom, guess what? My theft light still blinks to this day..
Let me know if it was in fact the fuel pump. Have a good night! :)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 8, 2014, 2:17 AM
Post #16 of 17
(10536 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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No intent to be rude and apologize if taken that way. All volunteers here and it catches notice when anything magic in a can is really going to solve a problem. So many have wild claims it's hard to know if or what can help or cause harm for whatever item it was said to be for and fix,
Tom
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 8, 2014, 3:54 AM
Post #17 of 17
(10527 views)
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Re: 2001 Ford Windstar Dies While Driving, but Starts Back Up
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OK, this thread has been dead for a year so it's not the time to be jumping all over it now.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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