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2003 Ford Windstar Sputtering,


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chicagobears2010
New User

Sep 19, 2019, 1:34 PM

Post #1 of 4 (944 views)
2003 Ford Windstar Sputtering, Sign In

I have 2003 Ford Windstar SE 3.8L V6 an currently has 115,000 miles on it. When I first bought it I noticed a little sputter when accelerating up hills nothing real serious though, I figured it just needed a tune up. After about a month we got a bunch of rain an when hit a big puddle of water it immediately began to sputter, on my way home that night i got a check engine light but it went away when it came back on it read misfire on cylinder 3 so I decided to change the plugs and wires. After doing so the power increased tremendously an for the first day or so after didnt really notice a sputter at all. After about a week it began to sputter like it did before replacing the plugs and wires but, not as bad. So I ended up changing the Fuel & Air filter, an afterwards I drove it around the block power felt good, didn't feel sputter until I started driving on a bumpy road. The roads around here are terrible, my van was relatively quiet when i first bought it but gradually worsened driving on messed up roads, its loud but not so much that you can really notice it or get pulled over for it. Overall changing wire, plugs, and filters really improved the sputter and power but hasn't completely. It still sputters on occasion but not as bad as it did before i replaced filters & plugs. Also I notice when slowing down and coming too a stop it'll idle down to about 500rpm from about 850rpm an it feels like it wants to stall out but, it hasn't yet. Any suggestions on what i should do next or what could possibly be causing this would be much appreciated. Thank you.


(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Sep 19, 2019, 3:41 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 19, 2019, 3:40 PM

Post #2 of 4 (925 views)
Re: 2003 Ford Windstar Sputtering, Sign In

OK, first things............

You should immediately change your user name before the spammers get hold of it. I also edited out all the description in your title as it should be just a title.

As for your problem. sputtering is not a mechanical description. It doesn't tell us what it is actually doing.
Your title had a better description of an unstable idle. Is that still your problem?



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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.



chicagobears2010
New User

Sep 19, 2019, 4:53 PM

Post #3 of 4 (912 views)
Re: 2003 Ford Windstar Sputtering, Sign In

It idles fine when im stopped it only drops when coming to a stop it drops about 400rpm an goes back to normal idle at around 850rpm. The check engine light didnt stay on very long it went away on its own but luckily the second time it came on i had a tool too plug in and it said misfire on cylinder 3 so i assumed it was the spark plug that was in the 3rd cylinder but it since changing plugs/wires & filters it doesnt sputter a bunch but it does it at least a couple times every time i drive. When its in park it idles fine never drops below 850rpm just when slowing down coming to a stop for example at redlight itll drop down too about 450rpm an then back too 850rpm an normally idle while sitting at the light.

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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 19, 2019, 4:58 PM

Post #4 of 4 (904 views)
Re: 2003 Ford Windstar Sputtering, Sign In

OK, that's a better description

First eliminate all vacuum or air leaks in the system (very important)

. You may have a bad IAC ( idle air control) but try cleaning the throttle body first. Remove the intake snorkel, have someone hold the throttle wide open for you and scrub the back side of the throttle plate and surrounding bore with an old tooth brush and some carb cleaner. Be sure to spray some into the small holes next to the throttle plate. That should help stabilize the idle. If it still has a problem, replace the IAC.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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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