I have a 99 Windstar with about 100,000 miles on it. When we are going down the road at about 50 mph, or going up hills, etc, the engine will pulsate and the tach bounces around… It will also “ding” at us saying that a door is ajar but they are all closed up tight. Neither problem seems to have a rhyme or reason… they do it randomly. I took it to a mechanic for the pulsating deal but of course it didnt do it then. I replaced the fuel filter and the MAF to try to solve the pulsation but to no avail… Any help that you can offer would be greatly appreciated!
I’m going to suggest you have a fuel pressure problem. Perhaps a weak fuel pump or dirty fuel filter.
Try a fuel pressure test and see if it comes up to specs.
o own a 99 windstar and ill never own another.it is the worst vehicle i have ever owned.first it blew a cylinder and then the transmission went out and befor that the interior lights would go on and off.never again will i a that piece of crap.
The door light switch is in the door latch. Spray some CRC Electrical Contact Cleaner or WD40 (in a pinch) into the latch while working the door handle. This cleans the switch contacts. I had to do this a few times with my wife’s 98 Windstar. It was most reliable vehicle we ever owned for the 8 years we had it. Sorry I can’t help with the engine problems. Just a guess, are the battery terminals clean and secure? The terminals on the 98 needed cleaning occasionally, it was hard to tell without removing the terminal covers.
Let us know how things turn out.
Good luck,
Ed B.
I feel your pain. I bought my wife a beautiful blue 03 Windstar and while the engine and tranny are fine, the electrical system is horrible. I always refer to it as the crapstar or junkstar.
I think you are very fortunate to have reached 100k miles on that Windstar. I had a '99 and it started to self-destruct at 38,000 and got progressively worse until I traded it with a little over 50,000 miles on it. It was without a doubt one of the worst vehicles I’ve ever owned and have not bought another Ford since. My daughter has a '98 Escort that is following the same destructive behavior.
Sorry I can’t help with your problem. It’s the tip of the iceberg. Things will get worse.