# Windstar transmission failed...sometimes **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** windstar, ford\ **Created:** [April 22, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windstar-transmission-failed-sometimes/78862 "2013-04-22T16:26:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![62TD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/a698b9/32.png) [@62TD](https://community.cartalk.com/u/62TD)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windstar-transmission-failed-sometimes/78862/1 "2013-04-22T16:26:01Z")
The transmission in our '98 Ford Windstar has failed…sometimes. I went to back it out of the garage and the motor would rev, but no movement of the vehicle. I put it in drive and had the same results. When I put it in 2 it would move. Only in 1 or reverse is it dead. I changed the transmission fluid and filter (Fluid did not looked burned) and it ran fine. After a couple of days, same symptoms. After sitting about a week, I started it up and it acted fine. I drove it about a block. When I attempted to start from a stop sign…no movement. I put it in 2 and drove away. Due to the age of this vehicle, I don’t want to spend a LOT of money to get it fixed. Overall, it is in fairly nice condition. Any suggestions on what my next move should be? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windstar-transmission-failed-sometimes/78862/2 "2013-04-22T16:37:26Z")
Unfortunately, I don’t see anything other than a trans overhaul in your immediate future. Whether this is economically logical with a 15 year-old vehicle is something that you will have to decide, but I can tell you that I wouldn’t spend that much money on a vehicle that is this old. Your next move should be to take the vehicle to a local independent trans shop for evaluation. **Do not** go to AAMCO, Lee Myles, Cottman, Mr. Transmission, or any other chain unless you want to be sold more extreme (and more expensive) repairs than are really necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Marc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Big\_Marc](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Big_Marc)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windstar-transmission-failed-sometimes/78862/3 "2013-04-22T19:32:47Z")
i think it could be something simple . do you have any codes or is the cel on at all? ---
**Author:** ![Coconut\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Coconut\_Guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Coconut_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 2:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windstar-transmission-failed-sometimes/78862/4 "2013-04-23T02:17:02Z")
After 15 years, I gave my Windstar an oil (fluid) change and now it acts like a new machine, with 198,000 miles.