2003 Windstar: Suddenly loses tranny, R,D,2,1.

[twinrider1]

Sigh, when you get divorced/separated........rarely is it 100% and permanent, especially when you have kids.

Just got back from getting my ex's 2003 Windstar towed. According to her, everything was fine, on the freeway, and it suddenly lost drive. The rpms would rev, but no joy in the transmission.
I get there and look things over. It runs fine. Oil and trans fluid levels are above minimum. No obvious big leaks. No crazy sounds. Also zero function in any gear; R, D, 2, 1. Just revs like it's in Park or Neutral.

I'll start surfing the Ford forums, but I'll throw it out here. Any Ford guys know if this is a known quirk of Fords of that era?
(For reference, my skill level is low to moderate. I can follow directions, read a schematic, but I don't have much experience. Sensors, brakes, hubs, shocks...I'm good. Pulling a transmission..beyond my experience).

Thanks a ton.

 

[Raizinman]

2003 Windstar?

LOL !!!

 

[rommelrommel]

Quirk... more like expected failure.

 

[jlee]

If it lost everything and wasn't slipping or shifting funny before, it might be a shift linkage failure.

 

[foghorn67]

If it lost everything and wasn't slipping or shifting funny before, it might be a shift linkage failure.

This was my first thought as well. Transmissions usually a ton of signs before total failure.

 

[Jimzz]

If it lost everything and wasn't slipping or shifting funny before, it might be a shift linkage failure.

If this happened in a parking space (went from P to D) then I would agree.
But since she was driving and it happened then sounds like something in the trans or driveline(CV Joints) went out.

Have you checked to make sure the CV joints are still there and good? If one broke it will also do what you are talking about. If not then I go back to the trans.

OP the 4speeds had valve body issues on some late 90's to early 2000 fords, this is mostly(all?) rwd though. The issues I read and have seen were differant but long story short sounds like the trans will at least have to have the valve body taken out if not the whole trans.

If its in good shape and taken care of may be worth the cost of repair. But you are looking at 1-2k easy if it gets past the valve body.

 

[twinrider1]

Well, take "According to her" with a grain of salt. I never drive it, so I don't really know for sure that there were no symptoms leading up to the failure.
A linkage sounds relatively simple. I've been reading up and it appears Windstars are well known for transmission problems. Looks like there's a structural corrosion recall as well.

Edit: Yes, she was on the freeway. I'll take a closer look tomorrow. When it was still on the side of the freeway I took a quick look underneath and didn't see anything out of place.
It looks like Ford is actually offering buybacks or long term rental coverage with that structure recall. Maybe she'll get lucky and be covered by that.

 

[amdhunter]

Torque converter probably cracked in half...lol

 

[jlee]

If this happened in a parking space (went from P to D) then I would agree.
But since she was driving and it happened then sounds like something in the trans or driveline(CV Joints) went out.

Have you checked to make sure the CV joints are still there and good? If one broke it will also do what you are talking about. If not then I go back to the trans.

OP the 4speeds had valve body issues on some late 90's to early 2000 fords, this is mostly(all?) rwd though. The issues I read and have seen were differant but long story short sounds like the trans will at least have to have the valve body taken out if not the whole trans.

If its in good shape and taken care of may be worth the cost of repair. But you are looking at 1-2k easy if it gets past the valve body.

If she had catastrophic CV joint failure at highway speeds, we'd know something else was up. CVs don't just explode without warning (unless you're running lots of power and sticky tires and launching hard).

 

[wirednuts]

i really hate to be like this, but it is a windstar. if there were ever disposable cars made.... ugh i hated working on those things.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

Ford

Well there's your problem!

 

[Fritzo]

Silly question, but did it run low on transmission fluid by chance?

 

[Raizinman]

I laughed all night when I noticed my ex wife purchased a Windstar.

 

[twinrider1]

Silly question, but did it run low on transmission fluid by chance?

I was honestly expecting to pull out a bone dry dipstick when I first got there. It was solidly between the add/full lines. And it wasn't motor oil! That wouldn't have surprised me either.

 

[marvdmartian]

Had something similar happen, years ago, in a 1980 Chevy Monza I owned. Lost everything but 1st gear, starting out from an intersection, after getting a green light. Up until then, it had given ZERO indication anything was wrong.

Turned out that the torque converter stripped out, when I gave it gas. Felt a THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!! when I started out, then it started moving. Pulled over, no leaks, nothing dragging under the car, fluid levels fine. Pulled out again, got up to 15, 20, 25, 30......wouldn't shift out of first!

Spent $450 getting it rebuilt, with a 6 month warranty, and then traded it for a new car, 5 months later! :whiste:

 

[Meghan54]

I was honestly expecting to pull out a bone dry dipstick when I first got there. It was solidly between the add/full lines. And it wasn't motor oil! That wouldn't have surprised me either.

You did check the dipstick with the engine running in N or P, which ever it is, right? Checking it with the engine not running will make it look fuller than it really is.

 

[twinrider1]

Yep, engine running.

 

[rommelrommel]

http://www.fordforumsonline.com/bulletins/2003/windstar/10002684/

http://www.aboutautomobile.com/Complaint/2003/Ford/Windstar/Torque+Converter