2001 Windstar Engine Light On

Our 2001 Windstar has 21,000 miles with no problem runs great, but the engine light is on. The light came on yesterday and the van still runs the same. We are thinking it may just comes on at a certain amount of miles. Are we right in thinking that or is something wrong with the van. Can we shut off the light or do we have to bring it to ford and get ripped off for $400.00 or $500.00 dallars :eek: . Thanks for your HELP...

Take it to your local Autozone. They will read the codes for you for free. Ask them to give you the code numbers. Then ask them to turn off light. Post back here with the code numbers and we can help.

Totally agree. Get the actual numbers. There are a couple of known issues with the 2001s and a few less common. The folks on this site can point you in the right direction with the codes. Autozone may also offer advice but at this time politely refuse it.

Often a vehicle will run well with a code. Your gas mileage is probably sufferrng though.

Our 2001 Windstar has 21,000 miles with no problem runs great, but the engine light is on. The light came on yesterday and the van still runs the same. We are thinking it may just comes on at a certain amount of miles. Are we right in thinking that or is something wrong with the van. Can we shut off the light or do we have to bring it to ford and get ripped off for $400.00 or $500.00 dallars :eek: . Thanks for your HELP...

I have a 2001 Ford Windstar with an engine lite on. I took it to Autozone and they said it was the O2 sensors. Further research on this site indicated it could very well be the "isolator bolts". I am smart enough to take things apart but not smart enough to get them back together. I have continued to drive ours for roughly a month now with no change in performance. The O2 sensors were estimated at $300 to change. We just looked at a new van today as the following were also malfunctioning or broken: windshield wipers, rear wiper, door locks, sliding door on drivers side, turn signal, possible trans slipping. I realize that most car manufacturers are slipping in quality but it becomes so aggravating to have these things be wrong I would not consider another Ford again until they improved the warranty to "cover" these types of things going wrong.

If you have not had any of these problems my advice would be to sell/trade and feel fortunate.

Miles

Well Autozone's estimate and possibly incorrect diagnosis for $600 worth of parts can hardly be Ford's fault.

The rest of your troubles are aggrevating I am sure but do let us know how your other brand works out.

We got the code P0401. Is this something I can fix or do I have to take the van back to Ford? If I can fix it where is the part under the hood.

P0401 = EGR Flow Insufficient Detected

Usually yhe P0401 is the DPFE sensor. That is the sensor that tells the computer what position the EGR is in or needs to be in for proper operation. You can go to a parts house that sells Motorcraft parts and have them let you look at one and you will see it on the engine. Also anoyher common problem is the passages in the intake under the EGR clogging with carbon. Good luck.

I have talked to Ford they said there my be a recall for this problem number 02m01. But I have to bring it in to Frod for a $90.00 check-up first…. Has anybody heard of this recall?

02M01S6 AUG 04 Recall - Tube Mounted EGR Pressure Sensor Defect

I agree that the DPFE is probably responsible and is a common failure on Windstars. In fact they redeisgned it into a black plastic case as opposed to the older metal version but isn't a vehicle with only 21,000 miles still covered under the emissions warranty?

This may/should qualify.

If not the part is only about $80.00 and 15 minutes to replace. The $90 Ford wants is probably just to get the P0401 code that you already have.

You can test your DPFE with a voltemeter. Do a search on this forum for DPFE. I once posted my troubleshooting steps when I had the same code.

Good luck

As a rule of thumb, if we get a p0401 at the dealership, we just put a dpfe on it. If your dpfe is a little black box on two tubes, it is covered onder 02m01 and they put it on after just pulling codes...ford doesn't even bother paying us to diagnose the same thing again and again. If they try to charge you diagnosis for the recall, don't pay and call ford's regional rep immediatly as that is illegal and morally wrong.

Thanks for all your help. I called a different Ford dealership and they will fix the van under the 02M01S6 recall free of charge. :rofl:

Often a vehicle will run well with a code.

Bought my previous Winnie ('99 SEL) with engine light on, drove it for 7 years with engine light on, sold it to my neighbor with engine light on, she still drives it and engine light is still on.

My current '00 modded LX has engine light on :grinyes:

No one was ever able to find anything wrong with either vehicle that could explain the codes. Only mechanical issues I'm having with the LX are a shot VSS (speedo displays half the actual speed) and shot tensioner pulley bearings, don't think either of these would cause engine light to come on.