windstar stalls

I have a 98 3.8
it stalls when coming to a stop and the idle surges up and down.when trying to park it stalls like all the time.when gas is applied there is no problem.
codes where for o2 sensors changed all 4
cleaned or replaced idle air control,throttel position sensor,cleaned throttel,wires and spark plugs changed last summer. could i have a leak in the intake manifold.which i was told by a local shop. how could i see that leak.
thanks for any help

Clean the Idle Air Control (IAC) with some carb or throttle body cleaner. It is easy - should take all of 10 minutes. It's located on the upper intake, has 1 connector on it.

Clean the Idle Air Control (IAC) with some carb or throttle body cleaner. It is easy - should take all of 10 minutes. It's located on the upper intake, has 1 connector on it.
thanx for reply, i cleaned the IAC and then replaced it with new and i drove around a bit and stalled again idle still surged up and down.
Is there anything that can keep the car in idle.

I m taking the upper manifold out to check the gaskets. 6/18/05
i stripped one of the bolts, so i will put everything back together and take it to someone who can take out the bolt.then i will take everything out again and check the gasket. 6/19/05

thanx 4 any help.

put some diesel fuel and light oil in a spray bottle start engine and spray around intake gasket area i recommend being very careful when doing this keep back if there is a leak motor will rev up

thanx to all views and replies

I had the stripped bolt removed by a local shop $20 plus $5 tip
I removed the intake manifold cleaned it and the egr ports,checked gaskets, they were good I put everything back together and drove around for a little bit and she hesitated hiccuped and then idle surged up and down and then she STALLED. CEL not on yet

I dont know what to do next to get rid of her sickness.


-stalls when coming to a stop
-hesitates
-idle surges up and down

Please help
and thanx

Using the "Search this forum" thing plug in "EGR ports", post back if you think this is your problem

Karl

You may want to unplug your TPS sensor to put it FMEM mode. If the van runs better, then your TPS is bad. The TPS is is right on the throttle body and has 1 connector.

thanx guys for your replies

The egr cleaning took the cel away, its been 3 days and no light.
it drives way better i feel the power.

I did change TPS, still the same.

The next thing I am going to try is cleaning and checking the MAF.
I also bought a used intake manifold which i will install soon as it gets here it comes with throttel,TPS,IAC. I was told there might be a hole in the intake.

The car still stalls when parking,or coming to a stop or taking off.
she wont stay idled. the idle surges up and down in drive,park,neutral
once i give gas the car is fine.

thanx for all your help

leaking intake gaskets are a really bad problem on the windstars. ford has updated gaskets, you should get new rubber insulators and bolts too.

i had a problem with one windstar that had the same symptoms and the cam sensor was installed wrong by another shop (they are easy to install, but ford makes about 50 differents install tools, so it makes it confusing sometimes). But if it wasn't removed, then it's not the problem!

Just curious if you resvoled this problem. Our 2000 Windstar went into the shop this morning with VERY similar problems. Dead battery, stalls, surging. Undrivable.

We've had mystery dead batteries over the years, with weird behvior upon jumping (headlights go on). Today when it stalled the E. Lights went on.

--Robin

thanx to all


I replaced the intake manifold and the maf sensor. I still have the same stalling, idle surging, and hesitating problem, so I have done everything
and still cant find the problem there are no codes anymore.
Does any one have an idea of where the power steering switch is on this car if there is one. 98 3.8
I want to give up but I just cant, took it to many mechanic and they cant find the problem


work I have done -change IAC
-changed intake manifold (plastic)
-cleaned throttel
-changed TPS
-changed maf sensor
-cleaned egr ports (cleared CEL)
-changed all 4 sensors
Thanx for all the help

I had the same problems you are describing with my 99 Windstar. The issues that were addressed as best I can remember were the idle air control, the idle air pulley(i think that's what it was called) the O sensor. I had the take it back a couple of times because the behaviors would return and it ended up being that the sensor was getting dirty and they said the check engine lights are very sensitive on the Windstar. There was also a seal somewhere that was not quite right. I had to take it back like 4 times before everything stopped happening.

Good luck. It is really frustrating.

I looked on ALLDATA and it doesn't say anything about a power steering pressure switch at all. That doesn't always mean it's correct, but ALLDATA is usually correct.

I just worked on a 98 3.8 with similar problems. We replaced the timing cover and the tech who did it the first time used a 3.0 cam sensor tool. (That was hard to diagnose, lemme tell ya!) Using the correct tool (Ford has like 50 different ones) I fixed the problem.

It came back a month later with similar problems, but worse. It would die at stop signs pretty consistently. I removed the air cleaner and found oil in the intake hose. What happens is the crankcase pressure gets too high and pushes oil up into the intake. Ford makes an updated vavle cover to fix the problem. The oil in the intake also ruins the gaskets and causes them to leak air (vacuum).

So, if you take off the intake hose, is oil present?

I was incorrect about the updated valve cover applying to 98's.

I am still trying to fix the Windstar in the shop, but I don't think the guy's gonna fix it. The whole intake job is gonna be like $800, and I still have to figure out what is causing the oil to build up in the intake.

I talked to my local dealer and he said yes the 98 valve cover (front) has to be changed. I was wondering did you call your local ford dealer and ask. The 98 valve cover has a hole in it at 5:00 when your looking at the window. You may have to use a flashlight to see, it is only 1/8 hole. If he says no then go down there and see the replacement for the 98 valve cover and it will not have a hole I am guessing. I have to save up some money to do the lower intake gasket, valve cover, insulator bolts. Hope this helps you.