Windstar Trans ? for Jon

Just wondering if any on here has changed a trans in a 98 Ford Windstar I think I am going to tackle mine this weekend.Some say you have to drop the whole front end and some say just the left side.Just wondering what I am getting into would have just payed my brother to do it but he is not able to do it right now do to health problems.I need to get it going again and get the wife out of the truck so I can fix the dent in the side of it.

whats wrong with it?

It will only move in neutral park give it the gas in park ,reverse,1,2, and drive it will go 1500 rpms and just bog down and rock back and forth

pulled the pan and it was full of brass and metal the fliud did not smell burn never had never gave a problem until sunday

Yeah that deal is smoked. You need to remove the cowling that holds the wiper motor and blades, fashion a rig to hang the motor and trans from the top, k member needs to come out. Not a bad job but wouldnt want to do it in the driveway. Be sure you flush the cooler and lines real good and make sure there is no restriction.

Thanks Jon
Ya monday I dropped the pan and found the stuff I put a naw filter and fuild in it. It worked for about 5 mins went down the road is shifted find turned around and nailed it ran it up to 75 let off and got a big jerk quite pulling switched it off and fired it back up went in gear fine. Got back to the nailed it in the yard and she gave the gost put in drive and reverse nothing. So I was hooked up to the lawn mower cranked it up so the power steering would work put it in nautral to pull it let off the brake is started moving.So I unhooked it from the lawn mower and drove it to the barn where it sits now.Just hoping I can do it in one day if it the right one I am buying a used one with 80,000 miles on it for $250 tomorrow mine has the AXOD in it not the ANOD.

did my brothers 95 about 5yrs ago with out dropping the front cross member and it was a bitch but got it done.
and it was done in the yard, did I say it was a bitch


Keith

I had a 87 Dodge Caravan it wasn't to hard to change but it had alot more room it had the 4 banger in it.But I will start this one early sat morning at daylight hopefully finish it by dark.

my brothers was a 4.0 ...

yes you wont to get an early start...good luck with it and hope it go's better for you than the I did.


Keith

Jon when I pull the trans do I have to disconnect everything on the engine and let it drop out of the bottom with k member, or can I let it hang on the carry picker and just take the mount aloose and leave the engine and tran connected until I get the k member out of the way. Then disconnect the trans and remove it with the engine hanging in place.I am going to start on it tomorrow afternoon when I get off work getting it ready putting it on jack stands ,pulling tires off,axles out and what ever I can do before dark.I am doing this outside I know it is going to make a mess plus them big azz skeeters come out around dark.


Jim

Pull front tires,knock lower ball joints out,remove trans mount,disconnect engine mounts,unbolt steering rack and leave tie rods attached to knuckles,remove swaybar bolts from subframe,attach chain and cherry picker to driver side front cylinder head and hold engine in position,unbolt 4 bolts holding subframe to body,either unbolt exhaust at coupling and remove subframe or just slide it back,knock axles out of trans,disconnect lines and electrical connectors from trans,remove starter and let it hang,remove small shield and converter bolts and bell housing bolts including the two that go in from the passenger side.I think thats most of it....

nos-stang wrote: Pull front tires,knock lower ball joints out,remove trans mount,disconnect engine mounts,unbolt steering rack and leave tie rods attached to knuckles,remove swaybar bolts from subframe,attach chain and cherry picker to driver side front cylinder head and hold engine in position,unbolt 4 bolts holding subframe to body,either unbolt exhaust at coupling and remove subframe or just slide it back,knock axles out of trans,disconnect lines and electrical connectors from trans,remove starter and let it hang,remove small shield and converter bolts and bell housing bolts including the two that go in from the passenger side.I think thats most of it....

pretty much it.

Unhook battery before you do all this.

We got it in toady took 12hrs but its in and working.It is a pain in th rear but if it hadn't been for Rick (aka 557 mazda) I would still be fighting with it.It is nice to have friends that don't mind helping you, thats the kind you don't mind helping when they need your help.Guys thanks for the info yall gave on replacing it it helped me out alot where to get started at.


Jim

I'm glad you've got it all back together. Hell if it were me I'd kill two birds with one stone and put a shift kit in it. I would rip on it picking the kids up from school!

It really is nice to know that there are people nowadays that will go out of their way to help you.

good to here its back running...another job well done.