Hi Everyone, I am new to the forum!

AND About ready to come out of my skin!

So, my Mom-in-law has a 05 freestar. It has about 60K miles on it, and it barely gets driven because she is disabled and rarely leaves her home...

About two weeks ago she called and said that her van stalled out in the middle of the highway. She then stated that she got it started and it bucked and kicked all over the place, went about 100 yards and died again. She also stated that it would go into gear, she would press on the gas, and the engine would rev, but the van struggled to move at all. She had it towed the 1.5 miles back to the house.

I went over and took a look at it. It idles perfect. I tried to take it for a spin, but it would not leave the driveway. I thought that it could be a bad torque converter, but also doubted because this van up to this point was in perfect shape with regular visits to Ford for maintenance.

I took the van to the local mechanic the next day. It spits and sputters. It dies. I will not go faster than 20 MPH. It died climbing the slight hill to the mechanics shop.

HERE IS WHERE I COME OUT OF MY SKIN!!!!

I tell the girl at the counter that this van belongs to my MIL and I want to be called once they figure it out. She calls a few hours later, and states that all the codes say it's a bad transmission. I tell her no way. I tell her that I drove that van, and it does not act like a transmission problem. It spits and sputters, and yes I have moments when I think it MIGHT be a torque converter, but no growling, no slipping(while driving), no burning smells. I tell her to have the guys keep looking and call ME back...

The next day- 3:30 and no call, so I call. I talk to the girl, and she tells me that she called my MIL to tell her it was the transmission. Reluctantly, my MIL tells her to fix it. I told her, that I wanted the shop to call ME, WHY DID SHE CALL MY MIL? She says that there is nothing that can be done now, the van is torn apart.

So, 3600 bucks later, the van has a new transmission, my MIL is wondering how she is going to pay for her meds, her mortgage, and everything else and the van comes home running just fine... this was yesterday...

Today, she gets into it to do her monthly grocery shopping and the van will not leave the driveway. Same symptoms!

Tomorrow I will demand that the shop come get the van and fix it. I have half a mind to call the credit card company and have them reverse the charge. And I feel like they should pay to fix the van for free at this point. Any thoughts on this?

For you guys who work on newer computerized cars, what do you think this is?

Symptoms:
1. Van goes into gear but struggles to move in forward gears- just like a torque converter slipping. This seems to be just as bad in reverse
2. Once the van gets moving, is misses, and bucks so bad all the tires squeal.
3. The van eventually dies, but fires right back up and idles fine.

This van is babied big time. It hardly ever gets driven. I even thought that it might have bad gas from sitting, but she stated that it was at about 1/4 tank and she filled it up at the same local gas station that we used with no problems...

I never use mechanics. But frankly I am afraid of these newer cars because I don't understand them. And I didn't want the responsibility of fixing her van. Now, I feel she has been duped for all her money, and I am really


Anything you can recommend would be great!

To Top all this off, I just found out (from this site) Ford had a recall on the transmissions and Torque converters on these vans! She just paid 3600 for something she could have got done for free!

 

My van did that in the past. Did you check for codes? I forget the number, but it was a bad coil pack as my van acted the exact same way. I doubt it is what you have because you did not mention any codes or check engine light.

You still can file a claim for a refund from Ford as you had it done somewhere else, but it will max out to somehting like 1,200 or 1,800. Better than nothing. Call Ford customer service.

 

Hey, I learned a lot about engines a long time ago - now the computers have gotten ahead of us. Used to be a bad ignition problem would run bad regardless of RPM or Load. Now, the computer (PCM) advances the 'weak' spark so that it effectively acts normal. It seems that under load, it cannot advance enough, so misfire occurs.
First - invest less than $100 into a small OBDII Scanner. Then don't be afraid to take off the cowl with the wiper motor. You can then access the coil, wires and plugs. My 2004 Monterey was misfiring # 1, code P0301. I brought to a 'reputable' garage who replaced my plugs last year, they said they were good, replaced #1 anyway. When I did it myself next day, it was LOOSE. So new platinum/ iridium plugs, wires, and a coil, and problem was fixed. Meanwhile, they had me contemplating a fuel injector replacement for big bucks. While you have the cowl off, pull out the PCM and dry it out. Had that problem 2 years ago - CD changes, car would not start. It gets wet. Many web answers on that, and a few videos too. I dried mine in the oven warming drawer for a day, then reassembled with dielectric grease, and sealed it up. Problem gone. If it is real bad, corroded, you may have to buy one. Good Luck.