
3. The vehicle is out of service for repair of nonconformities for a total of
more than 30 calendar days (not necessarily all at one time)
In the case of 1 or 2 above, the consumer must also notify the
manufacturer of the need for the repair of the nonconformity at the
following address:
Ford Motor Company
16800 Executive Plaza Drive
Mail Drop 3NE-B
Dearborn, MI 48126
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS (U.S. ONLY)
If you believe that your vehicle has
a defect which could cause a crash
or could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying Ford Motor Company.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and
if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a
recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved
in individual problems between you, your dealer, or Ford Motor
Company.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free
at 1–800–424–9393 (or 366–0123 in the Washington D.C. area) or write
to:
NHTSA
400 Seventh Street
U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from
the Hotline.
2004 Windstar(win)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Customer Assistance
218

OPENING THE HOOD
1. Inside the vehicle, pull the hood
release handle located under the
bottom left corner of the instrument
panel.
2. Go to the front of the vehicle and release the auxiliary latch that is
located under the front center of
the hood.
3. Lift the hood and secure it with
the prop rod. Your vehicle’s hood
has two locations for the prop rod
to be placed. These locations
provide two different hood opening
positions. Use the location which
best suits your needs.
2004 Windstar(win)
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USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
226

WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID
Add fluid to fill the reservoir if the
level is low. In very cold weather, do
not fill the reservoir completely.
Only use a washer fluid that meets
Ford specification WSB-M8B16–A2.
Refer toLubricant specifications
in this chapter.
State or local regulations on volatile organic compounds may restrict the
use of methanol, a common windshield washer antifreeze additive.
Washer fluids containing non-methanol antifreeze agents should be used
only if they provide cold weather protection without damaging the
vehicle’s paint finish, wiper blades or washer system.
If you operate your vehicle in temperatures below 4.5° C (40°
F), use washer fluid with antifreeze protection. Failure to use
washer fluid with antifreeze protection in cold weather could result in
impaired windshield vision and increase the risk of injury or accident.
Note:Do not put washer fluid in the engine coolant reservoir. Washer
fluid placed in the cooling system may harm engine and cooling system
components.
Checking and adding washer fluid for the liftgate
Washer fluid for the liftgate is supplied by the same reservoir as the
windshield.
ENGINE OIL
Checking the engine oil
Refer to the scheduled maintenance guide for the appropriate intervals
for checking the engine oil.
1. Make sure the vehicle is on level ground.
2. Turn the engine off and wait a few minutes for the oil to drain into the
oil pan.
3. Set the parking brake and ensure the gearshift is securely latched in P
(Park).
2004 Windstar(win)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
228

emission control, such non-Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine
Ford Motor Company parts in performance and durability.
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass or other dry
ground cover. The emission system heats up the engine
compartment and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
Illumination of the “Check Engine” light, charging system warning light
or the temperature warning light, fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke or
loss of engine power, could indicate that the emission control system is
not working properly.
Exhaust leaks may result in entry of harmful and potentially
lethal fumes into the passenger compartment.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your vehicle or engine. By
law, vehicle owners and anyone who manufactures, repairs, services,
sells, leases, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles are not
permitted to intentionally remove an emission control device or prevent
it from working. Information about your vehicle’s emission system is on
the Vehicle Emission Control Information Decal located on or near the
engine. This decal identifies engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Please consult yourWarranty Guidefor complete emission warranty
information.
On board diagnostics (OBD-II)
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer that monitors the engine’s
emission control system. This system is commonly known as the On
Board Diagnostics System (OBD-II). This OBD-II system protects the
environment by ensuring that your vehicle continues to meet
government emission standards. The OBD-II system also assists the
service technician in properly servicing your vehicle. When theCheck
Engine/Service Engine Soonlight illuminates, the OBD-II system has
detected a malfunction. Temporary malfunctions may cause yourCheck
Engine/Service Engine Soonlight to illuminate. Examples are:
1. The vehicle has run out of fuel. (The engine may misfire or run
poorly.)
2. Poor fuel quality or water in the fuel.
3. The fuel cap may not have been securely tightened.
These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by filling the fuel tank
with good quality fuel and/or properly tightening the fuel cap. After three
2004 Windstar(win)
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USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
246

The tires on your vehicle have all weather treads to provide traction in
rain and snow. However, in some climates, you may need to use snow
tires and chains. If you need to use chains, it is recommended that steel
wheels (of the same size and specifications) be used as chains may chip
aluminum wheels.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and chains:
•Use only cable type SAE Class “S” chains. Conventional link or other
type chains may cause damage to your vehicle’s wheelhouse and/or
underbody.
•These cable type chains should only be applied to the front wheels.
•Install chains securely, verifying that the chains do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
•Drive cautiously. If you hear the chains rub or bang against your
vehicle, stop and re-tighten the chains. If this does not work, remove
the chains to prevent damage to your vehicle.
•If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle.
•Remove the tire chains when they are no longer needed. Do not use
tire chains on dry roads.
•The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these components from your vehicle when
using snow tires and chains.
MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
Component 3.9L OHV V6 engine 4.2L OHV V6 engine
Air filter element FA-1711 FA-1711
Battery BXT-59 BXT-59
BXT-65-750 BXT-65-750
Fuel filter FG-986B FG-986B
Oil filter FL-400S FL-400S
PCV valve EV-261 EV-261
Spark plugs* AWSF-42EE*** AWSF-42EE***
* Refer to Vehicle Emissions Control Information (VECI) decal for spark
plug gap information.
*** If a spark plug is removed for inspection, it must be reinstalled in the
same cylinder. Cylinders No. 1, 2, and 3 have a “EG” suffix. Cylinders No.
4, 5, and 6 have a “E” suffix. If a spark plug needs to be replaced, use
only spark plugs with the service part number suffix letter “EE” as
shown on the engine decal.
2004 Windstar(win)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
263

Lifestyle
Bike racks
Cargo organization and management
Engine block heaters and blankets
Rear seat entertainment systems - DVD
Towing mirrors
Trailer hitches, wiring harnesses and accessories
Peace of mind
Airbag anti-theft locks
First aid and safety kits
Full vehicle covers
Locking gas cap
Remote start
Vehicle security systems
For maximum vehicle performance, keep the following information in
mind when adding accessories or equipment to your vehicle:
•When adding accessories, equipment, passengers and luggage to your
vehicle, do not exceed the total weight capacity of the vehicle or of
the front or rear axle (GVWR or GAWR as indicated on the Safety
Compliance Certification label). Consult your dealer for specific weight
information.
•The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Canadian Radio
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulate the use of mobile
communications systems — such as two-way radios, telephones and
theft alarms - that are equipped with radio transmitters. Any such
equipment installed in your vehicle should comply with FCC or CRTC
regulations and should be installed only by a qualified service
technician.
•Mobile communications systems may harm the operation of your
vehicle, particularly if they are not properly designed for automotive
use.
2004 Windstar(win)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Accessories
273

Roadside assistance ..................184
Roof rack .....................................85
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........137
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................125, 128–130
Safety Canopy ...........................146
Safety defects, reporting ..........218
Safety restraints ........125, 128–130
belt minder .............................132
extension assembly ................136
for adults .........................129–130
for children .....................149–150
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................126
safety belt maintenance .........137
warning light and
chime ...............................131–132
Safety seats for children ..........152
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) .............125
Seats ..........................................102
child safety seats ....................152
front seats ...............102, 104–105
memory seat .....................95, 105
second row seats ....107–108, 111
third row
seats .................111, 118, 122–123
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ..........................................99
Servicing your vehicle ..............225
Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...194–195
Spark plugs,
specifications .............263, 266–267Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................265–266
Speed control ..............................66
Starting your vehicle ........163–165
jump starting ..........................203
Steering wheel
controls ......................................69
tilting .........................................53
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................53
Tires ...................................250–251
changing ..........194–195, 198, 203
snow tires and chains ............262
tire grades ...............................251
treadwear ................................250
Towing .......................................179
recreational towing .................183
trailer towing ..........................179
wrecker ....................................209
Transaxle
automatic operation ...............171
fluid, refill capacities ..............264
lubricant specifications ..........266
Transmission
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....171
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................248
lubricant specifications ..........265
Turn signal ..................................46
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................267
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................269
Vehicle loading ..........................176
Ventilating your vehicle ...........166
2004 Windstar(win)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
278