Ford Freestar: Bad MAF Sensor → Symptoms & Causes

  The mass airflow sensor (commonly abbreviated to MAF) is one of the most important engine management sensors.  A bad mass airflow sensor can leave your Ford Freestar’s engine running rough, or even inoperable. A MAF sensor measures the density of the air entering the intake manifold.  It passes this information onto your Freestar’s ECU. … Read more

Ford Freestar: Bad Fuel Pump → Symptoms & Diagnosis

  One of the worst problems that can happen to a vehicle is a bad fuel pump.  If your Ford Freestar’s fuel pump goes bad, no fuel (or not enough fuel depending on whether or not it’s out all the way) can enter the engine.  Without gas your Freestar will not run at all.  With … Read more

Ford Freestar Bad Fuel Filter: Symptoms, Causes, Hot to Fix

A bad fuel filter is one of the worst problems that can happen to your Ford Freestar.  When the filter fails, it can limit the amount of fuel that enters the engine.   Without proper fuel pressure, your van will not run at all.  With that in mind, most of the symptoms of a bad fuel filter revolve … Read more

Ford Freestar: Won’t Start When Cold → Diagnosis

Extreme weather can be very difficult on your Ford Freestar.  If there is an issue it often make itself known when conditions are at their worst.  When it’s extremely hot. it’s the cooling system that is put to the test.  In the winter, the vehicle won’t start when it is cold.   There are a … Read more

Ford Freestar:  Bad Timing Belt or Chain Symptoms

A bad timing belt or timing chain can be a serious issue.  If it jumps a tooth or breaks entirely, it can lead to permanent engine damage.  Knowing the symptoms of a bad timing belt or chain is vital so this doesn’t happen to your Ford Freestar. Timing belts are made out of rubber and … Read more

Ford Freestar: Key Stuck in Ignition → Diagnosis

There are a few easy to fix reasons why your Ford Freestar’s key might get stuck in the ignition.  It’s often easy to unstick the key.  Whatever you do, don’t start trying to rip it out of the ignition.  That can cause bigger problems. This article is written with the assumption that your key is … Read more

Ford Freestar Steering Wheel Hard to Turn: Common Causes

If your Ford Freestar’s steering wheel is hard to turn, it’s almost always going to be caused by an issue with the power steering system.  But there can be other causes as well. Your van’s power steering system is responsible for taking energy from the engine, converting it to hydraulic pressure, and using that pressure … Read more

Ford Freestar:  Blue Smoke → Causes & Diagnosis

  A very common problem that affects all vehicles (including the Ford Freestar) is blue smoke coming from the exhaust.  Reasons for blue exhaust smoke include bad valve seals, valve train wear in general, the PCV valve, burning transmission fluid and more. Blue smoke indicates that your Freestar’s engine is burning oil.  The question is … Read more

Ford Freestar Whining Sound: Identification + How to Fix

If your Ford Freestar is experiencing a whining noise, determining where and when the noise is happening is coming from is key to diagnosing and tracking down the cause.   With that in mind, this page is divided by when you hear the whining noise and common causes under those conditions. Is the whining noise … Read more