How to Change the Coil Pack on a 2001 Windstar

As automobiles entered the early-1990s, General Motors had its oddly-shaped minivans in the Trans Sport and Lumina APV, Toyota had its equally odd-looking Previa and the Chrysler Corporation had its big three minivans that started the craze. Ford, on the other hand, did not have a minivan in the traditional sense until the Windstars 1995 release. The 2001 Windstar used an electronic ignition system that featured an electronically controlled coil instead of a distributor. When this coil fails, you may experience a rough idle, stalling, lack of power or a variety of other running issues. Replacing the coil is straightforward, but you must remove the wiper arms and cowl to access it.

Instructions

1

Lift up each wiper blade and place a roughly 3-inch long piece of making tape on the windshield under the end of each blade. Trace the rubber part of the wiper blade onto the masking tape with a pen, creating a line so you can reinstall the wiper blade easier.

2

Pry upward on the plastic cover on the lower end of the wiper arm with a flat-head screwdriver to disengage its retaining tab. Pivot the cover upward to expose the wiper arm to wiper linkage shaft nut under it.

3

Remove the wiper arm to linkage shaft nut with a ratchet and socket, and pull the arm off the wiper linkage shaft.

4

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to remove the other wiper arm.

5

Unfasten the four cowl-retaining screws with a Phillips screwdriver. Pull upward on the cowl to release its retaining clips and lift it slightly until you can access the washer fluid hose on the underside. Pull the washer fluid hose from its receptacle. Remove the cowl from the Windstar.

6

Find the ignition coil on the drivers side of the engine, near the rear of the engine compartment. Press and hold the unlocking button on the ignition coil wiring harness, and pull the harness from the coil.

7

Label the six spark plug wires, marking from one to six, with white marking paint for reinstallation. Remove all six spark plug wires from the ignition coil by pulling them upward with a slight twisting motion.

8

Remove the three ignition coil retaining bolts with a ratchet and socket and pull the ignition coil off its bracket on the engine.

9

Set a new coil on its bracket on top of the engine and hand-thread its three retaining bolts. Torque the three coil retaining bolts to 5 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

10

Plug the spark plug wires into their respective receptacles on the ignition coil, using the white marking paint labels as a guide. Plug the ignition coil wiring harness into its receptacle.

11

Position the coil back in place just below the Windstars windshield and plug the washer fluid hose into the inlet on the cowl. Line up the clips on the underside of the cowl with the slots in the Windstars body and press the cowl downward to engage its clips. Tighten the four cowl-retaining screws with a Phillips screwdriver.

12

Set a wiper arm on the wiper linkage shaft loosely and pivot the wiper until the wiper blade aligns with the line on the masking tape stuck to the windshield. Press the wiper blade onto the linkage shaft and hand-tighten the wiper arm to wiper linkage shaft nut. Torque this nut to 18 foot-pounds, pivot the nut cover over the nut and press the cover downward to lock it in place. Lift the wiper and remove the tape from the windshield. Repeat this step to reinstall the other wiper arm.