1997 Ford Aerostar

NOTE: I WISH I HAD FOUND THIS SITE YEARS AGO. I COULD NOT GET PAST FORDS "BRICK WALL" TO SPEAK TO AN ENGINEER! 1. 1997 AEROSTAR - ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED DOWN QUICKLY TO PASS (2 LANE HIGHWAY). 2. NOW IN THE LEFT LANE, NOT FAR AHEAD OF PASSED THE CAR - I EXPERRIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER - HARD RIGHT OVER TO SOFT SHOULDER - AVOIDED AN ONCOMING HEAD ON COLLISION - L JUST MISSED THE CAR BEING PASSED BY INCHES AND STOPPED. THE CRIMPED END OF CABLE TO THE CARBURATOR HAD RELEASED FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. 3. I CLAMPED THE CABLE BACK ONTO THE PEDAL WITH VICE GRIPS. (DROVE TO DEALER). FORD REPLACED THE CABLE. THAT PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. (I DO NOT PRESS DOWN HARD EITHER!) *TR

MY 1997 FORD AERO STAR VAN PRODUCED A PUFF OF SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE IGNITION SWITCH. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHOM CHECKED THE RECALL NOTICES AND FOUND ONE RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD SHORT CIRCUIT AND OVERHEATING IN THE STEERING COLUMN ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF IT SUBSIDES. SINCE THIS OCCURRENCE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS NOT WORKED AND BLEW ALL FUSES, THE FUEL PUMP DOES NOT TURN ON WITH THE KEY AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS IT ENGAGES SOME TIMES. THE FORD DEALER DID THE RECALL WORK BUT DID NOT FIX OR EXAMINE THE STEERING COLUMN OR THE COMPONENTS THAT BURNED OR OVER HEATED AS A RESULT OF THE OVERLOAD. [XXX] UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

FUEL PUMP USUALLY DOES NOT COME ON UNTIL REPEATEDLY TURNING IGNITION ON AND OFF, VEHICLE DIED TWICE WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL FUEL PUMP CAME ON, SMELLS LIKE VEHICLE OVERHEATING WHEN IT SHOULD NOT BE, SAME PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED IN FORD PRESS RELEASE REGARDING RECALL 99 S 02, TAKEN TO (DIFFERENT) DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, DENIES PROBLEM IS RECALL RELATED