UPDATE: My father bought this van from Chris 2 years ago. Today, I'm daily driving her right now. Still runs great. Minor issues with either vapor locking occasionally or that cam sensor acts up. But she's still golden!
Dude, that's so awesome to hear about the Aerostar. Would you believe I still get emails from folks wanting to buy it! I also just got an email from a gentleman in Europe wanting to buy an Aerostar but wanted to know if the engine is robust or failure prone. I had nothing but good things to say about the van!
Cool, I'm having difficulty letting my 95 go. Been sitting, but took the wife to work the other day and it drove so smoothly, I took the for sale sign off it.
That's about what is worth. Lol. I use to work at a buy here pay here lot. Every one of these vans wouldn't make it 3mo. Transmissions where so bad in these
I’m gonna bet the shifting issue got fixed when you got the speedometer and odometer working. The trans appears to be computer controlled based on the overdrive button, and it uses the speed you’re going to make shift points. Unless you drove it after fixing the muffler and hadn’t fixed the odometer yet and it started shifting good.
r sprockets that’s assuming that transmission shifts by vacuum. It looks like an electronically controlled transmission based on the gearshift and shift indicator. If so, the computer uses the speedometer to tell what speed the vehicle is going in order to shift properly. Once he fixed the speedometer issue, I’m betting that’s what fixed the shift issue. If the transmission isn’t entirely electronic then you might just be right. It just appears to be an electronically controlled transmission.
Not every car needs to be a performance car. The Vulcan V6 is reliable and will run forever. Family had an '88 Aerostar growing up as a kid. It cost 14 grand brand new and lasted over 150,000 miles. It was handed down to me as my first car. It wasn't fast but it could do burn outs which was cool. Nobody really needs more 140hp anyway. I crashed it twice so the body work was a mess but it was still running great when it was given away free to an acquaintance. That was in 2001 don't know what happened to it after that.
@@samlung2724 No way. The rocker panels of that van are CLEAN as hell. And it's super roomy inside too! $800 around here would get you nothing newer than a 1990 compact that's got rust up to the door handles.
One of your best. Soooo respectful of a long-cancelled model. Your fixes taught much about Aerostar workings, and by reporting the positive feedback you helped to bolster reputation that many of us never knew Aerostar had.
You won’t believe how many 1990’s van dwellers and ordinary sedan dwellers there are on TH-cam. I really enjoy this video. There aren’t many like this other than bafoons messing with them in cash for clunkers. Or just dealership videos.
Camaro 1968 Yeah, that’s true. I want to own a 1990’s car one day. I dream of a 1998 Ford Taurus or a 94’ Plymouth Voyager with the wood panneling. I like the 90’s cars.
I miss my 1990 XLT. It had 359,000 miles before it got rear ended by a drunk driver doing 65. If you where not so far away id buy it from you in a heart beat.
Ford should have marketed these vans as the "Aero-Ranger," "AeroRanger" or the "Aeroranger" seeing as these hoopty things were more or less ford ranger drivetrains with a full sized minivan body on top of it. I am very impressed not to see the lower quarter panels having the typical rust from the ground up inside out especially on the drivers side.
@@hom2fu The goofy ass looking Chevrolet lumina apv minivan looked like it could be a space shuttle if you sat it on its tailgate. They had such a ridiculously deep dashboard that they wedged the engine underneath that it was a mechanical nightmare to work on.
In the late '80s and early '90s this was all a family needed for a van. Now it has to be a $50,000 van with all the bells and whistles. How could people have changed so much in such a short amount of time?
If I lived close enough to you, I wouldn't even haggle with you on the price. I would just pay the money, and run away fast, before you changed your mind and kept it for yourself.
Great job cleaning it up! $750.00? That'll be gone in no time. After seeing it cleaned, I'd do the sensor and put it up at $1100-$1500 and leave the grill alone. The gray looks fine. I wonder if you could glue in some fabric for a headliner. Good luck Chris.
I agree. With the sensor fixed and some maintenance like filters and fluid changes it could bring $1500 easily. Carpenters used to snap up old station wagons, but now they're buying minivans and SUVs.
So awesome! My dad was a car dealer and never bought new cars but for whatever reason bought a brand new Aerostar in 1989. It was grey and black and he put black Keystone wheels on it. I remember going to tee-ball games in it, we got in a minor accident in it, I jammed my finger in the door getting dropped off to school and the most memorable time, we took it to Durango CO from Los Angeles. My dad found a scenic route that after almost 2 hours we found the road had been washed out by some recent rains. A Jeep Cherokee romped right through and we had to turn around in the Aerostar. My dad sold it weeks after we got home and bought a Jeep and never did not have a 4x4 since! Keep the videos coming, we need them right now 😎
Ford stopped building the Aerostar because they realized they built a great van, and wasn't breaking down as often as they's hoped. It's still a great cheap soccer mom van for local running. Without cruise control, I doubt I'd take it for a cross country.
I grew up in a 91 XLT extended version.... they were based on a Ranger chassis and severely suffered from being too heavy for its brakes. It had the 4.0 which needed head gaskets twice , one when only 6 months from new. It also destroyed two transmissions. I remember having to do do the brakes about every four months in the front. Thay being said , there were alot of fond memories growing up in that big red bitch.
We had several of these in the late 80s early 90s they had trans issues starting about 70k miles. then starting buying Toyota’s and Honda’s. This one looks like it was used as a truck for that local school district. Good find man!! As for me few years later 2001 to 2003 drove a ‘96 delivering paint for a regional company. Sounds like they got the trans issues fixed eventually and still see these from time to time.
Brings back so many memories seeing this. 24 years ago, these babies were everywhere. My dad had this when my siblings and myself were kids. What I would do to be able to ride in this again. Take care of aero 🙏❤
I’m so glad it can live on. I miss seeing these things on the road. I have a similar van in my life that I love. I had a 1997 Honda Odyssey given to me. Needed a radiator, alternator, front struts, new carpet, tires. Found most of the stuff at the junk yard. I bought an old Honda Accord V6 with a bad engine just to get the good alloy wheels and tires, then junked it for what I paid for it. I thought it would be
I remember my 1995 XLT, green with the gold trim package. Mine had the digital dash and all the bells and whistles, including all wheel drive, auto lights and the 4.0 V6. I totally loved the camper style windows in the 2nd row. The only issue with mine was bad sliding door bearings and the contacts on the pillar. Used to chatter the relays on rough roads. Other then that, it was soo reliable and those captains chairs were the greatest! Do the crank sensor and put a headliner in there, it will show so much better or you can do a camper conversion on it and use it for years.
I enjoyed your videos about that van. I practically raised my kids in the two I'd owned. My '88 XL was my first and ONLY new car purchase. It transported us coast-to-coast numerous times and around the island of Oahu for three years. It had been so good to us that, while we were living in Havelock NC, I upgraded to a used '93 XLT extended version with all the power features and a 4.0 ltr. They were both great vehicles.
We have a 1994 Ford Aerostar XL van which we have owned since 1998. I still drive it while at our summer home. Our kids grew up traveling in it in the summers. I love that the rear seats pull out easily and I can haul various items in it. Since I have owned it, it sits for the school year and is only driven in the summers. In about 1999 we had some troubles with it stopping after stomping on the gas. After stopping at about five Ford dealerships and having different electrical components replaced, with the issue happening again, we took it to an alley mechanic at someone’s recommendation and he shortly diagnosed it at the fuel pump seizing. After the fuel pump replacement, it ran great for many years, until at someone’s recommendation I had the transmission filter and fluid replaced. Not long after, the transmission went out and we had to put about $2000 into the repair. That was about 12 years ago and the Aerostar keeps cruising. After the fuel pump issue, someone recommended putting SeaFoam in the gas tank. I regularly put a can in when I do the last fill up before parking the van for the school year. I also change the oil at that time. I disconnect the battery and nearly every summer after reconnecting the van starts right up after setting for ten months. During the COVID-19 pandemic it sat for 22 months without being operated and still started up fine. I love my little green Aerostar.
growing up my mother had one I remember going to the dealership to pick it up spent half the day there before we went home it was the top of the line it had the stereo plug in the back and you could change the radio stations all tinted windows had how many miles you could go before you ran of gas lots storage a hidden compartment in the way back I miss that van it was blue and blue Interior but the engine went out my mother got another engine then went for a few more years and then got rid of it
Like I’ve said I really do wish you would have kept this van they really are great vans I’ve owned 3 of them and each one I got over 200k miles on them before I sold them and I do regret it!
Dude trust me the poor person that needs her car will be more than willing to take on that date. At least in the meantime they get a car that can take them to work and to school that’s kind of a lame excuse not to give it to somebody
Just started my own project with a 95 Aerostar same model as yours. If you have issues with your trans shifting in and out of overdrive, replace your Throttle Position sensor! Also, if you have more idle issues look in the doghouse and replace the PCV valve and check vacuum lines. Mine had the same pulsating idle.
Seriously I feel this. My parents bought two Aerostars - a red version of the one you're driving then I believe a 90s version as well. We drove everywhere in that van - not just locally though visited distant relatives on the other side of the state - fun times. I've noticed that you rarely see these on the road - many were ran HARD with families while others were used for hauling also ran into the ground. I've always wanted to see if I could find a decent one and see if I could use it for playing shows. Seeing this one made me smile. Thank you for posting.
I bought a 1990 new..the dashboard was flat, and not swoopy like yours. It held pizza boxes perfectly! Drove that(special-ordered) for 17 YEARS.changed the clutch...ONCE..yes, standard transmission, swinging instead of hatchback rear doors, and NO side windows. I wound up putting 11 amplifiers, and 23 speakers into it. I wouldn't mind finding another!
I had a 97 with the same specs! Loved that thing! It was the short one. It was already black and I painted the hubcaps, bumpers, and grill. It looked nice, I miss that thing. Only thing wrong was the water pump on it kept going bad. It was so easy and fast to replace, I just kept putting in autozone water pumps. Keep them on the road guys!
Great video! Thanks for the follow up. Next find an 80s Chevy Cavalier station wagon. Loved mine. Only thing I ever needed was routine maintenance, stayed on the road for 24 years!
Really glad you are trying to find this van a good home. You don’t see these vans anymore so the longer that someone can keep this van on then road the happier many of us are
All 97's were XLT's.They were really concentrating on Windstar's back then so the Aerostat was a budget offering for Ford.I sold them new back then and we only moved about 10 of them that year.KBB trade is about $600 and retail is around $1500 so you are asking CHEAP money for it.Perfect little van for a handyman or painter to kick around with.Glad the fuse took care of most of the problems.Good Luck with the sale and stay well.
I drove one of these when I worked as a safety officer for a large hospital group. We used it for a transport van (psychiatric court runs, and etc.). We also used it as a back-up patrol vehicle when our marked patrol was having mechanical work done and we found it to be a real work horse. It had a lot of body roll (hey... it's a van!) and had GoodYear replace the shock with truck grade shocks/struts which turned it into a MUCH better performing vehicle. It also was surprisingly quick!! ;^)
Glad you're taking care of this old van. I used to have a neighbor who was an obese hoarder. He had a beige Aerostar and he packed it full of junk including above the roof. I remember hearing the door creek as he got in and out.
Greetings from Middletown! Just stumbled upon your video going down the TH-cam rabbit hole and really enjoyed it. Back in 1986, my parents bought the first year Aerostar XLT which included the full digital dash (one of the coolest things) and the "Trip Computer" located above the rear view mirror. The rear view mirror was actually motorized and would automatically move down when hit with high-beams from behind so the driver would not be blinded. Unfortunately, the car was plagued with typical mid-80's Ford reliability issues so the dashboard would fail to function (short) , radio display light failed (impossible to replace bulb), transmission shifting issues, engine trouble, headliner issues, etc... Eventually it started to become a bit of a money pit so my family moved on but this was still one of the coolest and most futuristic cars I was ever able to ride around in. Thanks for the nostalgic look back but I wish you could've seen the high-end one with the upgraded interior.
When I was 5 I rode in my friend's dad's aerostar before they moved away. It was literally identical to this, so I have fond memories of this exact van. I love these things, even if everyone else thinks they're ugly. I think they're cool
These vans were very underrated. Ive seen 300k miles on these as work vans back in the day. You cant argue wirh that many miles. They werent that good looking, but durable as hell.
New video is awesome. I've always loved these Aerostars. My mom had an Eddie Bauer edition as a kid. It was great. If you were anywhere near me I'd buy that and drive it for years to come.
Mr. Chris congrats on the progress so far on the Aerostar. Your channel is rich, technical and empowering. Do you know you can become a good car dealer? I have learnt a lot from you, thanks pal.
Very nice, surprisingly the Aerostar van came up wonderful with your amazing work with cleaning the interior, and it really looks so good inside and outside too, that van really deserves a second life, i like it a lot because it´s simplicity and style. Excelente video thank you ;-)
...I thought the Odyssey would be good for trash and junk yard runs but I find myself driving it all of the time. Love the thing. Some old cars deserve a second chance. Great video!
Had a few of these in the family years ago...my father had a 91 extended awd that he finally junked with 996,442 miles on it due to the trans finally going out(and Minnesota rust) and I had a 91 Eddie extended awd for years before the rust got too bad to be worth the cost of repairs. The awd version of this was better in snow than any 4x4 truck I have ever owned. I actually miss that van a lot lol. Almost fixed my dad's just to get it to 1 million miles, but rust ruins everything.
That will definitely make someone a decent work van that’ll last another 75-100k if taken care of properly! A lot of folks would love to have a cheap vehicle like this that is reliable and gets from point A to B with no major issues.
Love the uploads! Funny seeing one of these my grandparents had one before i was born i always thought these were weird but actually kinda cool for a minivan
@@antoniojmonetti in my opinion, the Aerostar wagon was the best compromise between a work van and a passenger van. The Dodge Caravan, along with its Chrysler and Plymouth siblings, was the most comfortable for passengers but at least in the first generation the seats were the heaviest and most awkward to take out and put back. The Chevy/GMC Astros had the lightest, easiest seats to take out but they were just a couple steps above sitting on an upside down milk crate for comfort. Aerostars did everything okay. I had an ‘85 wagon with the 2.8L V6, followed by a ‘94 extended length cargo van with the 3.0L V6. Both had 5 speed manuals and the 3.73 rear end. The ‘85 felt much peppier than the ‘94. I guess the extra 14” in length added more weight than the extra 10 hp could handle.
Now looking at this video for the first time n you telling the quirks with this van and it’s a pretty cool van to say the least the one thing that probably cause the bad motor running issues was probably the oxygen sensor not registering in the exhaust but once again these are amazing
My grandma on my mom's side had one of these. Hers was one of the earlier models, it was red, had 3rd row seats and a digital dashboard. It was one of those rare Eddie Bauer models.
I HAVE A 1993 AEROSTAR FOR 8 YRS MILES 2,752,692 AND STILL GOING WE KEEP GOOD MAINTAIN ON IT MY SON AND I LIKE THIS VANS VERY MUCH THAT THIS IS MY THIRD ONE
Great old van wish I lived near you it would go to a good home but I'm sure someone has already made the call.Thanks for saving another great American pastime van that these next generation could wonder on when they see her rolling down the road🚙
A little nostalgic for me, when my daughter was a baby we had a 1988 Aerostar, the "upscale" Eddie Bauer edition. Not really upscale also not very reliable and horrible on gas! But very comfortable 😌
I would still happily drive my 1988 Aerostar today - minus the rust that eventually killed it off. It was my very first minivan (important when you're a musician hauling equipment), and really quite a good, solid vehicle. I may not love it as much as the various Chevy Astros I've owned, but it's still something I'd drive again without complaint.
Check the vacuum line from the engine to the transmission. There is a little $15 diaphragm that tends to burst and your engine will drink your trans fluid like it is a straw. Turn it into a micro camper.
I grew up with an 86 panel van and a 94 passenger van after we got ride of our 85 Volvo. This is nestalgeic to me. O would definitely buy one like this just to have.
Sweet video. I heard the last run of a vehicle is often split between completely loaded and completely stripped down. The company just wants to get rid of them and move on! That's what I encountered with my '14 Avenger, which is bare-bones.
Dude that headliner is a cheap relatively easy fix. Your local fabric store should have the material and a can of 3M contact cement from any hardware store..
UPDATE: My father bought this van from Chris 2 years ago. Today, I'm daily driving her right now. Still runs great. Minor issues with either vapor locking occasionally or that cam sensor acts up. But she's still golden!
Dude, that's so awesome to hear about the Aerostar. Would you believe I still get emails from folks wanting to buy it! I also just got an email from a gentleman in Europe wanting to buy an Aerostar but wanted to know if the engine is robust or failure prone. I had nothing but good things to say about the van!
Cool, I'm having difficulty letting my 95 go. Been sitting, but took the wife to work the other day and it drove so smoothly, I took the for sale sign off it.
Amazing
Please keep it or find a home for it. We are loosing too many of these 80s and 90s vehicles.
Glad its still chugging along! I love Aerostars so much!
KEEP IT.
IT WILL HOLD A LOT OF TOILET PAPER
LMAO
That's about what is worth. Lol. I use to work at a buy here pay here lot. Every one of these vans wouldn't make it 3mo. Transmissions where so bad in these
Amazing the way things change over a year LOL
I’m gonna bet the shifting issue got fixed when you got the speedometer and odometer working. The trans appears to be computer controlled based on the overdrive button, and it uses the speed you’re going to make shift points. Unless you drove it after fixing the muffler and hadn’t fixed the odometer yet and it started shifting good.
Back pressure on the exhaust made the PC do a better fuel job and better vacuum
r sprockets that’s assuming that transmission shifts by vacuum. It looks like an electronically controlled transmission based on the gearshift and shift indicator. If so, the computer uses the speedometer to tell what speed the vehicle is going in order to shift properly. Once he fixed the speedometer issue, I’m betting that’s what fixed the shift issue. If the transmission isn’t entirely electronic then you might just be right. It just appears to be an electronically controlled transmission.
Everything PC. Controlled and if low vac or air leaks read by computer
screws up readings and errors creep in, gimme old fashioned modulators any day!
Austin Epperson To my experience I don’t seem to notice a difference between automatic transmissions shifting electronically and mechanically
Swagmaster 64 maybe so but factors that affect shifts are obviously different given the way they’re designed.
Ford missed an opportunity by not putting SHO engine in the aerostar.
The SHO 3.4 V8 in one those would be sick
SHO for the win
Lord noooooo... lol a sho engine In a ant eater lol
Not every car needs to be a performance car. The Vulcan V6 is reliable and will run forever. Family had an '88 Aerostar growing up as a kid. It cost 14 grand brand new and lasted over 150,000 miles. It was handed down to me as my first car. It wasn't fast but it could do burn outs which was cool. Nobody really needs more 140hp anyway. I crashed it twice so the body work was a mess but it was still running great when it was given away free to an acquaintance. That was in 2001 don't know what happened to it after that.
@@Novusod 340 hp ... 140 hp means the only thing you gonna be out running is fully loaded semi's and busies... And some of them have good pick up 🤣🤣
Fix that check engine light for the 70 bucks and list it for 2200 👍
Exactly! That's a 2 grand van here in Chicago.
replace the headliner as well
2k? That's to much tbh lol. $800 at most lol
@@samlung2724 No way. The rocker panels of that van are CLEAN as hell. And it's super roomy inside too! $800 around here would get you nothing newer than a 1990 compact that's got rust up to the door handles.
In Houston it’ll sale for.. $1500 MAX
Those 3.0L V-6's were a great engine.
One of your best. Soooo respectful of a long-cancelled model. Your fixes taught much about Aerostar workings, and by reporting the positive feedback you helped to bolster reputation that many of us never knew Aerostar had.
I bought a 93 Aerostar for $200 from a neighbor it’s a one owner has a few problems but not many I love it.
You won’t believe how many 1990’s van dwellers and ordinary sedan dwellers there are on TH-cam. I really enjoy this video. There aren’t many like this other than bafoons messing with them in cash for clunkers.
Or just dealership videos.
Camaro 1968
No. They are fine. I actually like seeing those videos if it’s a van I like.
Camaro 1968
You have a point. I don’t think I have ever seen a person living in their van for a while.
Camaro 1968
Wait a minute did I use the wrong terminology?
By “van dweller” I mean people that like these old 1990’s minivans. Not living in them.
Camaro 1968
Yeah lol.
Camaro 1968
Yeah, that’s true. I want to own a 1990’s car one day. I dream of a 1998 Ford Taurus or a 94’ Plymouth Voyager with the wood panneling. I like the 90’s cars.
I remember when they first came out just about everyone thought they were ugly.
Now people telling you it's awesome.😂 How times change.
I miss my 1990 XLT. It had 359,000 miles before it got rear ended by a drunk driver doing 65. If you where not so far away id buy it from you in a heart beat.
Same thought here. The little "issues" are no big deal
Mine got broadsided by a girl running red.
Glad to see one of these old vans fixed up and driving again.
Ford should have marketed these vans as the "Aero-Ranger," "AeroRanger" or the "Aeroranger" seeing as these hoopty things were more or less ford ranger drivetrains with a full sized minivan body on top of it.
I am very impressed not to see the lower quarter panels having the typical rust from the ground up inside out especially on the drivers side.
Piper Aerostar - people thinking buying a private jet. Marketing techniques
@@hom2fu The goofy ass looking Chevrolet lumina apv minivan looked like it could be a space shuttle if you sat it on its tailgate.
They had such a ridiculously deep dashboard that they wedged the engine underneath that it was a mechanical nightmare to work on.
@@hom2fu i have 2 of these Babies.. Both over 599K miles
@@horseplop9 Holy shit, Al Bundy! Lol
@@davidg1612 5 touchdowns in 1 Game at Polk high.. and Im a Ladies shoe salesman
Thank you for fixing it up! I have no doubt that the van has tons of life left in it!
In the late '80s and early '90s this was all a family needed for a van. Now it has to be a $50,000 van with all the bells and whistles. How could people have changed so much in such a short amount of time?
Such a great comment and so true too. Well said! -Chris
If I lived close enough to you, I wouldn't even haggle with you on the price. I would just pay the money, and run away fast, before you changed your mind and kept it for yourself.
Richard Bullock I live like two hours from him and I definitely would just buy it from him for nostalgia stake
That was the last good van Ford put out. Aerostars run great, and look great. They're pretty cool looking. Hope it gets a good home.
This is such a beautiful car. They should have never stopped building these.
Great job cleaning it up! $750.00? That'll be gone in no time. After seeing it cleaned, I'd do the sensor and put it up at $1100-$1500 and leave the grill alone. The gray looks fine. I wonder if you could glue in some fabric for a headliner. Good luck Chris.
I agree. With the sensor fixed and some maintenance like filters and fluid changes it could bring $1500 easily. Carpenters used to snap up old station wagons, but now they're buying minivans and SUVs.
@@AcmeRacing not just carpenters, people are buying to use as homemade camp vans
My parents bought one new in 92 or 93. Extended length, 3 rows, 4 liters, separate rear A/C and the digital dash. That was a great vehicle.
So awesome! My dad was a car dealer and never bought new cars but for whatever reason bought a brand new Aerostar in 1989. It was grey and black and he put black Keystone wheels on it. I remember going to tee-ball games in it, we got in a minor accident in it, I jammed my finger in the door getting dropped off to school and the most memorable time, we took it to Durango CO from Los Angeles. My dad found a scenic route that after almost 2 hours we found the road had been washed out by some recent rains. A Jeep Cherokee romped right through and we had to turn around in the Aerostar. My dad sold it weeks after we got home and bought a Jeep and never did not have a 4x4 since! Keep the videos coming, we need them right now 😎
You should fix that check engine light and then sell it someone would love to have it👍
I was smiling during the whole video! these are great little vans. I bought one for my AC business. thanks for sharing!
It is SO good to see a Delaware resident doing this. Gives me hope about finding an auction gem of my own.
Ford stopped building the Aerostar because they realized they built a great van, and wasn't breaking down as often as they's hoped. It's still a great cheap soccer mom van for local running. Without cruise control, I doubt I'd take it for a cross country.
One thing you can do with the headliner is get. A fabric from Walmart craft section and spray glue and fix it on the cheap.
I grew up in a 91 XLT extended version.... they were based on a Ranger chassis and severely suffered from being too heavy for its brakes. It had the 4.0 which needed head gaskets twice , one when only 6 months from new. It also destroyed two transmissions. I remember having to do do the brakes about every four months in the front. Thay being said , there were alot of fond memories growing up in that big red bitch.
We had several of these in the late 80s early 90s they had trans issues starting about 70k miles. then starting buying Toyota’s and Honda’s. This one looks like it was used as a truck for that local school district. Good find man!! As for me few years later 2001 to 2003 drove a ‘96 delivering paint for a regional company. Sounds like they got the trans issues fixed eventually and still see these from time to time.
Brings back so many memories seeing this. 24 years ago, these babies were everywhere. My dad had this when my siblings and myself were kids. What I would do to be able to ride in this again. Take care of aero 🙏❤
Would make a great camper conversion. I worked out of one these back in the late 80's
I think they transported Edward Scissor-hands and Freddy Kruger in this thing
Milford Civic yeah
My parents had that same model when I was growing up. I loved sleeping in the back seat during our road trips.
I’m so glad it can live on. I miss seeing these things on the road. I have a similar van in my life that I love. I had a 1997 Honda Odyssey given to me. Needed a radiator, alternator, front struts, new carpet, tires. Found most of the stuff at the junk yard. I bought an old Honda Accord V6 with a bad engine just to get the good alloy wheels and tires, then junked it for what I paid for it. I thought it would be
I drove a 1986 Aerostar in 1990 for a flower delivery company, and really liked it. Thanks for posting. Best of luck with that headliner!
You should have the headliner re-skinned. It would make a world of difference on interior looks.
I remember my 1995 XLT, green with the gold trim package. Mine had the digital dash and all the bells and whistles, including all wheel drive, auto lights and the 4.0 V6. I totally loved the camper style windows in the 2nd row.
The only issue with mine was bad sliding door bearings and the contacts on the pillar. Used to chatter the relays on rough roads. Other then that, it was soo reliable and those captains chairs were the greatest! Do the crank sensor and put a headliner in there, it will show so much better or you can do a camper conversion on it and use it for years.
I enjoyed your videos about that van. I practically raised my kids in the two I'd owned. My '88 XL was my first and ONLY new car purchase. It transported us coast-to-coast numerous times and around the island of Oahu for three years. It had been so good to us that, while we were living in Havelock NC, I upgraded to a used '93 XLT extended version with all the power features and a 4.0 ltr.
They were both great vehicles.
We have a 1994 Ford Aerostar XL van which we have owned since 1998. I still drive it while at our summer home. Our kids grew up traveling in it in the summers. I love that the rear seats pull out easily and I can haul various items in it. Since I have owned it, it sits for the school year and is only driven in the summers. In about 1999 we had some troubles with it stopping after stomping on the gas. After stopping at about five Ford dealerships and having different electrical components replaced, with the issue happening again, we took it to an alley mechanic at someone’s recommendation and he shortly diagnosed it at the fuel pump seizing. After the fuel pump replacement, it ran great for many years, until at someone’s recommendation I had the transmission filter and fluid replaced. Not long after, the transmission went out and we had to put about $2000 into the repair. That was about 12 years ago and the Aerostar keeps cruising. After the fuel pump issue, someone recommended putting SeaFoam in the gas tank. I regularly put a can in when I do the last fill up before parking the van for the school year. I also change the oil at that time. I disconnect the battery and nearly every summer after reconnecting the van starts right up after setting for ten months. During the COVID-19 pandemic it sat for 22 months without being operated and still started up fine. I love my little green Aerostar.
growing up my mother had one I remember going to the dealership to pick it up spent half the day there before we went home it was the top of the line it had the stereo plug in the back and you could change the radio stations all tinted windows had how many miles you could go before you ran of gas lots storage a hidden compartment in the way back I miss that van it was blue and blue Interior but the engine went out my mother got another engine then went for a few more years and then got rid of it
Like I’ve said I really do wish you would have kept this van they really are great vans I’ve owned 3 of them and each one I got over 200k miles on them before I sold them and I do regret it!
It looks retro cool. I really like the way it looks
Dude trust me the poor person that needs her car will be more than willing to take on that date. At least in the meantime they get a car that can take them to work and to school that’s kind of a lame excuse not to give it to somebody
Its also not yours to make that decision with, dont pressure the guy for making good content
joel Busch True
Just started my own project with a 95 Aerostar same model as yours. If you have issues with your trans shifting in and out of overdrive, replace your Throttle Position sensor! Also, if you have more idle issues look in the doghouse and replace the PCV valve and check vacuum lines. Mine had the same pulsating idle.
Great youngtimer. Love these old vans look.
Seriously I feel this. My parents bought two Aerostars - a red version of the one you're driving then I believe a 90s version as well. We drove everywhere in that van - not just locally though visited distant relatives on the other side of the state - fun times. I've noticed that you rarely see these on the road - many were ran HARD with families while others were used for hauling also ran into the ground. I've always wanted to see if I could find a decent one and see if I could use it for playing shows. Seeing this one made me smile. Thank you for posting.
You should keep it! That would be a great van to build a cool camper with.
I bought a 1990 new..the dashboard was flat, and not swoopy like yours. It held pizza boxes perfectly! Drove that(special-ordered) for 17 YEARS.changed the clutch...ONCE..yes, standard transmission, swinging instead of hatchback rear doors, and NO side windows. I wound up putting 11 amplifiers, and 23 speakers into it. I wouldn't mind finding another!
I had a 97 with the same specs! Loved that thing! It was the short one. It was already black and I painted the hubcaps, bumpers, and grill. It looked nice, I miss that thing. Only thing wrong was the water pump on it kept going bad. It was so easy and fast to replace, I just kept putting in autozone water pumps. Keep them on the road guys!
Great video! Thanks for the follow up. Next find an 80s Chevy Cavalier station wagon. Loved mine. Only thing I ever needed was routine maintenance, stayed on the road for 24 years!
Really glad you are trying to find this van a good home. You don’t see these vans anymore so the longer that someone can keep this van on then road the happier many of us are
All 97's were XLT's.They were really concentrating on Windstar's back then so the Aerostat was a budget offering for Ford.I sold them new back then and we only moved about 10 of them that year.KBB trade is about $600 and retail is around $1500 so you are asking CHEAP money for it.Perfect little van for a handyman or painter to kick around with.Glad the fuse took care of most of the problems.Good Luck with the sale and stay well.
Great job
I had a 1995 extended xlt with a 4.0
Awesome vehicle
Drove it for 11 years
Sold it at 13 years of age
No issues
I bet your Aerostar with the 4.0L engine would scoot!
I drove one of these when I worked as a safety officer for a large hospital group. We used it for a transport van (psychiatric court runs, and etc.). We also used it as a back-up patrol vehicle when our marked patrol was having mechanical work done and we found it to be a real work horse. It had a lot of body roll (hey... it's a van!) and had GoodYear replace the shock with truck grade shocks/struts which turned it into a MUCH better performing vehicle. It also was surprisingly quick!! ;^)
Great video! Just subbed. My parents had one of these when I was young. Me and my brother loved how much room it had, we each had our on bench seat!
Glad you're taking care of this old van. I used to have a neighbor who was an obese hoarder. He had a beige Aerostar and he packed it full of junk including above the roof. I remember hearing the door creek as he got in and out.
now that is totally awesome video about 1997 ford van .. can't wait to see more totally awesome videos
Great find on this one, glad you’re gonna find it a home and not scrap it. These were much better vans than the Windstar that followed it.
I drove a $700, 97 Aerostar from 2011 through 2013. I loved that van.
Built on the Ranger platform. Bought a ‘93 new. Ran it 17 years. Zero big problems. Wish I had bought five.
Thank you for not putting it on the scales it really does deserve to roll longer
Greetings from Middletown! Just stumbled upon your video going down the TH-cam rabbit hole and really enjoyed it. Back in 1986, my parents bought the first year Aerostar XLT which included the full digital dash (one of the coolest things) and the "Trip Computer" located above the rear view mirror. The rear view mirror was actually motorized and would automatically move down when hit with high-beams from behind so the driver would not be blinded.
Unfortunately, the car was plagued with typical mid-80's Ford reliability issues so the dashboard would fail to function (short) , radio display light failed (impossible to replace bulb), transmission shifting issues, engine trouble, headliner issues, etc... Eventually it started to become a bit of a money pit so my family moved on but this was still one of the coolest and most futuristic cars I was ever able to ride around in. Thanks for the nostalgic look back but I wish you could've seen the high-end one with the upgraded interior.
When I was 5 I rode in my friend's dad's aerostar before they moved away. It was literally identical to this, so I have fond memories of this exact van. I love these things, even if everyone else thinks they're ugly. I think they're cool
Your a genius, it's worth saving, in some states, such Texas, the check engine light is not an issue. It's useful versatile vehicle.
These vans were very underrated. Ive seen 300k miles on these as work vans back in the day. You cant argue wirh that many miles. They werent that good looking, but durable as hell.
New video is awesome. I've always loved these Aerostars. My mom had an Eddie Bauer edition as a kid. It was great. If you were anywhere near me I'd buy that and drive it for years to come.
Mr. Chris congrats on the progress so far on the Aerostar. Your channel is rich, technical and empowering. Do you know you can become a good car dealer? I have learnt a lot from you, thanks pal.
Hey man, thanks so much for the kind words and for sharing that in your comments. I'm very appreciative and humbled too. Thank you! -Chris
Very nice, surprisingly the Aerostar van came up wonderful with your amazing work with cleaning the interior, and it really looks so good inside and outside too, that van really deserves a second life, i like it a lot because it´s simplicity and style. Excelente video thank you ;-)
My parents had a 94 Aerostar when I was growing up. I have looked into getting a AWD one for a camper conversion. Great video!
I wish I lived closer to you, I'd buy it right now. Would LOVE to finish fixing her up and turning her into a camper Van !
...I thought the Odyssey would be good for trash and junk yard runs but I find myself driving it all of the time. Love the thing. Some old cars deserve a second chance. Great video!
I had one of those van when I was in college back in 1994. It was short wheel base with AWD. It had digital dash. It was fun driving it.
Yeah I gotta finish fixing her up but I use my 91 aerostar as a work van. But she my baby. Can't wait to finish up everything she needs done.
Had a few of these in the family years ago...my father had a 91 extended awd that he finally junked with 996,442 miles on it due to the trans finally going out(and Minnesota rust) and I had a 91 Eddie extended awd for years before the rust got too bad to be worth the cost of repairs. The awd version of this was better in snow than any 4x4 truck I have ever owned. I actually miss that van a lot lol. Almost fixed my dad's just to get it to 1 million miles, but rust ruins everything.
That will definitely make someone a decent work van that’ll last another 75-100k if taken care of properly! A lot of folks would love to have a cheap vehicle like this that is reliable and gets from point A to B with no major issues.
Love the uploads! Funny seeing one of these my grandparents had one before i was born i always thought these were weird but actually kinda cool for a minivan
Antonio true! Its pretty unique in that aspect
@@antoniojmonetti in my opinion, the Aerostar wagon was the best compromise between a work van and a passenger van. The Dodge Caravan, along with its Chrysler and Plymouth siblings, was the most comfortable for passengers but at least in the first generation the seats were the heaviest and most awkward to take out and put back. The Chevy/GMC Astros had the lightest, easiest seats to take out but they were just a couple steps above sitting on an upside down milk crate for comfort. Aerostars did everything okay. I had an ‘85 wagon with the 2.8L V6, followed by a ‘94 extended length cargo van with the 3.0L V6. Both had 5 speed manuals and the 3.73 rear end. The ‘85 felt much peppier than the ‘94. I guess the extra 14” in length added more weight than the extra 10 hp could handle.
The cam position sensor costs tons more for labor than the part....as always...but better than a bad engine. It's a cool van!
The Aerostar was a great vehicle and I really liked it. The dual air worked amazingly well.
Now looking at this video for the first time n you telling the quirks with this van and it’s a pretty cool van to say the least the one thing that probably cause the bad motor running issues was probably the oxygen sensor not registering in the exhaust but once again these are amazing
My grandma on my mom's side had one of these. Hers was one of the earlier models, it was red, had 3rd row seats and a digital dashboard. It was one of those rare Eddie Bauer models.
Always enjoy your videos and commentary. Thanks
Even at 500 $ you got lucky congrats great video as always
I need that van in my life
I HAVE A 1993 AEROSTAR FOR 8 YRS MILES 2,752,692 AND STILL GOING WE KEEP GOOD MAINTAIN ON IT MY SON AND I LIKE THIS VANS VERY MUCH THAT THIS IS MY THIRD ONE
By doing the exhaust you get back pressure so helps with the idle speed.
It’s basically a ranger pickup with a van body
Great old van wish I lived near you it would go to a good home but I'm sure someone has already made the call.Thanks for saving another great American pastime van that these next generation could wonder on when they see her rolling down the road🚙
A little nostalgic for me, when my daughter was a baby we had a 1988 Aerostar, the "upscale" Eddie Bauer edition. Not really upscale also not very reliable and horrible on gas! But very comfortable 😌
Headliners and new paint and you’re styling! 👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸
I had three of them and had very few problems with them great little mini van .
I would still happily drive my 1988 Aerostar today - minus the rust that eventually killed it off. It was my very first minivan (important when you're a musician hauling equipment), and really quite a good, solid vehicle. I may not love it as much as the various Chevy Astros I've owned, but it's still something I'd drive again without complaint.
Awesome ride. Good call taking the $275 gamble. If it had cruise I'd be there in a heartbeat to buy it from you. That thing will sell quickly.
I used to think these were awful as a kid. As an adult, I appreciate the aerostar. Kinda like broccoli. It's a pretty awesome van.
Hahaha, yeah, you're soo right about Aerostars being like broccoli. An acquired taste.
Check the vacuum line from the engine to the transmission. There is a little $15 diaphragm that tends to burst and your engine will drink your trans fluid like it is a straw.
Turn it into a micro camper.
I grew up with an 86 panel van and a 94 passenger van after we got ride of our 85 Volvo. This is nestalgeic to me. O would definitely buy one like this just to have.
Hilarious as usual. Thank you. I hope you and your family are healthy and safe.
Sweet video. I heard the last run of a vehicle is often split between completely loaded and completely stripped down. The company just wants to get rid of them and move on! That's what I encountered with my '14 Avenger, which is bare-bones.
The great find interior turned out really nice
Love the van and the video. Someone is getting a great little ride.
Dude that headliner is a cheap relatively easy fix. Your local fabric store should have the material and a can of 3M contact cement from any hardware store..
Haha turned out to be a pretty good deal it looks like. Seems to have lots of life in it. Definitely deserves a 2nd chance !