Alright, I've searched high and low and think that I have to resort to asking the question myself.

I have some issues with my 2000 Ford Windstar.

I first noticed that the interior instrument cluster temperature reading was saying it was 119 to 122 degrees outside (which it obviously wan't because it's December and I live in VA not Death Valley, CA). I kind of ignored that because I thought it wasn't a vital issue and more a "luxury"

I then started noticing that the heat wasn't working. It would get hot and then go to warm and then cold. I took out the storage bin and got a look at the heat door actuator while the heater was blowing and could see that it was turning properly.

Then I checked fluids and was alarmed to see that my coolant reservoir was almost empty (in my defense this is my wife's car and she is the one that drives it primarily). I filled it up and it slowly went down to almost empty and I assumed that it was filling the radiator (WOOPS!).

Then I took apart the manifold to clean up EGR valves (It runs a little rough and I thought that would help it run a little more smooth). I got everything back together successfully and took it for a test drive.

I noticed after it had been running for about 10 minutes a loud squealing noise (now determined to be coolant on a belt), the heat wasn't working at all and when I got home I could smell coolant. I popped the hood and could see a stream of coolant coming from the pictured hose (oh crap) and realized the coolant was being almost completely dumped through the pinhole leak.

Now I don't know what to do. Could it just be the hose leaking that caused all these problems? I don't really feel like tackling this issue on my own because that hose seems like such a pain to get to. What does this job run on average at a service shop? Any suggestions or help would be GREATLY appreciated. Does the temp reading have anything to do with the coolant or is it an isolated issue?

Pictures can be seen here:

http://web.mac.com/kewishfamily/iWeb/Site/Windstar%20Issues.html

I had the exact same problem with my 01 Windstar last month. I was out of the province at the time, so my wife took care of it. What happened was loss of heat, for which I suspected a low coolant level or a broken thermostat. First she added coolant, which fixed it temporarily, then that coolant disappeared. So she took it o the garage, where they found a leak in the pipe going to the coolant pump. I don't know if it was a hose or a pipe, but they told her it was a pipe. Anyway, they told her they would have to replace the coolant pump because the pipe was rusted onto it. They replaced the upper and lower coolant tubes and the pump. Total cost was $497.88.

I was suspicious of these so called pipes. It was my understanding that the hoses going to the pump were rubber. In your picture it looks like rubbber. I thought all that was needed was to replace a couple of hoses, not a big or expensive job. If I was home at the time, I would have been able to do the job myself, or at least verify for myself what the garage was claiming. I'm always suspicious of garages, and this one is not the one I normally go to because my own mechanic I trust was off work at the time.

Hopefully, my info was able to help you, I don't know. To me, your van looks like all it needs is a new rubber coolant hose. I don't know if the Windstar changed to steel pipes rather than metal hoses for 2001 but I think I got ripped off and didn't need a new coolant pumpat all just a couple rubber hoses.

There are "pipes" or steel tubes, some have hoses attached, used in the coolant system on the Windstar. And they do fail. And, yes, one tube does fit into the coolant pump (o-ring fitting) and it can corrode in place ... especially if you drive in snow-salt country. I have bought all these pipe/hose assemblies and have them ready for their eventual failure on my '99. They are pricey.

Labor, pump, and one or more of these tube assemblies, replacement coolant ... you didn't get ripped too badly. And if you avoided destroying the engine ... money well spent!