Oh, I forgot to mention. I actually know the owner of the Ford Windstar and I was driving off and on from September until the end of October when I bought it. It worked fine except for the tires, and I bought new ones for it recently. Then this issue with the emissions came up.

Possible causes
- Intake air leaks
- Faulty front heated oxygen sensor
- Ignition misfiring
- Faulty fuel injectors
- Exhaust gas leaks
- Incorrect fuel pressure
- Lack of fuel
- Faulty Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor
- Incorrect Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) hose connection


Read more: http://engine-codes.com/p0174_2001_ford_windstar.html#ixzz3JXRAoBhY

You could check and clean the MAF sensor - its easy to do just google it
You could inspect the PVC hose and hose connection. Look for cracks or defects in the hose. Easy to fix easy to check
You could check the exhaust and look for leaks in a well ventilated area of course.
you could buy a new gas cap. Its cheap and if the cap is old it wont hurt to replace it.
you could check for misfiring once you get your obdII reader
You could check the air intake, sometimes it gets out of wack and/or the rings connecting the pieces slip

All in all this doesnt look like the end of the world. If you try the easy cheap stuff first and it still doesnt fix it I would pay for a diagnosis. Its that or start throwing expensive parts at the problem and that is rarely the least expensive route.

good luck.

The P0174 is a very common code for the 2001 Ford Windstar, the Intake Plenum Gasket ans seals needs to be replaced.. Here a link to a web site with information how to repair:
1999-2003 Fords Windstar Code P0174

Read more: http://engine-codes.com/p0174_2001_ford_windstar.html#ixzz3JXfuTrim

write up here http://leckemby.net/windstar/windstar01.html

*may need to be replaced...

I've had a really bad run of luck lately. My car, my finances, our company is being bought out, and I recently lost alot in a divorce, plus legal fees. The irony is that a few months ago I was doing pretty good. Not sure how I'm going to bounce back now.

Day at a time bro day at a time. In the grand scheme of things these are but bumps in the road

Keep on with xv4dM's suggestions. He knows whats up, Your getting there. Hope you get this thing resolved soon. Let us know how it goes.

Eddie, just wait until your Launch tool arrives.

Depending on when it arrives, you can clear the codes. But before you clear the codes, get the Freeze Frame data and write the info down before you clear the codes.

Then watch the Emission Readiness Monitors, once all but 2 are Passed/Clear, make sure you do not have an Pending codes and take the vehicle for inspection, it should pass.

Then focus on the repair.

What user Windstar Code P0174 posted may be the issue, might be something else.

What you need to post is the Freeze Frame data and also the warm idle Fuel Trims as this will give an idea as to how bad things are and what may be going on.

Let me guess you ordered your Launch tool standard delivery - post again in 2 weeks when you get it. In the mean time watch your inspection fail sticker expiration...

I have a 1999 Ford Windstart I just bought used

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

kindly inform the seller he knowningly sold a car with a hidden defect (if you were not dumb enough to buy it knowing, and your not a mechanic)

tell the seller you'll call the police it will be grand theft auto

a willing seller, a willing buyer

the USA law on commerce is the same as 2000 of euro legal history from Rome/Greece:

"The Good Faith Principle"

it's not principle it's law - even internationally (though some countries would rather fight than pay debt)