#2000 windstar

Our van is on its last leg. We have managed to baby it for over 2 years, but there is just more wrong with it. Instead of throwing good money after bad, we are looking for a reliable and safe vehicle. The year doesn't matter as long as it is safe. and has power steering.

Honestly, every time my daughter is driving it, I have massive anxiety. It has broken down on her twice and had a tire blow out twice.

@helly-watermelonsmellinfellon

We are trying to raise the money needed to get our Ford Windstar fixed. Dave has someone who has offered to help fix it. We just need to buy the parts. That's way cheaper than putting it in a shop.

The van no longer goes into Park. It has to be put into neutral on flat ground in order to "park" it. It has to be started in neutral as well. It will roll if it's on a slight incline.

The power steering pump is about to go. It's freaking loud. Making turns is beyond difficult.

The van also needs to have a motor mount repaired, shocks and struts, brakes all around, and the steering column needs to be fixed as well. There is a long list of things that need to be repaired.

The van is the only transportation. It also doubles as our home. Without it, we would be in even bigger trouble which is hard to understand since we are in deep trouble as it is.

@helly-watermelonsmellinfellon @mister-tom-a-dildo-lover

The van is still not fixed. Dave has no idea where the part is again. This is a new part that was ordered since the original one went missing. Since the van is a 2000 Windstar, it is 23 yrs old. The parts have to be specially ordered. We've checked all the you-pull-it junk yards in 3 states, and none of them have a rack and pinion for a 2000 Windstar. I'm the one that looked since Dave is technologically crippled.

In the meantime, we are trying to save up the money for the other parts the van needs like the brakes, shocks/struts, motor mount, tires, etc. The list is long.

We are also trying to get money for food since our EBT benefits do not last two weeks much less a month. We are working with a small microwave, a rice cooker, a 3 qt air fryer, and a mini fridge. Convenience foods are expensive.

Housing is still a waiting situation. I've had no luck finding an apartment for rent that we can afford. There are very few private landlords around here. Most of them use a realtor who seems to think that charging $1500/mo for a 2 bedroom where the tenant pays for all utilities including water/sewer and garbage is normal. So we are just waiting for an apartment in Public Housing to open up. We have been on the waiting list for 26 months now.

@helly-watermelonsmellinfellon