Windstar wants to stall for the 1st four miles.?

2000 Ford Windstar starts and now stalls unless you step on the gas. it'll also stall at stop signs and red lights unless you shift into neutral and step on the gas. After driving three four miles the problem disappears. The car will run good for the next five ten trips before the problem re occurs. The check engine light doesn't come on.

Other background information:
One owner car with 80,000 miles.
No history of problems.
The car is stored in an indoor parking garage six months yearly. Been driving since April and problem just started last week.

Any suggestions?

typically a MAF will be worse warm than it'll be cold..

A idle speed issue may be the because of this, and a cleaning of the throttle body with a IAC valve substitute is a common fix. typically but IAC problems will be lasting and not intermittant like this.

Best to bring it to a shop and get a real idea on what it's. I seen some have a issue with air leaking past some o rings in the intake that can because issues like this and clear up once the car gets warm the warmth expands the gaskets

Usually it'll set the MIL light on for this but not generally, there's a TSB for this, but best bet I think is someone expert in driveability on this.

Sounds like the IAC idle air control . it's a small, computer controlled servo motor with a pintle on the end which regulates the amount of air entering the engine at idle. These typically gum up and lock in the warm idle position, causing grief when the engine is cold and needs more air. Pick up an aerosol can of throttle body cleaner. Remove the air snorkel between the filter box and throttle body. With the engine running, spray the cleaner into the throat and particularly into the dime sized hole at the bottom of the casing, just in front of the throttle plate. With your other hand, operate the throttle to keep the engine from stalling. This is best done with the engine hot.

Try cleaning MAF sensor.. Fords run like crap when the small wire on the sensor gets dirty. Its located in the air intake tube before the air filter. It has an electrical plug on it and it's screwed to the tube with two special head screws. Remove the sensor and spray the sensor wire clean with brake cleaner. Reinstall sensor, Re connect battery which you may want to disconnected in step 1. Let idle for a minute or two, then test drive it.. attempt this 1st...

I agree with gearbox1 on this 100%. I could only like to add that this TSB article applies exactly to 1999 2000 model year Windstars equipped with the 3.8L V6s. The particular procedure involves replacing the lower half of the upper intake with the updated part part number CM 5053, the left or bank #2 valve cover with the updated PCV vent hole place, part number 4U7Z 6582 A, and the fuel pressure regulator vacuum hose which has more than probably swelled up causing a vacuum leak, part number XF2Z 9E498 DD . Once all these parts are replaced, the PCM is to be reprogrammed. Once all this is done, there should not be any more issues with vacuum leaks or lean codes. Go to any Ford dealer for more info. Hope this helps.

Replace the IAC Idle Air Control valve. it's sticking closed.

Mine does this too. how much could the repairs cost for the things gear box suggested?