Ford Repair: 2003 Ford Windstar engine, 2003 ford windstar, rev limiters

Question
Good morning!

I think this is a simple question, as I am pretty much just trying to verify the sales guy's answer.

My wife and I are looking at a 2003 Ford Windstar.  We really like it, but the only thing I noticed was that when I was in part or neutral and stepped on the gas, it would go up to about 3900-4000 rpm and then start revving up and down a bit, but never going over the 4K rpm.  The sales guy says this feature is a "rev limiter."  I noticed our '99 Chevy Venture did the same thing, but my Mitsubishi Endeavor doesn't.  

Was he telling the truth, or is something screwed up under the hood?

Thanks,
Dennis

Answer
Dennis-

  I honestly don't know where the set rev limiters on Windstars...but I don't doubt it's as low as 4K rpm.  Most people won't ever see 4K rpm in normal driving in a van so they probably feel safer setting it low. On the otherhand, a sports car like a Mustang is a bit higher at 6,250rpm but you'd expect that from a V8 car you can wring out.  But when you bounce a car off it's rev limiter it should feel lkind of like the motor's bouncing a little bit.  Like it wants to pull more but cuts out at a certain point.  My truck does this...except it's speed governed.  The engine cuts out at exactly 98mph and won't kick back in until you drop below that.  It's a pain but the stuff's there for a reason.  So a simple answer to your question would be that yes, it is most likely the rev limiter.  Hope this helps.

Steve