Missfire

2002 FORD EXPLORER
191,000 MILES • 4.0L • 6 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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MATTHEW CALLAWAY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
When I am idling my check engine light blinks and stops when going I have checked the codes and it is telling me I have random misfire and misfire on cylinders 1, 2, and 3 I have changed the plugs wires and coil and I have gutted the catalytic converter still same problem it idles really rough and at low RPMs it is a little jumpy if i could get any advice on what the problem is it would be greatly appreciated the process of elimination is getting really expensive expensive trying to find out what is wrong.
Mar 21, 2017 at 11:13 AM
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CARADIODOC
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 34,381 POSTS
You are not going to be able to do much until you replace the catalytic converter. They are monitored for proper operation, and a diagnostic fault code is going to be set, and the Check Engine light will be turned on. That will cause a lot of other self-tests to be suspended. Without the results of those tests, there is almost no chance of knowing which circuit or system needs further diagnosis.

The flashing Check Engine light indicates the most serious of problems. Too much un-burnt fuel is going into the exhaust system where it will burn in the catalytic converters and overheat them. That is typically the result of spark-related misfires. A good place to start is by switching the ignition coils between cylinders that have a misfire code, and some that do not. Erase the fault codes, then see if misfire codes set for cylinder you moved the suspect coils to. You can do that with injectors too.

If you have a metal tube going to each cylinder, for the EGR system, those can cause misfire codes too. The tubes become plugged with carbon. The last one or two cylinders with clear tubes get all the EGR flow and have the misfires. The cylinders with plugged tubes get only fresh air, so they fire just fine.
Dec 21, 2020 at 3:19 AM
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MATTHEW CALLAWAY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
You said to switch ignition coils between cylinders that have misfire codes and some that do not how do I go about doing that
Dec 21, 2020 at 3:19 AM
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CARADIODOC
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 34,381 POSTS
Gee, I don't know what's so hard to figure out. Just because I had the wrong ignition system in mind and told you the wrong thing, . . . but I'd never admit that!

What I should have suggested was to replace the spark plugs and wires first, as you already did, then, in the absence of further test results, a less-expensive route is to substitute a new ignition coil pack. These cause enough trouble that it won't hurt to put the new one on a shelf for the future if it turns out you don't need it now.

You're going to have the Check Engine light on and the fault code will be "catalytic converter efficiency" for "bank 1" or bank 2", but the misfire codes will no longer set if the coil pack solves the problem. The engine should run okay with the missing converter. Don't forget to erase the fault codes, otherwise you'll be confused by the old misfire codes that remained in memory.
Dec 21, 2020 at 3:19 AM
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