New spark plug not firing

Tiny
COXDAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2011 FORD F-150
  • 3.5L
  • V6
  • TURBO
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,274 MILES
My truck has lost all power. I found one of the spark plugs is not firing. I can’t figure out what would cause this or what needs fixing. I just changed the spark plugs maybe a week ago but this problem has happened before as well.
Friday, September 6th, 2019 AT 2:44 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I'm Danny.

Just a quick question first. Due to a cylinder not working correctly is the check engine light on? Also, have you checked to see if the spark plug coil on affected cylinder is working/defective? I've attached a picture below and circled in red what the coils looks like. It mounts directly on top of the spark plug. Get back to me when you can. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.

Danny-
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Friday, September 6th, 2019 AT 6:20 PM
Tiny
COXDAN
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  • 12 POSTS
Hi again, yes the check engine light has been on for quite some time. The truck is a 2011 Ford ecoboost there is no fire on the first plug of the three plugs on the drivers side. I believe it’s the number one plug. I changed all 6 plugs and still had the problem so after running the truck and testing anything I could think of I pulled the plugs again and that’s when I noticed that the one plug was still shiny, wet and new looking and with the way it was running it wasn’t hard to determine that for sure that plug wasn’t firing.I had just changed the boots, and I checked the coil and it seem to be fine. Also I ran the truck without the coil on that particular plug. I ran the truck with only 5 plugs connect and it ran exactly The same as it did with the sixth plug connected. I don't know?
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Saturday, September 7th, 2019 AT 7:37 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
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Hello again.

If you can swap the affected cylinders coil to a different cylinder and see if the problem follows. If that different cylinder misfires you know the coil is defective. If the switched cylinder fires the coil is good but you're facing an electrical problem. Let me know what happens when/if you do this and we'll go from there. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.

Danny-
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+1
Sunday, September 8th, 2019 AT 1:55 PM
Tiny
COXDAN
  • MEMBER
  • 12 POSTS
We switched all the coils and checked everything will even change the wires going from the spark plug coil up to them main output I think it’s the ECM and it still doing the same thing I don’t know if it could be a module or something inside the actual computer causing it to not fire on one cylinder? And every once in a while you can feel and hear that cylinder kick in? I don’t know what to think.
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Sunday, September 8th, 2019 AT 4:01 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

I've attached a wiring diagram below for the coil on plug system. It is controlled by the PCM (power-train control module) Have you checked to see if you're an electrical signal to coil on the affected cylinder. Let me know. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.

Danny-
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Sunday, September 8th, 2019 AT 5:48 PM
Tiny
COXDAN
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  • 12 POSTS
Yes, we tested the wires at each one of the coils and there seems to be 12v of power in all 6 of the wires leading into the coils. It sounds like the plug fires right when it’s started and every once in a while it sounds like it fires but not much.
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Monday, September 9th, 2019 AT 6:34 AM
Tiny
DANNY L
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Hello again.

If your getting power to the coils and the coils are working it sounds like there might be a glitch in the PCM. You might want to try cleaning/checking the PCM harness connection for debris/dirt/corrosion first. Use a small wire brush and an electronic type aerosol spray cleaner. Disconnect the battery first. Hope this helps and let me know if you find anything.

Danny-
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Monday, September 9th, 2019 AT 7:42 PM
Tiny
COXDAN
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  • 12 POSTS
Hello again, thank you very much. I’m going to have a look at the PCM right now but that sounds right to me. I’m wondering if because I had someone not qualified to do the work if maybe the vacuum lines have been hooked up wrong as well. I know for some reason they don’t look right, but I’m not 100% sure. Anyways if there was a vacuum problem could that possibly be a reason that I’m getting a misfire or no fire I should say? I thought maybe if the sensors are getting the wrong signals that may throw something off? Also there is what I believe is a brake assist vacuum that sits right behind the drivers side headlight roughly or just under it, That I had to take apart and rebuild because of my very isolated community and limited funds ordering new parts is only a if totally needed option. Could that possibly lead to my problem as well?
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 7:56 AM
Tiny
DANNY L
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Hello again.

Yes, a vacuum line being disconnected/wrong/broke/cracked can cause a lean misfire. I've attached a vacuum line diagram below. Hope this helps until I find something better. Did you check the PCM connection?

Danny-
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Wednesday, September 11th, 2019 AT 2:49 PM

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