Ok guys heres my problem, I have a 1997 3.0 aerostar about a year ago my check eng. light came on I pulled the code and said camshaft position sensor failure, so I replaced the sensore. a few days later light came back on same code so I replaced it again. same thing a few days later. I braught the van to the dealer they said the computer needs to be replaced. The van ran fine so I passed on replacing the computer. Now I get a code camshaft position malfunction, multiple cylinder misfire. I replaced the plugs. the wires have been replaced within the last 8 mounths the van will start right up but runs very rough. any ideas. thanks

 

First I would check the connections for corrosion or frayed wires.

Second, were you within your 8yr/80,000 mi warranty for emisions when you first went in and they told you it was the computer? If so I would check with Ford to see if it will still be covered under warranty sense the it was diagnosed by a dealer back when it was in warranty. (Emisions, including the computer are covered 8/80 on all vehicles.)

Did you get any other codes?

 

The van has 120,000 miles on it It did show a code for ignition coil I replaced that but it did not solve the problem.

 

What brand plugs and wires did you use?

 

The wires were put on by the dealer and the plugs are autolight

 

hhhmmmm.... All I can think of is that you have a bad wire, plug, or another bad ignition module. If the computer was the heart of the issues, it would be more than the Cam Sensor comming up on the CE light.

Besides that I am out of ideas for now what could be wrong.

 

Faulty connections is the most likely culprit here.

 

I will go through the plugs and wires again. I will let you know what I come up with

 

Ok guys I got new plugs and wires. Before I go any further can someone tell me what the fireing order is Im thinking it might be posible that I got my wires crossed the first time I changed my plugs

 

I replaced plugs and wires I id have my #4 and #6 wires crossed It is running smoth now. It does have a little bit of a ruogh Idle and sounds comming from the cat converter So Im going to have that changed and then it should be ready to go. Thanks for the input

 

Well I thought I was on my way. I drove the van to the fuel station and it ran kind of rough at start then smoothed out I did not get more than a mile and the check eng. light started flashing and then just stayed on I pulled the codes and I have #4 and#2 cylinders misfireing I have a new ignition coil new plugs and new wires. I still need some input.

 

Check and make sure the wires click on the coil and the spark plugs. I had the same problem with my brother's Explorer (same 4.0L setup) a while back, and it turned out we had two problems:

1) Wires were crossed

2) Fixed crossed wires, still had problem. Wires wouldn't click on. They keep popping off the coil pack. Replaced wires, threw away a brand new set, solved problem.

The firing order for 3.0L is as follows:


Engine:

3 6
2 5
1 4

Distributor: 1-4-2-5-3-6 clockwise

 

copper_90680
I have a ignition coil not a distributor the coil is numberd left side looking at the eng. 1,2,3 and the right side 5,6,4 the wires snaped on the coil I will go recheck the plug conection

 

well I ended up takeing back the autolite plug wires and I exchanged the ignition coil for another one. for now I put on the old wires. I ordered some motorcraft wires from rockauto.com 41.00 out the door verses 80.00 plus tax at the dealer. Im not so sure the new wires are going to solve my problem with the old wires I check to see if I had spark going to plug which I did but the van still runs rough and I keep getting a code for #4and #2 cylinder missfire I got those same codes with the other wires and other ignition coil. Is there anything you guys can think of that would make this missfire.

 

You may have A MAF problem here. Are you sure that the fuel injectors for those cylinders is working correctly?