I did a search and nothing came up so I will ask the question.

I have a 2001, F-150, 2WD, 5.4 with 192,000. I bought the truck about four months ago. Haven't had any problems with it until we drove to Arkansas a few weeks ago. Heading back when all of a sudden it started running rough and my check engine light came on. Luckily we were only 2 miles from an Auto Parts Store. A guy read the code and said one of my ignition coils was bad. Had no problems with it the rest of the trip home until about 30 miles out when it happened again. Took it to my local Auto Zone and it came up coil #4. I found a mechanic that would help me and we changed out #4 along with all the plugs. I drove a mile down the road and it happened again. Took it back and he actually had a computer he hooked up to it and it showed #3. Swapped it with #1 and the problem moved to #1. Replaced it. Today it started acting up again and the check engine light came back on. Drove to AZ and this time it is showing #2. I have a BIG $55 a pop problem in believing these things are gong out like this. What could be causing them to go out? Is it normal to go out 1, 2, 3 at a time.? I thought I would come to the experts here and try and get some insight into this problem before I change out #2 and then another and another. Could it be the PCM? Okay....your turn. Thanks in advance.

Reid in NC

 

I don't have a solid answer for you but at 192k the motor got good life out of the original coils.
If they are all on the same bank where all the work was done, the question is was boot tip grease used on new boots and did the boots get set down on the plug tips and not hang up along the side?
Maybe the coils are not all faulty!
In these motors workmanship has some meaning other than just slap things togather.
It's always possible you are having bad string of luck.
After all the work is done it pays to look at the results with a Scanner checking live data mode 6 test 53 at the misfire monitors to see any cylinders in trouble before the CEL ever comes on, especially after new parts are installed.
Best I can offer you.
Misfire is not always a coil and OEM coils should be used.
Good luck..

 

Thanks BlueGrass
I happened to remember last night after I typed this that #3 had been changed in the past. It is a yellow high performance coil. That makes three on the same side that have been changed. I know the mechanic put grease on the boots but I don't know if he did on that side or not. I will take them off and verify this.

Reid

 

If there are any Yellow Accell coils, they are a no-no.
Good luck.

 

Well...I think I figured out what is going on. I removed the #1 and #2 for a comparison against a new one. Book said to get an ohm reading between the positive and negative leads. They all three read 0.6. Which means #2 isn't bad. So what is you might be asking....the rubber boot on #2 was covered in oil. Flashlight relealed the hole probably half filled. So the second problem is the oil I'm sure was grounding the spark to the head. The first problem is I'm guessing my head gasket is shot. I will see if I can reach any bolts to tighten otherwise......off with its head. I ran the truck down the road and it ran fine.

 

This is an example of the person doing the work has to do it correctly and get back in if there if still an issue and consider all possible causes and run them down one at a time.
Oil is usually a cover gasket because only place oil is from is the valve train area.
We all would like things to be easy but on an aged truck anything is possible.
On the newer trucks and cars is over more complicated yet so plan on it when it's time to upgrade.
Good luck.

 

I've got 240K + on my 2001 4.6L and a couple of coil hiccups are the only issues I've had with my truck since new. Sounds like you have got your issue figured out. Hope you get many more miles out of your truck. Where are you at in NC?