I have a friend in a wheel chair whose van is giving him trouble. He had the codes pulled and they are 136 02 sensor malfunction, 316 misfire on startup, 303 misfire on three.

Is this thing just needing a tune up? Or could it be a coil failing? What is common with these 4.6L's? I dont have a lot of experience with the tritons, as everything i own is Windsor powered.

Thanks RB

 

The spark plug service interval is 100,000 miles so they often get ignored for far too long.
Without knowing the service history of the vehicle it is easy to guess that it needs ignition service; spark pugs and coil boots at the very least.
Use Motorcraft spark plugs.

I would start there, maybe the O2 sensor code will turn out to be a result of the misfires. So I would wait to service that until the ignition was sorted out.

Also make sure you are working on the correct cylinder # when troubleshooting. They number the same as SBF.

 

Thanks, do you recommend a premium plug?

 

Motorcraft platinum plugs.

 

This is what I found on cylinder 3. Can anyone tell me why someone would go through all the work to make this jumper wire?

 

As I recall, there is originally a bracket on that side that someone may have found it difficult to work around. That is my best guess, but I don't recall it being an issue.
Is that the only one like that?

 

The bracket is in front of cylinder 3 so working from the front it might be in the way but with the engine cover off working from the rear it is easy to get to. This van only has 77,000 miles. I've taken cly 4,3,and 2 out and so far cyl 3, the one in the pic, is the only motocraft coil, so this thing has been worked on in the past. There has to be issue's deeper than plugs and coils here wouldnt one think? I ran out of daylight last night and I'm working this am so I wont know about the other plugs till this evening

 

They had to remove the top of an old coil to make the jumper, one would think that would be more work than simply plugging it in.

 

Maybe the last guy didn't know about the doghouse being removable?

 

I have all 8 plugs out, 6 of the COP's just have a part # on top, one has nothing, and #3 is the only one that says motocraft on it and is the only one with the jumper wire. Do the originals say motocraft on top? Or has #3 been changed with a motocraft? Is it common for these to have been changed with only 77,000 miles on her?

 

low mileage but very very old.
lots of people talk about coil failures on these modular engines. But also many people talk about just the boots failing and spark plugs being ignored for too long.

Since you have it disassembled, put that coil and wiring harness back in another spot. A spot that is easiest access. Then if the problem follows- you'll know what's up.

How do the plugs look?

Did you get new new boots and springs?
Everyone on this forum says "Motorcraft only" for coils and spark plugs, and "don't waste your money on any other brand". I don't have any reason to agree/disagree.
But also there's a thread on here where someone found strong evidence that Denso (?) coils are the exact same as Motorcraft. (Someone back me up here please).

Keep us posted man.

 

All 8 plugs look good and are around .55 gap, all 8 boots and springs look good. I'm going to put in 8 new plugs, and replace coil 3 and eliminate the jumper wire, and see what happens.

 

I have to laugh at this because I'm still driving 70's and 90's Fords. This is like new to me.