Ignition coils
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Ignition coils
I have had three ignition coils go 'bad' in my Triton 5.4 2001 super Crew in the last couple of months and one more just today. Local mechanics say this is normal @ 75,000 miles. Anybody familar with this.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,977
Likes: 1
From: South Texas
Check for a leak where the back of the hood meets the cowl area. Open the hood and pour some water down the front of the windshield. All the water should drain off to the sides, if you get water down onto the engine, you have a leak in the gasket. Water will collect in the COP's and then they go "bad". Hope that helps.
New User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I am battling the same problem right now, with the #5 cylinder. I don't find any water intrusion evidence when I inspect the area around the coils. But I've replaced 4 in the last month or so. I am going to try to run a flying lead from the coil pack to the PCM to eliminate any possible wire harness issues to see if this fixes the problem. After that I am going to try replacing the PCM. I have also read that a leaking coolant hose can fry the #4 coil.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Ignition coil??
When I first posted this issue, I thought the problem I was having was with another 'bad' coil. But after a mechanic ran a diagnostic check, nothing was showing as wrong. But the truck about beat the hell out me this morning and it's only during acceleration. Slow or fast, it doesn't seem to matter. Could it be I just need a good fuel injection cleaning?
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Ignition coil
Changed during tune-up in November by mechanics @ Tuffy. They were to replace with double platinum plugs.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: LaGrande, OR
I had the ford dealer do my plugs back in september. Just last week my truck started to misfire badly, took it to dealer for diagnostic and turned out one of the plugs had a crack in the insulation, fixed it for free.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
I had the same problem in 3 different vehicles. All had #4 coil failures.
1999 F150 4.6 once @ 120K
2000 Super Crew 5.4 twice @ 57K & 79K
2001 Expedition 5.4 4 times @14K, 29K, 56K, 88K.
The dealer replaced 2 coils on the Expedition under warranty.
I replaced the remaining 5 coils myself. If it wasn't for Murray's 1 year warranty this would get really expensive.
I fabbed up an aluminum sheild over the coil to deflect the water and also added a cooling duct that directs air onto the coil. I thought that heat may be a problem due to the tight location of #4 cylinder. No luck!
I just had another failure on the 99. That's 8 coils total.
BTW: I always replace the plug along with the coil using an original Motorcraft plug.
I talked to a couple Ford Techs and they all say the same thing. "Uhn, I dunno!"
Ford must know of this problem and ain't talking.
If someone gets a fix for this I'd sure like to know.
Cuda Jim
1999 F150 4.6 once @ 120K
2000 Super Crew 5.4 twice @ 57K & 79K
2001 Expedition 5.4 4 times @14K, 29K, 56K, 88K.
The dealer replaced 2 coils on the Expedition under warranty.
I replaced the remaining 5 coils myself. If it wasn't for Murray's 1 year warranty this would get really expensive.
I fabbed up an aluminum sheild over the coil to deflect the water and also added a cooling duct that directs air onto the coil. I thought that heat may be a problem due to the tight location of #4 cylinder. No luck!
I just had another failure on the 99. That's 8 coils total.
BTW: I always replace the plug along with the coil using an original Motorcraft plug.
I talked to a couple Ford Techs and they all say the same thing. "Uhn, I dunno!"
Ford must know of this problem and ain't talking.
If someone gets a fix for this I'd sure like to know.
Cuda Jim
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
No we dont ALL look the other way. The 5.4's had a problem with the heater hose to tube hose clamp directly above the #4 coil not being tightened from the factory, causing the coolant to drip onto the #4 coil over time shorting it out. Dont try to tighten the clamp. Replace it. Pull the hose off and clean the corrosion if any before replacing the clamp.
Cuda-Jim if you put the shield over the hose and tube it wouldnt do any good.
Our training is never about looking the other way.
Cuda-Jim if you put the shield over the hose and tube it wouldnt do any good.
Our training is never about looking the other way.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
Troll, did that too. The sheild was insurance in case the cowl leaking water was the culpret. It also serves as the duct work I mentioned above.
Anyway, I've had good experiences with Ford techs too. Great mech's with lots of valuable info from the guys that do this stuff everyday.
It's Ford Corp that steams me up. If there is a design problem.... it should be fixed. My limited experience shows at least 3 years worth of the same problem on both tritons.
Cuda Jim
Anyway, I've had good experiences with Ford techs too. Great mech's with lots of valuable info from the guys that do this stuff everyday.
It's Ford Corp that steams me up. If there is a design problem.... it should be fixed. My limited experience shows at least 3 years worth of the same problem on both tritons.
Cuda Jim
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
Apparently the Ford COPs have been changed up again. I'm not sure what the difference is.
I was also told by Ford's technical hotline that COPs off a Crown Vic 4.6 with factory propane or natural gas are supposedly better and will last longer. It might be worth trying them.
I was also told by Ford's technical hotline that COPs off a Crown Vic 4.6 with factory propane or natural gas are supposedly better and will last longer. It might be worth trying them.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,013
Likes: 6
From: Cajun Country
Sorry Troll,I didnt mean "every" Ford tech was that way. Ive found a Ford dealer here by my house that I trust,and there techs too. But,its like the 4.2 gasket issue; to this day I know of Ford techs that claim,"faulty gaskets;what faulty gaskets?"...its been a problem on the 97-98s for over 5 years now and they still "look the other way" or,say"duh,I dunno"! 