I was driving around town when my truck started to run rough. I got the check engine light and the AutoZone folks showed me that I had a #2 cylinder misfire error. 1997 F-150 4.2L engine.

I have not worked on cars/trucks in years, but gonna have to now. I only have a Hanes book, and that thing does not discuss a method of working out the problem. Heck, the last time I worked on anything that was fuel injected was on a submarine in 1975. I did not know were the injectors are on this engine, or where the fuel rail/schrader valve is, and I was shocked at the effort that it took just to remove the sparkplug ( guess that I needed 15 more universals and 10 more various length extensions ). And the manual is pretty poor in showing what things are (lots of the pictures are of the V8 as best as I can tell)

I replaced the plug (getting one in was harder than getting the old plug out, and tried a different wire, but still have the problem. I guess that I should have checked compression when I had the plug out.

I would appreciate it if anyone could recommend the proper sequence for going after this problem, and where I can get some good, detailed, information on how these new fangled engines work and what the heck I am looking at when I open the hood.

Thanks!

 

Howdy,
I a #2 cylinder misfire code #302, and the truck runs pretty rough under acceleration, sound pretty good when in idle (but the engine trouble light will come on after clearing and sitting at idle). The Haynes book writes about listening to the injectors with a screwdriveror S/scope and using a noid light to check that the injector is getting an electric signal. It also mentions pulling the plenum to get at the injectors/fuel rail. I am also wondering if I can expect to see the same type of problem with the other cylinders (>100k miles on orig. parts)
I can barely see the #1 injector and connector, and 'course #2 is hidden in the middle of that mess.; and to check sounds and signal, the engine needs to be running. That does not sound alike a good situation if the air plenum and air cleaner is off, heck I don't know if it will run without the plenum and all the hookups attached.

So can a kind soul tell me how to get at those things and about how much time we are looking at (I am suposed to run a BB gun range at a Cub Scout Day Camp next week-can't get there without my truck)

 

I would be looking into a plug, wire or failing coil pack first.

 

Humm, could be. we notice a very strong gas smell when I first start the truck. It goes away fairly quickly though, so it does have me thinking that it is getting fuel, but not burning it. Question though is where is the smell coming from? It seems to be under the hood, but some in the exhaust also; can even smell it in the cab through the AC.

Installed a new plug yesterday, and tried two different wires, guess I could use a spark tester like I use on my tractor.

How do you test the coil pack?

 

bump up to the top

 

Get a Haynes manual and it will show you how to check it with an ohm meter.

 

Well, I gave in and went over to the dark side. I took the truck to the Ford House for a pinpoint diagnostic. 80 bucks later, I was told that the coil pack needed to be replaced. (that $40,000 computer of theirs had better be right).
They wanted 400 bucks to replace the pack and flush the injectors. I think that flushing can wait and I will try an autozone pack that is 100 bucks less and hope I make it through the summer.

 

I guess Luke looses. Installed a new coil pack and it is working great!!
Also learned that enough padding can make working on the engine tolerable even in this 100+F heat.