I have searched and am headed to NAPA to get the computer flashed and codes checked...but I'm starting this thread out of frustration. Nobody ever seems to finish their posts and explain what fixed the problem....I will in hopes that the next guy will be thankful. I always try to post what resolved the issues.....to help out.

1997 F150 5.4L with 120k on it......check engine light came on two weeks ago and went off again at next startup.....didn't think much about it, figured
O2 Sensor needed changing soon....

This morning check engine light came on and flashed like a *****.....engine ran rough.....funny smell from tailpipe.....drove 1/2 mile straight home, used wifeys car for rest of morning run.

I am learning from the searches that it is probably a misfire (felt like it)....and that coils can be an issue....but I haven't had this truck long, so I don't really know if it has one coil per cylinder like some others....blah blah blah.

Anyway, I will know more later....but if someone wants to chime in and give their .02 cents...that would be most excellent.

Looking forward to spending this money...not.

Thanks in advance.

 

Yes the 5.4L has 8 coils. COP (Coil On Plug) Sounds like one could be failing. I wonder if the truck has ever had plugs put in it. If you change the plugs, I would recommend replacing the COP boots as well and use plenty of dilectric grease on them too. This will help them seal to the plugs and prevent misfires.
Anyway, when you get the codes read, it should tell you which cylinder is misfiring.
They are numbered this way:

4 8
3 7
2 6
1 5
Front

 

I have heard differing opinions..of course I will wait for codes before deciding....

Do I change just the 1 bad coil or do them all..sounds like it could be spendy...

Will the code tell me if the coil for that cylinder is bad...or could the same code "misfire code".....be the plug/wire/coil or any combination of the 3?

Thanks!!!

 

NAPA won't run the codes but AutoZone will.....NAPA doesn't want us to be mad if the codes don't turn out to be right :O

Is it bad to drive the car in this condition for less than 10 miles?

Thanks....

 

UPDATE
Autozone came up with code 0304.....misfire cylinder 4. (you know the cylinder under everything and all the way in the f'in back)

I bought the COP..hopefully the wire is okay....my buddy is installing right now for $75...it is literally -5 degrees wind chill right now....he has heated shop and he does this for a living...

Let you know how I come out...
Thanks

 

I always change the plug to when I replace a cop. It might be a waste of money but they are so hard to change I don't want to do it twice.

 

UPDATE
Changed the plug and the COP....runs like a top.

Thanks for all the input.

 

Blinking again.....

Waiting for AZone to open so I can get the code read...I hope it's an easier one to get to this time.

Is it fairly common for these to start to go all at the same time?

Thanks

 

Being a '97-that truck is 10 yrs old,and if they're all the originals-it's not suprising that they'd start failing. Good thing..you've already changed the most difficult one of the bunch-the others are fairly easy in comparison. Bad thing.....it might be #4 again. I've got a friend with a '97 Expy...and it likes to leak water down on that #4 every time it rains,and we can't find out where it's coming from. Usually we can just pull the COP off,and blow all of the watrer out,and it's good to go again until the next rainstorm.
JL

 

They tell me #4 gets leaked on by the heater core leak....

I hope it isn't #4 again.....

120k miles...I guess it is time. Maybe I should be proactive and change them all so I don't get stuck in a bind everytime...I have chit to do today and this is really holding me up.

 

If you feel like spending the money-have at it-you're not gonna hurt anything. The heater hose can leak on the #4 (not the heater core),but the case I'm dealing with has no heater hose leaks or other issues of that type-it's definitely due to rainwater leakage from somewhere.
JL

 

Code was misfire on cylinder 3......

From the time I left Autozone to the time I got done was precisely 49 minutes.

Runs like a top again....

#3 isn't that bad....I hope next time it is cylinder 1,2,5 or 6

Thanks

 

How did you get a 5.4l in a 97? I thought they were only offerd in 98 some, and then started big time in 99. Just wondering Please correct me if im wrong

 

I don't know, but you are wrong

I bought this truck 2 months ago or so.....the 5.4 was in when I got it

 

The 5.4L was available in '97.
JL