COPS Help
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Freshman User
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COPS Help
I have a 2000 Expy 5.4L that I believe has a COPS going bad. I am getting some hesitation under load and sometimes while idling. The big problem is it's not happening every time we drive the vehicle. How can I check the COPS to see if one of them is bad? Also the check engine light still has not come on. I know the plugs are not bad I changed them about 15,000 miles ago. Any suggestions? Thanks. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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If you have access to a scanner that can read cyl. misfires, that would be your best bet. If not, you can try buying 1 coil and rotating it through all the cyl. untill you fix the problem. Hopefully you don't have more than 1 marginal coil. I would change all the boots on the coils since you are going to be in there any way.
Dave
Dave
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From: Lexington,SC
If you are handy with tools. Pull each cop & inspect the boot. Look for damage from arcing or materiel degradation. You can purchase replacement boots at Autozone or Napa.
Use dielectric grease in the replacemet or original boots.
Use dielectric grease in the replacemet or original boots.
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+1 for what's already been suggested.
What kind of plugs did you install? I used Bosch Plats the first time I changed them and I had serious misfire problems within a couple of months. Upon removing the plugs and COPS I found the the top of the plug and the contact in the COP were burned to a crisp (neither was like this when installed). I found three cylinders with this problem. Maybe the COP and the Bosch don't mate together well??? I cleaned the end of the COP, replaced the plugs with Autolite Plats (original equip IIRC), and cleaned/regreased the COPS and have not had a problem since.
If you search around here long enough, you'll find a few others advising against the Bosch plugs in these engines.
Either way, check the boots and the electrode inside the boot. Hopefully the problem is not #4
What kind of plugs did you install? I used Bosch Plats the first time I changed them and I had serious misfire problems within a couple of months. Upon removing the plugs and COPS I found the the top of the plug and the contact in the COP were burned to a crisp (neither was like this when installed). I found three cylinders with this problem. Maybe the COP and the Bosch don't mate together well??? I cleaned the end of the COP, replaced the plugs with Autolite Plats (original equip IIRC), and cleaned/regreased the COPS and have not had a problem since.
If you search around here long enough, you'll find a few others advising against the Bosch plugs in these engines.
Either way, check the boots and the electrode inside the boot. Hopefully the problem is not #4
Last edited by Drumrkane; Nov 1, 2007 at 05:02 PM.
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Not to hijack but I need a little help on this subject-
I started to replace plugs on a 01 Expedition 4.6L. Never done this on a COP system. Pulled one coil and it came out with the spring/terminal attached; boot stayed on the plug. I tried to pull the boot but it resisted so I stopped and bolted everything back together til I could get some answers. Didn't want to destroy anything. I've read some of the topics on this but:
Do you just pull on the boot until it gives up and lets go?
Do I need to go ahead and get a set of spare boots and replace them?
What is the dielectric grease and who sells it/ what brand etc.?
When you reinstall the coil/boot do you assemble the boot on the coil and install it as a unit, or install the boot then push the coil down into the boot?
Thanks ahead of time for any detail you guys can provide.
BD
I started to replace plugs on a 01 Expedition 4.6L. Never done this on a COP system. Pulled one coil and it came out with the spring/terminal attached; boot stayed on the plug. I tried to pull the boot but it resisted so I stopped and bolted everything back together til I could get some answers. Didn't want to destroy anything. I've read some of the topics on this but:
Do you just pull on the boot until it gives up and lets go?
Do I need to go ahead and get a set of spare boots and replace them?
What is the dielectric grease and who sells it/ what brand etc.?
When you reinstall the coil/boot do you assemble the boot on the coil and install it as a unit, or install the boot then push the coil down into the boot?
Thanks ahead of time for any detail you guys can provide.
BD
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 355
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Originally Posted by bduffel
Not to hijack but I need a little help on this subject-
I started to replace plugs on a 01 Expedition 4.6L. Never done this on a COP system. Pulled one coil and it came out with the spring/terminal attached; boot stayed on the plug. I tried to pull the boot but it resisted so I stopped and bolted everything back together til I could get some answers. Didn't want to destroy anything. I've read some of the topics on this but:
Do you just pull on the boot until it gives up and lets go? Pretty much
Do I need to go ahead and get a set of spare boots and replace them? Yep
What is the dielectric grease and who sells it/ what brand etc.? common chemical, even Advanced Auto and AutoZone sells it. comes in little tooth paste tubes.
When you reinstall the coil/boot do you assemble the boot on the coil and install it as a unit, or install the boot then push the coil down into the boot? Boot on coil then install - make sue you put the dielectric on the tip and the top ring to make sure no water gets in. Some kits have solid inserts, not springs, they seem to work better.
Thanks ahead of time for any detail you guys can provide.
BD
I started to replace plugs on a 01 Expedition 4.6L. Never done this on a COP system. Pulled one coil and it came out with the spring/terminal attached; boot stayed on the plug. I tried to pull the boot but it resisted so I stopped and bolted everything back together til I could get some answers. Didn't want to destroy anything. I've read some of the topics on this but:
Do you just pull on the boot until it gives up and lets go? Pretty much
Do I need to go ahead and get a set of spare boots and replace them? Yep
What is the dielectric grease and who sells it/ what brand etc.? common chemical, even Advanced Auto and AutoZone sells it. comes in little tooth paste tubes.
When you reinstall the coil/boot do you assemble the boot on the coil and install it as a unit, or install the boot then push the coil down into the boot? Boot on coil then install - make sue you put the dielectric on the tip and the top ring to make sure no water gets in. Some kits have solid inserts, not springs, they seem to work better.
Thanks ahead of time for any detail you guys can provide.
BD
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I pulled the COPS off and changed the boots on 5 of the 8. Even though only 3 of them looked bad. When I say bad I mean they were dirty(rust color) and the spring had some corosion/dirt on them. I did not pull the plugs as they only have maybe 20K miles on them. I started the truck and it ran great, killed it and I cleaned up. Decided to take it for a spin and it starts running rough again. The part that I can't understand is it does not run rough all the time. It seems like when the truck is cold and you start and drive it runs fine. But if its warm and you start it and drive it runs rough(this is not 100% of the time though)? The only thing I can think of that I did not do was pull the plugs and clean the tips(that attach to the dirty boots). Any ideas/help is very much needed. Thanks.
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Freshman User
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Ok so this morning I back the truck out of the garage and it is running rough again. I let it sit in the driveway for 20 min. and start it up. This time it is running great, and continues for the next few hours as I use it for errands. Any ideas on what is wrong? Thanks.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Dago USA... SO CAL
I've been chasing a little ignition miss at idle in my expy since about 27k miles. still havent been able to fix it. gone thru just about everything except a couple of boots. i give up. it passes emmissions and runs fine everywhere cept idle. I'll live with it.
New User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Houston, TX
COPS help
I've had the same issue with my 02 Expedition. It ran rough at times, but not consistently. It did get progressively worse. I first did a tune-up - replaced plugs, COP boots, air filter, fuel filter. Those were needed but they still didn't resolve the rough running, so I was 99% sure it was a bad COP. Problem was the CEL wouldn't come on, even though there was an obvious miss at times. I got lucky in that the CEL finally came on after about 3 weeks and told me misfire in cylinder 6. Replaced that COP and problem solved.
So I'd be willing to bet that you have a bad COP somewhere. If you can't get the CEL to come on, just buy one and switch it out in each cylinder until the problem is solved. Then you'll know which one was bad. Hope this helps and good luck.
So I'd be willing to bet that you have a bad COP somewhere. If you can't get the CEL to come on, just buy one and switch it out in each cylinder until the problem is solved. Then you'll know which one was bad. Hope this helps and good luck.