I have a 24 valve 3.0 Taurus SEL. Got a P0301 code. Changed Spark Plugs and wires. Ran a bottle of injector cleaner (via the Tank). Still misfires...especially at idle when cold and during acceleration at lower speeds. Runs great at highway speed. I realize it could be the coil, injector, EGR, CPS....with symptoms in mind, anyone have an idea on the best place to start? All feedback greatly appreciated!! - Tim.

Tim i am having the very same problem with my 00 24 valve taurus were you able to find out what was causing the problem with yours

just fixed mine yesterday same code fix was as simple as putting dielectric grease on plug boots found out spark jumping between boot and plug and grounding on body of plug took 4 weeks to find but car has run perfect since cheap place to try first

mine turned out to be a coil gone bad picked a new one up at ford for $100 runs great now

i have a engine misfire also, changed the plugs and wires, and even though its alot better the miss is still there, its not throwing a code but i can still feel the miss at idle and driving the car, how would you know if the coil is bad or if the spark is jumping from 1 cyl to another?

disconnect the coils 1 at a time see if miss gets worse if its doesnt on a cylinder that would be the one with the problem then swap that coil for another see if problem moves to the new cylinder if so coil is bad

I caught sight if this post while going to the Windstar page....
I have a '96 Windstar 3.8L. 140K+ miles.
I had the same problem......and in my case it was some crud on the end of the injector....In spite of the fact that I run injector cleaner through.
I was told that this is normal for injectors with a lot of mileage. Happens when the fuel is atomized and combines with the PCV stuff in the air. At least that is what I was told by a Ford Tech.
The fix was to remove the fuel injectors....and spray cleaner onto the ends of them......
I replaced #1 injector and cleaned all the rest....
Most likely the one I replaced was still good.
I was chasing the problem for several months.....until it started to set the code.
But if you can do it yourself.....the fix is cheap.


As you can see.....there are a lot of things that can cause the code.

Also.....in the 3.8L engine.....clogged EGR ports can cause the same code......I do not know if the 3.0L is prone to the same failure or not.

disconnect the coils 1 at a time see if miss gets worse if its doesnt on a cylinder that would be the one with the problem then swap that coil for another see if problem moves to the new cylinder if so coil is bad
so your saying the DOHC engine has 6 coils, ill try that and see what happens, when i bought the car it only had 22k miles on it and from day one it always had this miss, car only has 30k on it now, i did find the number 2 spark plug to be cracked at the tip causing it to spark against the block, i was hopeing that would solve the problem, although it helped alot the miss is still there, like i said its drving me nuts, and when you bring it in to the dealership they think your nuts because of course when i bring it in the problem never occurs, they tell me to write down when it happens ect ect, lots of help they are, ive tried new fuel filter, fuel injector cleaner, like i said before new wires and plugs, so im assuming it has to be the coil, what else can it be?

well i just changed the coil pack so far so good, im crossing my fingers :rolleyes:

well i just changed the coil pack so far so good, im crossing my fingers :rolleyes:
well guys the miss is still there what else can i do or look for, im lost as too which way to go next