2000 missing/3.8. Help replaced many things

I have a 2000 that started running rough and missing, I took it to dealer and they said coil pack needs to be replaced, done that along w/s/p wires and plugs and fuel injector on #5. The catalytic converter was glowing red. took it out and ran straight pipe. There is NO power and it is still missing. The check engine light did go off for a short time but now it's back on . What else could be the problem. I have also changed the bolt in the #7 on the intake plenum that was spinning and not making a tight seal. I put a high temp sealant to seal off the air intake hoping that was the problem. HELP :banghead:

Hi wesleyjoe, Im no expert on 2000, but get the codes read (Autozone will do it free) and post them on this site.You may want to look at the MAS sensor.Some guys cleaned them out, I had mine replaced $200 part.Good Luck I have a 96 3.8.

Thank you, my husband is out trying some of the things we have read on here. He has the book and is looking up the MAS. He has the IAC valve off now trying to clean it. We have spent sooo much money this last week and we are still stratching our heads. Any information we can get would be great. Thnks

I did a search on Mas air flow sensors and found this info.Sensor passage must be free of debris to operate properly.If the passage is plugged the engine will usally start,but run poorly or stall and may not set a DTC, or code.If you take the senor out be carefull,it should be located after the air filter and before the throttle body. Good Luck

Misfires on the 1999+ windstar 3.8L *most commonly* are caused by degraded seals on the mid-intake isolator bolts causing vacuum leaks from under the plastic intake. Could also be a gunked up EGR system, stuck intake manifold runner control, various vac leaks, etc.... You say you removed a cat & installed a straight pipe? You will never get the CEL to go out running it like that. All OBDII (1996+) have O2 sensors downstream of the cats that will set a CEL if a cat is not functioning or removed. Also- beware of any sealants used on the intake or exhaust. If they contain silicone, you will foul O2 sensors.
G/luck
Joel

Thank you both. We took off the MAF(according to the book) and we are going to get another one and replace it. We have changed both of the O2 sensors beofre this problem. That is what Autozone said was our problems several months ago. The problem got worse after that. I could just chock my husband for taking off the CAT, now he says that may not have been the problem, but his justifaction was that it was "GLOWING" so it must have been bad. So now I have to spend upwards to 400.00 to replace it, when the problem could be a 140.00 part. By the time we are done I wil have a whole new engine.. LOL. If this does not work I do not know what we will do.

Did you get the codes scanned? If not, you (and we) could be guessing forever.

Get the actual alpha-numeric code. Not what some AutoZone parts salesperson suggests you need to buy.

Pull the upper intake and check the individual orifices for the internal egr piping to be sure it is not just killing one or two cylinders