Rough Idle

Hello,
I have a 96 Windstar 3.8 and have a rough idle. I changed the plugs
(alot of fun) wires, and the coil. I cant tell if it is using water(dosen't look like it) but no water in oil good power but a miss. CEL is on and it keeps saying misfire NO.1 cylinder. Any ideas? Lower intake gasket like I've been reading about?


Thank you,
Brian

Hello,
I have a 96 Windstar 3.8 and have a rough idle. I changed the plugs
(alot of fun) wires, and the coil. I cant tell if it is using water(dosen't look like it) but no water in oil good power but a miss. CEL is on and it keeps saying misfire NO.1 cylinder. Any ideas? Lower intake gasket like I've been reading about?
Thank you,
BrianHey Brian
Did you use double platinum type plugs? Have you tried giving a little push down onto the plenum when running and seeing if it changes anything?
Great info here:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=348751
You mentioned the coolant level, have you checked the radiator itself (when COLD) to see if the coolant is full? If the gasket is bad the radiator won't have the suction to pull the coolant from the resevoir.

I have a rough idle also and was told that I need to replace the cam sensor. I haven't been able to find one for a decent price. I have 95 3.8 Windstar

I developed a SERIOUS misfire (cylinder #4, P0304) just after my lower intake manifold gasket repair.

As this happened right at the gasket repair, and I had broken a bolt right next to cylinder #4......I took it to a very good mechanic to have it done right.
I talked with my new mechanic, that finished the gasket repair for me.
As it was sometimes running fine for a short time......he felt that it was a fouled fuel injector causing the misfire.

What he told me is, to put a can of Berryman's Chemtool B-12 in and fill the tank. "DRIVE it. I will likely be nearly the whole tank of gasoline through before you will see any improvement".
It was missing very badly, shaking the car, and flashing the CEL.
He told me that the B-12 is a SOLVENT, whereas the Techron, Redline, and Fuel Power (FP60).....as well as almost all the fuel system cleaners are DETERGENT. He said that I needed the solvent of the B-12 to clean the fouled injector, and that the detergent cleaners that I have been using in maintenance doses will work to keep the injectors clean.

I also had a P0171, which he told me was caused by the PCM cutting back on the other injectors as it was thinking that I was putting raw fuel into the cat's (which was not happening).