Coil Pack or EGR???

[kerk]

2001 Windstar -
I have a misfire in #3, P0303. I pulled the wire and put a plug in it and did not see any spark. I tried a new wire and didn't see any spark. I took out the plug and put a phillips screwdriver in the boot, and using insulated pliers put it by grounded metal and no spark. I'm thinking coil pack but I have no idea how to remove it or be sure I didn't do something wrong and really the EGR ports are clogged.

Opinions?? Suggestions?? Directions for removing the coil pack??

Thanks!!

[jmas]

Could be the Coil Pack, wire, or a bad plug. Unlikely an EGR Problem. If you have and inductive timing light I would clip it over the #3 spark plug wire and watch the spark.

[catvents]

Originally Posted by kerk

2001 Windstar -
I have a misfire in #3, P0303. I pulled the wire and put a plug in it and did not see any spark. I tried a new wire and didn't see any spark. I took out the plug and put a phillips screwdriver in the boot, and using insulated pliers put it by grounded metal and no spark. I'm thinking coil pack but I have no idea how to remove it or be sure I didn't do something wrong and really the EGR ports are clogged.

Opinions?? Suggestions?? Directions for removing the coil pack??

Thanks!!

The coil pack is held on the engine by 3 screws, 2 on one side and one on the other; I do not remember the size but I think it is 5/16.
If you have some difficulties to reach it, you can remove the cowl vent panel that will make the job easier (but longer). I have changed my coil pack at 100K miles or so, for a similar reason as yours ( engine misfire) and I have found some craked on it.

[lord Kelvin]

Coil-packs on that year Windstar appear to be troublesome. A coworker of mine has a 2001 Windstar and replaced the coil-pack for a misfire issue. He did however have intermittent/weak spark, versus none as you describe. After removing the coil, there were visible crack on the posts. If you're sure plugs & wires are good, this seems like the next logical thing to replace.
Good Luck!!!

[tripletdaddy]

You could try swapping the plug wires from 3 to 4, which are paired on the coil. Since they fire at the same time, and if 4 is good on the coil and 3 is bad, the no spark condition will switch to your 4 wire and plug and create the code that you had at 3, at 4. You may even wind up with both faulting. If you do a search with my id and cross reference it with coil, or like, you should be able to get an explaination on testing the coil with an ohms meter. When removed, you might be able to see cracks or discoloration indicative of a short or failure.

[kerk]

Thanks for the replies. I was out of town and am now just diving back in. I took the coil out and I don't see any problems, but I guess I will go to autozone and get another one anyway. The van has 115k miles so it won't hurt to have a new one. I hope this does it!

[kerk]

It was the coil. I took the old one out and looked at it and there were no cracks, no discolorization, no marks at all. I bought the new one for $75 at autozone and put it in and and the van fired right up and purred like... well .. a windstar. Thanks for all the help!!

[daveck2]

I too replaced my coil in my 01 SEL because I got a code that cyl 2 and 6 were misfiring. 2 and 6 are accross from each other on the coil pack so I presumed that part of the coil was going bad. I replaced it with one from Auto Zone and the CEL went out. The next day the CEL was coming on intermittently and is now on all the time. I have not had the codes pulled yet but was wondering what else could it be while we are on the subject.
Thanks

[catvents]

If you do not have any engine misfire you can suspect other things. Have the codes pulled to see and post again here.