97 Escort missfire

[speedfreakcl]

Ok so here is the problem... I have no spark on cylinder #2.. I have read the other posts about this but I have replaced the coil pack twice and the car will run fine when newly installed.. but once it reaches operating temperature the car stops firing on cylinder #2 is it possible that its a crank sensor causing my headaches.. if not please give me some ideas... injectors... computer... what anything.. i need this car to get to and from work and dont have money to have it diagnosed at a dealership...

thank you
Craig

[mightymoose_22]

You might have a small crack in the head or a bad head gasket.
Try a compression check on that cylinder and compare with the others.
Maybe it doesn't let the air slip out til it gets up to temp and expands a bit?

Wouldn't be crank sensor.
Make sure plugs are gapped right.

How did you verify the miss?

[speedfreakcl]

I verified the miss by having no power to accelerate... as well as having the code checked... then I checked for spark actually about an hour ago and I don't have spark on cylinder #2 or #3 and how I did that was pulling the plug wires off one at a time and putting a screw driver in and putting it to ground... and those two had no spark...

but your thinking maybe its a head gasket... is there a way to check compression when you don't have the right tools to do that testing.....

and your saying its cant be a crank sensor...ok that's eliminated then...

[AzTumbleweed]

If you have no spark on two cylinders then It's hard to believe you could even drive it. I'm thinking it is a weak spark which makes me think the spark plug wires are bad.

[mightymoose_22]

Ditto...
now it sounds like you just have bad wires, or the plugs themselves.
You said you changed the coil pack, did you change plugs and wires at the same time? Doesn't sound like it.
Your problem should be easy to solve.

Quick check, switch your plug wires around and see if #1 or #4 suddenly stop working. Some trial and error with your plugs and wires should work it out.

[speedfreakcl]

well just so you know you can drive the car on only 2 cylinders... when you come to a stop you just have to keep the rpms up a bit higher than normal...

also I have replaced the plug wires with bosch ones and replaced the spark plugs with NGK plugs...

I have also replace the coil pack mind you its a used one from a junk yard...

I put the new/used one in and car was running fine until it reached operating temperature.. then there was no spark on cylinder #2 and #3 again...

I even went and exchanged the coil pack again... and the same thing has happened so I'm thinking that its not the coil pack that's causing it.. what would be the chances of all three of them failing... on the same cylinders....

that's why I'm begging to get a little frustrated.. cause well if its not those.. then what and how much more money am I going to have to put into this car... could be a head gasket but i was also thinking maybe a crank sensor... cause that's where the coil receives signal from...

Do these cars have knock sensors... cause I was having a similar issue on my cavalier and that's what was caused the retarding of the spark.....

hope to get more info thank...

[mightymoose_22]

If it was the crank sensor you wouldn't be getting spark to the other two cylinders.

OK... I am back to my original thought. Since plugs/wires are new....

I think you have a head gasket problem or cracked head between cylinders 2 and 3.

Do a compression test to verify.

The car would not run on just two cylinders. It barely runs on 3. You probably have two weak cylinders supporting the other two. If 2 and 3 really aren't working at all, then you should be able to unplug them and not notice a change.

A compression test will verify if the head needs to come off.

[speedfreakcl]

Ok thank you everyone, after Monday I'll post what the problem is.. since I don't have the tools to do a compression test I'll be bringing it to a shop to have it done... I thank you for your comments and thoughts...

Ill keep you posted...

[autotech234]

sound to me like you may have a burt valve. the best way to check this is with valve for that cyl closed, blow shop air into cyl and see if is leaking out any were. If it comes out the exh. you have a bad exh. valve, if it comes out the thottle body you have a bad intake valve.

[speedfreakcl]

Alright... so I have done a compression check the best that I could.. considering I dont have the tools to do one...

anyways I have found the problem...
Its not... the headgasket
a cracked cylinder head
burt valves...

actually i dont even think it was the spark plugs or plug wires or coil pack

the connector for the coil pack got too hot and melted some of the inner plastic....

one of the wires was still in there but not making contact..
while the car was running i moved the wire and the car began to run rough again... and moved it again and it ran fine...

I have to replace the connector... thankfully thats all I need to do...

Leason learned always check my wiring... especially before I go and start buying parts....

I thank you very much for all the info you were able to give to me...
greatly greatly appreciated... this is the second time I've used these car forums and both times its been very helpful...

Thanks again...Craig

[denisond3]

Thank you for giving us the outcome feedback. I learn lots of things to check on my Escort, from reading the problems and solutions on there forums.

[John81]

Originally Posted by AzTumbleweed

If you have no spark on two cylinders then It's hard to believe you could even drive it. I'm thinking it is a weak spark which makes me think the spark plug wires are bad.

Yeah, I had the same question.