COP? is coil? I've got a bad one -

[jwernatl]

Hey all - Can you guys set me straight?

04 MM 56,000 miles -

(history)
A few weeks ago I was on a road trip 200+ miles from home - my car starts 'jumping' - It got real bad real fast - ended up at a FORD dealer - They looked at it and said it was a bad coil and spark plug. They replaced it and I was out in an hour.

It's been running awesome.

Yesterday it started doing the same thing again.

I dont know about this 'coil' - I did a seach on it is it the same as COP? Ive always worked with carburetors (old school) & I turn my own wrenches- I feel I can do this.

But I have few questions...

Where is it?
how do I change it?
What does it look like-
How many do i have
How do I tell which one the ford dealer changed vs which one that's going bad?
Is there a certain brand I should buy?
I likve close to SUMMIT -

Thanks guys I's like to do it this weekend. if possible.

[Zack]

Find an open road.
From a stop, punch it all the way to about 90mph.
By then the pcm will flash the check engine light repeatedly if a coil is in fact misfiring.

There is also a possibility of the wiring harness behind the drivers cam cover chafing and causing the problem. Its a known issue on some cars.

[fastblackmerc]

Hey all - Can you guys set me straight?

04 MM 56,000 miles -

(history)
A few weeks ago I was on a road trip 200+ miles from home - my car starts 'jumping' - It got real bad real fast - ended up at a FORD dealer - They looked at it and said it was a bad coil and spark plug. They replaced it and I was out in an hour.

It's been running awesome.

Yesterday it started doing the same thing again.

I dont know about this 'coil' - I did a seach on it is it the same as COP? Ive always worked with carburetors (old school) & I turn my own wrenches- I feel I can do this.

But I have few questions...

Where is it?
how do I change it?
What does it look like-
How many do i have
How do I tell which one the ford dealer changed vs which one that's going bad?
Is there a certain brand I should buy?
I likve close to SUMMIT -

Thanks guys I's like to do it this weekend. if possible.
COP - Coil On Plug

You need to remove the coil covers to see them. Easy to remove & replace.

[Marauderjack]

But......be very careful with the fragile plastic locks on the low voltage plugs.....don't ask me how I know!!:argue:

[Granddaddy Marq]

MO's can help you with this. Your not far from him. You have 8 coils, they sit on top of the plugs. The dealer changed just one, you should be able to spot it when you get the coil covers off. You'll have to read the code that comes up after Zack's test drive and replace that coil.

[jwernatl]

seriously - COP - coil on plug. ding ding...im an idiot -

That sounds just awesome though - I can work this. And GDMI hear ya...I'd love to go to MO's - problem is $$ 'cause if I go up there she's a coming home with 410's and a tune. So I'm working on that...

BUT, for now, - Zack Im cool with what you said about the 0-90 deal. I have a friend with a scanner. I can do that. and Ill be careful about the plastic locks too (thank jack)

BUT...

HOW did the Ford Dealer know which COP to replace? My engine light wasn't on.

And how easy is it to check the wiring behind the cam cover? If Im into it, should I check it?

Thanks guys for educating me. I'll forward the education on some day. I will....

[fastblackmerc]

seriously - COP - coil on plug. ding ding...im an idiot -

That sounds just awesome though - I can work this. And GDMI hear ya...I'd love to go to MO's - problem is $$ 'cause if I go up there she's a coming home with 410's and a tune. So I'm working on that...

BUT, for now, - Zack Im cool with what you said about the 0-90 deal. I have a friend with a scanner. I can do that. and Ill be careful about the plastic locks too (thank jack)

BUT...

HOW did the Ford Dealer know which COP to replace? My engine light wasn't on.

And how easy is it to check the wiring behind the cam cover? If Im into it, should I check it?

Thanks guys for educating me. I'll forward the education on some day. I will....
Look for the big bundle at the rear of drivers side head. Might be rubbing on a bolt that is attached to the cowl.

[jwernatl]

I'll check it out. Thanks mucho. seems ez enough. .

Thanks all -

"it aint broke -- beeee haapppyyyyy"

[jwernatl]

Hey Fastback- I found the bundle of wires behind the head and sure enough, its been rubbing pretty bad. Its so tight back there I dont really know what to do.

Its kinda weird too, because I tried to do the 0 to 90 test- I got nothing, no check engine light of any kind.

And three days ago, (before I found the wire loom yesterday) the miss just quit. Where did it go?

Over the last few weeks I've been hearing what sounds like fuel pump 'buzzing' right behind the drivers side tire, in engine bay- you guys know what that might be? You guys know if its the air pump?

[RF Overlord]

The air suspension compressor is directly under the air filter box, in front of the tire.

[Spectragod]

BUT...

HOW did the Ford Dealer know which COP to replace? My engine light wasn't on.
.

They used a VCM with Ford IDS software, from there it is easy to see what cylinder isn't firing, or has the most mis-fires.

[fastblackmerc]

Hey Fastback- I found the bundle of wires behind the head and sure enough, its been rubbing pretty bad. Its so tight back there I dont really know what to do.

Its kinda weird too, because I tried to do the 0 to 90 test- I got nothing, no check engine light of any kind.

And three days ago, (before I found the wire loom yesterday) the miss just quit. Where did it go?

Over the last few weeks I've been hearing what sounds like fuel pump 'buzzing' right behind the drivers side tire, in engine bay- you guys know what that might be? You guys know if its the air pump?
You can pull the harness down some and put some electrical tape over the damage. I put a rubber vacuum cap on the end of the bolt. If any of the wires are really bad you'll have to repair them.