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    #1

    Cold engine misfire

    1993 civilian CV. 130K 2-owner miles. The car has very recently started running like absolute crap in the mornings. Weather has been hot and dry. Car seems to be running on 7 if not 6 cylinders, and will briefly smooth out for a second or two, then back to misfiring. As the car warms up, it gets better. I only live a mile from work, and it is improving by then. The rest of the day, it is very smooth, with just an occasional misfire hiccup.

    I replaced plugs about 3 or 4 years ago at probably about 100K miles - possibly for the first time. The car burns a bit of oil through the valve seals, but not bad. Plug wires say "motorcraft" and could very well be original. Also, I have not replaced coils and do not believe prior owner did either. I hooked my inductive timing light up to various wires, and the light was not flashing regularly. However, the way the wires run, I may have been getting bleed from another wire. I have not pulled wires from plugs to look down into the plug wells, and do not notice any coolant leaks.

    Does not seem to be engine-temp sensitive, but more like ambient underhood temp sensitive. Also, it feels very much like an electrical misfire and not a cold-run fuel problem. My guess is I should try plug wires first, coil packs second. Any words of wisdom from Panther experts?

    J. P. Cavanaugh
    1993 Crown Victoria LX
    Tags: 4.6, cold, misfire
    #2
    I'd go for plugs and wires. If it burns oil, the plugs are probably crapped up. If the wires are original, they're also likely due for replacement. Wires tend to get leaky and cause craptastic running when damp, which I'd expect in the morning more than other times.
    86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
    5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley

    91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry

    1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal

    Originally posted by phayzer5
    I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers

    Comment

      #3
      yeah... since the plugs have been replaced... you might need to replace the wires now.

      Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
      rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)

      Originally posted by gadget73
      ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.

      Originally posted by dmccaig
      Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

      Comment

        #4
        Problem fixed. New plugs, wires and coil packs. Runs like a new car. The wires were probably 20 years old. I thought about doing wires first and sticking with old coils, but figured that those things probably have a design life of less than 20 years, might as well replace them while I was in there. I went with the Delphi units from Rock Auto. Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

        Comment

          #5
          hang onto the old coils just in case the new ones crap out.

          Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
          rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)

          Originally posted by gadget73
          ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.

          Originally posted by dmccaig
          Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

          Comment

            #6
            I did indeed hold onto them just for insurance. I figured from the outset that there was a chance that they would be good, but I just replaced them because they are 20 years old. I just put them on the shelf with the other forgotten parts I have kept as insurance over the years.

            Comment

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