2001 Focus error code 3rd cylinder miss fire. changed plugs and wires and still not fixed. whats next?

Asked by sonnyg Mar 15, 2010 at 11:18 AM about the 2001 Ford Focus LX

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

2001 Focus error code 3rd cylinder miss fire. changed plugs and wires and still not fixed. whats next?

2 Answers

1,325

does it feel like it's miss firing? The code won't clear itself right way, the computer needs to see so many drive cycles without any faults before it clears the code and shuts the light off. If it is still miss firing, check to be sure you actually have spark in that hole...could be a bad coil. If you've got good spark, listen to the injector through a screwdriver to see if it's pulsing...it could be either stuck open, or stuck closed, either could cause a miss. Then I'd check for a vacuum leak at the intake gasket and at the injector on that cylinder, spray some brake clean at them and see if it changes the way it idles. If you've got spark, fuel, and no vacuum leak...start worrying and check compression. I don't know what compression is supposed to be, but all cylinders should be within 10%. If your dead hole has low compression, it could be one of several major problems, such as head gasket, cracked head, warped head, flat cam, cracked piston, bent or unseated valve, cracked valve seat, etc...

2 people found this helpful.

sonny the most common problems ive seen lately is coils, you should be able to clear code and reset check engine lite unless there is a hard fault ,such as a secondary ignition circuit concern,like an open in the coil circuit,hope this helps

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