I have a 2001 3.0 with 75,000k on it.. I had been having the C E L flashing when I get on the freeway... Then go off when I exit the freeway. Had code read, P 0303.... The other day I drove and the light came on and stayed on... Code was now P 0303, P 0304,& P 0306. Yesterday I pulled the plugs & #4 electrode was gone down to the ceramic and looked a bit oily. I thought for sure that was my problem so I put all new motorcraft plugs in. I started it up and I still have a dead cylinder. I didnt run a compression check but will do so today. I also thought while I have the plugs out I will put them on the wires and ground them on the manifold and see how the spark looks. I'm hoping to read some suggestions. Could the coil pack have caused the problem and if so how? Cam positioner? C E L is flashing and then goes solid again. Drive to the store and it flashes..... Start it up and it's solid... Drive it and it flashes.... Can you all share some of your thoughts on this with me? Any and all thoughts shared on this matter is greatly appreciated....... Thank You................ V

 

well it could be a coil...but the 3.0 also has a problem with warping the heads

 

This truck has never been overheated or abused in any way.... Would a bad head make the plug burn up like it did? I know.. I have to do a compression check to either eliminate or verify things. I thought I had read that the newer rangers had problems with the heads... I figured this being a 2001 I was safe as far as the head issues

 

other 3.0 heads have warped even when being babied

 

Just what I've been hoping not to hear..... For what it's worth... There is no water in the oil or oil in the water... # 3 plug looked fine # 4 was missing the center electrode...... I wonder what would cause that... I will do a compression check later and see where that takes me. I'm thinkin that a compression check will show a problem with the heads won't it?

 

I would do the compression check just to be sure. But my 01 3.0L did kinda the same thing and my coil had a crack in the side of it. I had a dead miss too. I was worried about the heads too cause at the time it had about 140,000mi on it. I bought a high output coil from stuffforyourranger.com and its been fine since. Its got 188,000mi now.

 

When I think about it....... In the last two days... A couple of times I was turning right from a dead stop..... I had heard a noise that made me think I had a loose plug... The noise lasted maybe 1 second each time..... I wonder if it's possible that the head has somehow become loose and i was hearing compression leak out? I don't know......... The noise could have been the fan rubbing on something somehow I guess....Then my thoughts go back to what made the electrode burn up in #4? Could it be that #3 isn't firing on the coil and sending too much power to #4? Also.... I have the misfire code for two different sides of the motor.....????

 

Have you checked your coil pack? how about your wires? I'd throw a new coilpack at it and see what it does.

 

I don't have the tools to test the coil pack... Thats why I'm wondering.....IF... #3 was bad on the coil pack... Could it send too muck power to #4 and be the cause of the electrode burning up? I'm gonna go pull the plugs right now so I can do a compression check.... Hopefully that will tell me something or point me to look into the coilpack.... Thank you all for your input.... Man... I hate to think that it could have a bad head at such low milage........... I would like to know if my thoughts about the coilpack are possible......?????????I did put a spark tester on each plug before pulling them and it showed spark on all six cylinders...... I dont know how strong of a spark though... Thats why I thought I'd check the spark on the plugs if the compression check comes out good.......... .{10 mins later>>}> Well , It figures... The compression tester I have wont go into the plug holes... It looks as if the fitting is to big to go in far enough to let the threads catch :{ I guess I'll lay the plugs on the manifold and see how the spark looks....HHHMMMM...... ?????

 

It won't send to much power to the other plug. Thats not how a coil pack works.
Heres how you test it without any tools.
Take whichever Cylinder doesn't work, and switch wires with a cylinder that DOES work.
if you still have a misfire, than you now have it narrowed down to wire or coil pack.

 

Thanks.... I just layed all the plugs on the manifold and turned the motor... All six plugs are definitly firing. However... I couldnt swear to it... But it appeared as if #1 2 &3 were weaker sparks than #4 5 &6. Does this sound right? I appreciate your thoughts on this.......I have to get the code read again to make sure which cylinder is missing.... I'm sure it will be # 3 or 4. Does the weaker looking spark on the one side sound right? Thanks............Oh... the C E L has been flashing now an then for the last year or so.... about 4000 miles or so

 

All a Flashing CEL means is that Misfire is detected. My gut says Coil pack still, but i'm not too sure. Maybe somebody else will chime in.

 

I understand.... The light is solid again.... If I drive it I'm sure it will start flashing again. I need to get the code read again...... I'm really wondering about how the spark appeared stronger on one side.... I would think any spark would fire the fuel... But I dont know for sure..... Man... my arms are cut up..... It's not easy getting old......It's definetly only running on 5 cylinders still...

 

Any thoughts on that by anyone?