Working on a 1989 ford with a 2.3L 5 Speed. 8 plugs. The truck has a miss on the exhaust side. The coil have been changed new ignition system the ecu has been replaced. I did how ever check a few other thing am getting 12 volts to the center wire on the exhaust coil pack, i also replaced the coil with one that i knew that work nothing changed. There no change how the truck runs if you unplug the exhaust coil pack other then the ses light comes on when the coil is unplugged if you unplug the coil for the intake side the truck does not run. Then when i took it to drive it a little way some time it would run other time it would fall on it face and do nothing.

 

Spark, at the right time
Fuel, in the right mix with air
Compression, above 100psi

Those are the big 3 a gas engine needs to ignite a cylinder.

Compression can't really be intermittent, so it is often best to check it then it can be taken off the table.
2.3l's have been know to have rockers wear down so valves don't open all the way, also lean running can cause "tulipped" valve, so low compression with either.
As RPMs increase compression does too, so cylinder can start firing at that time.

Spark can be test with, old timing light or spark tester.

Fuel can be checked by disabling spark, unplug coils, and cranking engine over, then pull spark plug and see if it is fuel on it.
Can do this test when testing compression as well, check and wipe off end of tester after testing each cylinder.

Compression test must be done with 1 spark plug removed from each cylinder, so crank shaft speed is faster.

FYI on the 2.3l or 2.5l, only the exhaust side spark plugs/coil are used when starting, intake side don't start until engine is running, i.e. RPMs above 600

 

I told you wrong the exhaust side is working it's the intake side that is not firing. thanks for the info maybe I can get the truck running