Hey Folks,
I have Run the extent of my diagnostic know-how on this truck and I'm lost on what to do next. I have the 2.3 with 8 plugs, has a cylinder 2 misfire according to codes, you can feel the skip. I have so far Replaced: all plugs with motorcraft sp432, New wires, Cylinder 2 Injector, the Rear Coil pack, Gutted out the Cat (I KNOW ILLEGAL) but it was clogged slam up. after replacing all this i still have a misfire. HELP!!!

EDIT: Also have ran injector cleaner and Fuel Treatment in half a tank of 93 octane

 

Welcome to the forum

Unfortunately when you have a misfire the first thing you should do is to test compression in all the cylinders
Yes, its a pain but if #2 has a compression problem then doing spark plugs, wires, coils, injectors or anything else is a waste of time, and in some cases money

On the 2.3l Lima(1996) you need to remove 1 spark plug from each cylinder first, then install compression gauge in one and test it, then move to the next, writing down results
Expected compression is 165psi or higher

A gasoline engine needs 3 things to "fire"
Spark, at the right time
Fuel, in the right mix with air
Compression, above 120psi running

Spark and fuel can be intermittent so can be hard to troubleshot
Compression, for the most part, is good or bad, no real grey area there, lol, i.e. if 1, 3, and 4 are 165psi, and 2 is 120psi then you found the reason for the misfire
You can then do a WET compression test, put a teaspoon of oil down spark plug hole then install gauge and retest, compression will go up but by how much tells you if rings are leaking or Valves are, usually it doesn't go up much because valves are the most common issue for low compression

Because you have gone thru spark and fuel pretty well I would do the compression test just to confirm that is the problem
It could be a Rocker issue, so head doesn't have to come off, but usually its a burnt exhaust valve

 

Thanks for the welcome!! So I just did a compression test on just the #2 cylinder and of course its 110 lbs. ran a camera through the spark plug hole and it looks like there is an old spark plug electrode wire stuck in the exhaust valve seat. Any way to get whatever it is out without removing the cylinder head??

 

Good find

Rotate the engine and get that valve open, see if you can dislodge that piece.
I have used grease smeared on smaller size rope to stick down in spark plug hole to get smaller bits out.

Usually pieces like that will be blown out of the engine when exhaust valve opens, just bad luck it got stuck

After its out test compression again
If valve or seat is damaged then head will need to come off

 

Going to take both plugs out of that cylinder and turn it over until exhaust valve is completely open and try to use inspection camera and a nicely bent coathanger to dislodge it from the seat. hopefully it isnt damaged and i can get away with getting it out with a magnet. wish me luck!!

 

Good luck!

 

Well....that was a major failure. The valve seat is screwed. Guess I'll have to pull the head. Might as well do timing belt and water pump while I'm there. I really hate my luck. Sold one vehicle to buy another with same issue

 

Bummer