running rich, or weak ignition?

[getsum111]

I have been having misfire issues for a while. Tested everything, replaced more. When I pulled the plugs last week, they were black!!! Def. causing my misfire issue. I put in new ones, car ran fine for a while, but now it feels like it starting to miss a bit again. I have (few months ago) swapped out different coils and wires w/ a fellow CEG'r, but it didn't help the miss then. Of course, when I swapped out the coil/wires, I didn't replace the plugs as they were new then.

My question is about the plugs coloration. How do I know if the A/F is too rich ( and what would cause it) or is the ignition too weak (and could this be the coil)? Haynes manual described both as possibilities. I did test the coil before, and it was w/in specs, but it also has 140K miles on it. Opinions?

 

[beyondloadedSE]

If your plugs are black, sounds like its running rich.

How many miles on the 02 sensors?

 

[getsum111]

Not many (<2000) on bank 1 upper, 140K on bank 2 upper. Will be taking a good look at that one when the headers go on, hopefully soon. Waiting on MSDS. Anything else that could be the culprit?

 

[shavedsvt]

the car or maybe the owner..... lol i had to get a poke at you after all this just for bad plugs

 

[getsum111]

Yeah, but the new plugs may be clogging up now, too. Gotta pull them tonight and see what they look like. :shrug: The sputtering has returned , not as bad as before, but still.....

 

[Tony2005]

...140K on bank 2 upper.....

:laugh: . They have a design life of 100K miles. :laugh:

 

[getsum111]

What ever happened to " Built Ford Tough"?????:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

[pimpdcontour]

Fix Or Repair Daily there is your ford tough. lol sorry top hear about this coming back.. how is the wife

 

[getsum111]

She's in Reading, PA tonight to see an Evanescence concert. That's cool, cuz she'll be in a good mood when I tell her I think I need a new coil.:laugh: Mine is reading about 1 kOhm higher than spec'd on the 2ndary windings. Hmmmmmm.....???????

 

[getsum111]

Ok. Looked at the tip of the O2 sensor, it's light grey, as it should be. Don't know how it's workin' yet. I also retested the coil, and the secondary windings are testing about 1 Kohm too high. Could that be the issue. I hope so, looks like it's time to price coils.:shrug:

 

[BrApple]

Ok. Looked at the tip of the O2 sensor, it's light grey, as it should be. Don't know how it's workin' yet. I also retested the coil, and the secondary windings are testing about 1 Kohm too high. Could that be the issue. I hope so, looks like it's time to price coils.:shrug:

swap or get a junk yard one for now to see

 

[getsum111]

Any 2.5 coil should work, right? (From a Mystique or contour)

 

[BrApple]

Any 2.5 coil should work, right? (From a Mystique or contour)

I do believe so, no reason why they should be different .... I could send you one but the yard I go to didn't have any V6 cars last weekend .... oh luca :laugh:

 

[getsum111]

I should be able to find one around here, I'm off thurs. and Fri.