FordsRule01
New Member
- Joined
- June 26, 2015
- Messages
- 3
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1998 explorer xl
Hello All, Have posted here before, but only several times. Been lurking and learning from all the expertise on this site. I am what you would call a shadetree mechanic, so I am not totally clueless, but I am stuck with this one. Approximately 1 month ago, my 1998 4.0L OHV started, Well I called it "bucking" and "missing" during travel. Not only during acceleration, but also during normal highway travel. Initially, no CEL came on or even flashed. This lasted for about 2 days and I initially thought perhaps I got some bad gasoline and tried a different station to fill up and also utilized some fuel injection cleaner. About 2 days later, I got a CEL flashing and the "stumble " getting worse and then the CEL came on and stayed on. I read the code with my reader, and it said "#4 misfire detected". I have, within the past 3 months (3000 miles) replaced all the plugs, wires and the coil pack. After the solid CEl I pulled the #4 plug and found it oil fouled?? so I replaced it with new Motorcraft plug (all were Motorcraft plugs) and the problem was solved. Ran the car for almost a month now and two days ago, it starts doing the same thing again! CEl comes on flashing and the code reader said #3 misfire detected. Okay, I think , I got this . Same thing as last time, I'll replace the plug and I'll be fine until I can figure out what is causing the plugs to misfire, at least I'll be able to drive it. WRONG!! I replaced #3 and got about a mile from the house and the CEL starts flashing again and the stumble starts again!! I went back to the house, read the code and it says #3 misfire detected. I pulled the plug and it looks slightly grey and no oil fouling. The initial change of the #3 plug was the same. Changed the second plug and drove about a mile again and it starts doing the same dang thing!! I am stumped! I hope someone has an idea because I am fresh out. Have also replaced the fuel filter within the last 3000 miles.