How To Test The Ignition Coil Pack (2001-2004 2.0L Ford Escape)

In this tutorial, I'm going to show you how to test the ignition coil pack on your 2.0L Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute to see if it's causing an engine no-start problem or a cylinder misfire.

Each test step is explained in a step-by-step way so you can quickly figure out if the ignition coil pack is the issue.

One more thing, you'll be able to run all of these tests with just three basic tools: a spark tester, a multimeter, and a 12-Volt test light. No expensive diagnostic equipment (that'll break the bank) required.

APPLIES TO: This tutorial applies to the following vehicles:

• 2.0L Ford Escape: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.
• 2.0L Mazda Tribute: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.

IGNITION COIL PACK WIRING DIAGRAM:

• Ignition Coil Pack Wiring Diagram (2001-2004 2.0L Ford Escape).

HOW THE COIL PACK WORKS:

• How The Ignition Coil Pack Works (2001-2004 2.0L Ford Escape).

Symptoms Of A Bad Ford Coil Pack

The ignition coil pack is the ignition system component that creates the spark your Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute's spark plugs need to start and keep the engine running.

When the coil pack or the spark plug wires fail, you'll usually see one or more of the following symptoms:

• Rough idle and stalling.
• Lack of power on acceleration.
• Bad gas mileage.
• The engine cranks but won't start.
• Misfire trouble codes —the check engine light illuminates with with one or more of the following codes:
  • P0300: Random Cylinder Misfire.
  • P0301: Cylinder #1 Misfire.
  • P0302: Cylinder #2 Misfire.
  • P0303: Cylinder #3 Misfire.
  • P0304: Cylinder #4 Misfire.
• Rotten egg smell from the exhaust from unburned fuel entering the catalytic converter and creating a sulfur smell.

What Tools Do I Need To Test The Ignition Coil?

To successfully diagnose the coil pack as good or bad, on your Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute, you'll need a few specific tools:

• A 12 Volt test light with an incandescent bulb to check the coil A and B activation signals. If you don't have one, this is the one I use and recommend: Lisle 28400 Heavy Duty 12 Volt Test Light (Amazon affiliate link).
• A spark tester. This tool is a must have. If you don't have one and need to buy one, I recommend the HEI spark tester. It's accurate and the one I always use: OTC 6589 Electronic Ignition Spark Tester (Amazon affiliate link).
• Battery jump start cables to help you Ground the spark tester to the battery negative (-) terminal.
• A helper. Someone to help you crank the engine during the tests.

Where To Buy The Ignition Coil And Save

When you're ready to replace the ignition coil pack on your 2.0L Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute, I recommend two solid brands: Standard Motor Products and Motorcraft (with Motorcraft being the factory original part):

TEST 1: Testing For Spark At The Spark Plug Wire

The very first and most important step in diagnosing whether the coil pack is good or bad is to check all four spark plug wires for spark with a spark tester.

I want to emphasize using a spark tester. You can use any type you have, but it must be a dedicated spark tester to get an accurate result.

Otherwise, you'll end up with a misleading result that could have you chasing ghosts —and that's something you definitely want to avoid.

NOTE: One thing that will help you troubleshoot the coil pack on your 2.0L Ford Escape (Mazda Tribute) is understanding how this type of ignition system works. For more details, see this guide: How The Ignition Coil Pack Works (2001-2004 2.0L Ford Escape).

All right, let's get started.

1. 1

   Remove the spark plug wire (high-tension cable) from the spark plug.

2. 2

   Attach a spark tester to the high-tension wire.

3. 3

   Connect the spark tester to the battery negative (-) terminal using a battery jump start cable, as shown in the photo above.

4. 4

   Have your helper crank the engine while you observe the spark tester from a safe distance.
   
   NOTE: The engine may or may not start —either way, be careful.

5. 5

   You're gonna' get one of two results: Spark or NO spark.

6. 6

   Disconnect the spark tester from the wire and reconnect the wire to its spark plug.

7. 7

   Repeat the spark test on the remaining spark plug wires.

IMPORTANT: Read the following options carefully to interpret your NO SPARK results. Keep in mind that the coil pack contains two separate ignition coils, and each one fires two paired cylinders (1 and 4, or 2 and 3). So, if you find no spark on two wires, check whether they belong to a paired set or to unpaired cylinders (for example: 1 and 3, 2 and 4, or 1 and 2).

CASE 1: You got spark from all four spark plug wires. This indicates that the coil pack and spark plug wires are OK.

If you're troubleshooting a cylinder misfire condition, it's not due to a bad coil pack. For more troubleshooting tips, go to: Other Things That Can Cause A Misfire.

CASE 2: You got NO spark from only one spark plug wire. The next step is to check for spark directly on the coil pack tower that feeds that spark plug wire with spark. Go to: TEST 2: Testing For Spark At The Ignition Coil Pack.

CASE 3: You got NO spark from two spark plug wires that connect to paired cylinders (1 and 4, or 2 and 3). Your next step is to check for spark directly at the coil towers those wires connect to.

For this test, go to: TEST 4: Testing For Spark At The Ignition Coil Pack (Paired Cylinders).

CASE 4: You got NO spark from two spark plug wires that do not belong to paired cylinders. Your next step is to check each coil pack tower (the ones those non-sparking wires connect to) directly for spark.

For this test, go to: TEST 3: Testing For Spark At The Ignition Coil Pack (Non-Paired Cylinders).

CASE 5: You got NO spark from any of the spark plug wires. This usually means the coil pack isn't getting its IGN power feed or the crankshaft position (CKP) sensor has failed.

Your next step is to check that the coil pack is getting power. Go to: TEST 5: Making Sure The Coil Pack Is Getting IGN 12 Volts.

TEST 2: Testing For Spark At The Ignition Coil Pack

If in TEST 1 you found one spark plug wire that didn't spark, the next step is to check if the coil pack tower that wire connects to is actually sparking.

This is a very simple test that involves placing the spark tester on the coil pack tower (for the non-sparking wire) and cranking the engine.

Here's what we can expect:

• Spark: Confirms the coil pack is good and the spark plug wire is bad.
• No spark: Means the coil pack is bad and that's why the wire didn't spark in TEST 1.

Let's get started:

1. 1

   Remove the spark plug wire that did not fire off spark from the coil pack.

2. 2

   Place the spark tester directly on the coil pack tower of the spark plug wire you just removed (see the example in the photo above).

3. 3

   Connect the spark tester to the battery negative (-) terminal with a battery jump start cable.

4. 4

   Have your helper crank the engine.
   
   CAUTION: The engine may start, so be careful.

5. 5

   You're gonna' get one of two results: Spark or NO spark.

Let's take a look at what your test result means:

CASE 1: You got spark from the coil pack tower. This is the correct and expected result.

It means the coil pack is good and the spark plug wire is defective. Replace all of the spark plug wires (high-tension wires) as a set.

CASE 2: You got NO spark. This result confirms the coil pack is bad and explains why the spark plug wire didn't fire spark in TEST 1.

Replace the coil pack to fix the misfire condition and clear the misfire code lighting up the check engine light (CEL) on your Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute's instrument cluster.

When it's time to replace the ignition coil, here are two coil packs I recommend from two brands I trust —Standard Motor Products and Motorcraft— both of which I've used for years:

• Standard Motor Products FD497T Ignition Coil (Amazon affiliate link).
• Motorcraft - IGN Coil DG536 (Amazon affiliate link).

TEST 3: Testing For Spark At The Ignition Coil Pack (Non-Paired Cylinders)

NOTE: This test only applies if you have two spark plug wires that didn't spark and they connect to non-paired cylinders.

Since TEST 1 confirmed you've got two spark plug wires that aren't sparking, we'll now check for spark directly at the ignition coil pack towers, one at a time.

We'll place the spark tester on the tower itself and see one of two results:

• The tower sparks: This confirms the spark plug wire is bad —that's why it isn't sparking.
• The tower doesn't spark: This means the ignition coil pack is bad —that's why the spark plug wire didn't spark in TEST 1.

NOTE: For clarity, the paired cylinders are 1 and 4, and 2 and 3. Each pair shares the same ignition coil inside the coil pack. So, if you found two non-sparking wires that belong to cylinders 1 and 4, or cylinders 2 and 3, you're in the wrong section. Go to: TEST 4: Testing For Spark At The Ignition Coil Pack (Paired Cylinders).

Alright, here are the test steps:

1. 1

   Remove the spark plug wire that did not spark from the coil pack.

2. 2

   Place the spark tester directly on the coil pack tower for that wire (see the example in the photo above).

3. 3

   Connect the spark tester to the battery negative (-) terminal using a battery jump start cable.

4. 4

   Have your helper crank the engine.
   
   CAUTION: The engine may start, so be careful.

5. 5

   You'll see one of two results: Spark or NO spark.

6. 6

   Remove the spark tester and reconnect the wire to its coil pack tower.

7. 7

   Repeat the same spark test on the other coil pack tower —the one that connects to the second non-sparking wire you identified in TEST 1.

Let's find out what your spark test result means:

CASE 1: You got spark. This spark test result lets you know that the ignition coil pack is good and that the spark plug wire is defective. Replace all of the spark plug wires (high tension wires) as a set.

CASE 2: You got NO spark. The ignition coil pack is bad. Replacing the coil pack will solve the misfire condition and the misfire code lighting up the check engine light (CEL) on your Escape or Tribute's instrument cluster.

If you need a replacement coil pack, here are two solid choices from brands I've used for years —Standard Motor Products and Motorcraft:

• Standard Motor Products FD497T Ignition Coil (Amazon affiliate link).
• Motorcraft - IGN Coil DG536 (Amazon affiliate link).