TEST 3: Testing Cylinders #4, #5, #6 For Spark
You've come to this test from TEST 2: I Have No Misfire Codes.
In this test section, you'll test the 3 COP coils that are in the front of the engine. These are the coil-on-plug (COP) coils for cylinders #4, #5, and #6.
The purpose of testing these three COP coils first, is to make sure that they're sparking and that there isn't oil leaking down on the spark plugs.
IMPORTANT: Remove the fuel pump relay before you start testing for spark. This will prevent your Ford Escape (or Mazda Tribute) from starting. To see the location of the fuel pump relay on the Ford Escape/ Mazda Tribute, check out the photo here: Location Of The Fuel Pump Relay.
OK, to get your misfire troubleshooting going, this is what you need to do:
- 1
Remove cylinder #4's COP coil.
Once the COP coil is off, check to see if the COP coil's spark plug boot is covered and/or dripping with engine oil?
Whether the COP coil boot is covered in oil or not the next step is to attach your spark tester to the COP coil (as shown in photo 2 of 3 in the image viewer). - 2
Connect one end of a jump start cable to the spark tester.
Connect the other end of the jump start cable directly on the battery negative (-) terminal. - 3
Have your helper crank the engine.
As the engine cranks, you'll see one of two spark test results: spark or no spark. - 4
Repeat test steps 1 through 3 on the other COP coils (for cylinders #5 and #6).
Let's take a look at what your test results mean:
CASE 1: All 3 COP coils sparked and were NOT covered in oil. So far so good, since this means that the misfire doesn't live in these three cylinders.
This also means that you'll now need to test cylinders #1, #2, and #3 (which are underneath the plenum) for spark. Go to: TEST 4: Testing Cylinders #1, #2, #3 For Spark.
CASE 2: All 3 COP coils sparked and WERE covered in oil. This tells you that the misfire condition could be caused by the oil.
Since the COP coil boot was soaked with engine oil this means the spark plugs are swimming in oil too. To effectively solve the misfire issue on your Ford vehicle, there are some important recommendations you should take a look at here: Spark Plug And Boots Soaked In Oil.
CASE 3: One of the COP coils DID NOT spark and none were covered in oil. The COP coil that did not spark is bad and must be replaced.
Since none of the COP coils were covered in engine oil, then it's pretty safe to assume that the ones in the back of the engine are not either. You'll need to replace the COP coil and road test to see if the problem is solved.
CASE 4: One of the COP coils DID NOT spark and was covered in oil. The COP coil that did not spark is bad and must be replaced.
You can make sure by plugging a good COP coil into the bad Cop coil's connector and checking for spark one more time. If the good COP coil sparks, then you now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the PCM is activating the bad COP coil, but since it's fried, it's not sparking.
Since the COP coil boot was soaked with engine oil this means the spark plugs are swimming in oil too. To effectively solve the misfire issue on your Ford vehicle, there are some important recommendations you should take a look at here: Spark Plug And Boots Soaked In Oil.
TEST 4: Testing Cylinders #1, #2, #3 For Spark
So far, you have verified that the COP coils for cylinders #4, #5, and #6 are sparking and that they are not covered in engine oil
The next step (and the purpose of this test) is to see if one of the COP coils (that are underneath the plenum) is bad and not sparking and thus the cause of your misfire condition.
You'll also be able to see if the COP coil boots are covered in engine oil or not. Remember, these are the COP coils for cylinders #1, #2, and #3.
In a nutshell, what you're gonna' do is to place these COP coils in front and spark test them to see if they are sparking or not.
IMPORTANT: Remove the fuel pump relay before you start testing for spark. This will prevent your Ford Escape (or Mazda Tribute) from starting. To see the location of the fuel pump relay on the Ford Escape/ Mazda Tribute, check out the photo here: Location Of The Fuel Pump Relay.
Let's get started:
- 1
Disconnect and remove the 3 COP coils for cylinders #4, #5, and #6 and then remove the plastic intake manifold plenum.
IMPORTANT: Once the plenum is removed, stuff clean rags into the open intake manifold ports. This is a safety precaution to avoid having stuff fall down into those intake manifold ports. - 2
Disconnect and remove all 3 of the COP coils for cylinders #1, #2, and #3 (these are the ones that are located under the plastic intake manifold plenum).
Before you remove them, label them with the number of the cylinder that they belong to, this is very important since it'll help you identify the cylinder that was misfiring. - 3
Remove the rags that you placed in the open intake manifold ports and re-install the plenum back in place and bolt it down (its OK to reuse the gasket at this point).
I don't want to jump ahead too much, but what you're gonna' do in a few moments is crank the engine and re-installing the plenum is a safety precaution. - 4
Now install and bolt down 2 of the COP coils (you just removed from the rear bank) in the front engine bank (this is the bank that holds the COP coils for cylinders #4, #5, #6) and connect them to the electrical connectors.
In case you're wondering in what specific location you should install the COP coils, let me tell you that it doesn't matter. - 5
The third COP coil you're gonna' spark test, so attach the spark tester to it and connect it to the electrical connector too.
Ground the spark tester using a jump start cable to the battery negative (-) terminal. - 6
Have your helper crank the engine while you observe the spark tester.
The spark tester should do one of two things: spark or Not spark. - 7
Repeat test steps 1 thru' 6 on the other 2 COP coils and verify if they are sparking or not.
Once you're done, compare your test results to the CASES below.
Let's take a look at what your test results mean:
CASE 1: All 3 COP coils sparked and were NOT covered in oil. This tells you that the 3 COP coils are OK and not the cause of the misfire.
OK, so far you have tested all 6 COP coils with a dedicated spark tester (and therefore you can trust your test results) and you have NO oil leaking onto the spark plug boots or spark plugs, this means that the most likely thing that's causing your misfire condition is the intake manifold gasket and the plenum gasket.
You should at this point also plan on replacing the spark plugs with original Motorcraft spark plugs, I don't recommend that you use anything but.
CASE 2: All 3 COP coils sparked and WERE covered in oil. This tells you that the misfire condition could be caused by the oil.
Since the COP coil boot was soaked with engine oil this means the spark plugs are swimming in oil too. To effectively solve the misfire issue on your Ford vehicle, there are some important recommendations you should take a look at here: Spark Plug And Boots Soaked In Oil.
CASE 3: One of the COP coils DID NOT spark and none were covered in oil. The COP coil that did not spark is bad and must be replaced.
CASE 4: One of the COP coils DID NOT spark and was covered in oil. The COP coil that did not spark is bad and must be replaced.
Since the COP coil boot was soaked with engine oil this means the spark plugs are swimming in oil too. To effectively solve the misfire issue on your Ford vehicle, there are some important recommendations you should take a look at here: Spark Plug And Boots Soaked In Oil.
