Lincoln Mark VIII code P304 - Powertrain Control Module

[Scallywag]

I recently starting feeling some misfires on my 97 Mark VIII every now and have been noticing the gas consumption skyrocket while loss of power is at about 50% or so(i'm guessing). Pressing the gas feels stutterish until it sorta, struggles through and then it seemingly runs ok until at a stop light or so where it sometimes it feels like it's about to stall or something. Very rough idle.

So I've told by AutoZone and Advance Auto Parts noobs who checked the engine code that the P304 code is a misfire in the 4th cylinder, perhaps a bad spark plug or not gapped properly since the last tune up they suggest.

But then my other guy tells me the code means something different. That for the Mark VIII, P304 is the Powertrain Control Module.

Either way, I'm ready to get it fixed

 

[ford nut]

Click

Change cop on #4.

 

[chicken]

nope cyl 4 miss

swap the plug from 4 to 3 and swap the coil from 4 to 2. disconnect battery then drive it and when the check engine light comes back on get the codes pulled and see if the miss moved

edit (pass side of eng is 1-4, 1 in front 4 in back)

 

[JDS353]

what chicken said x2

 

[K-FAN]

had the smae problem bought a ignition coil off ebay for 18 bucks and a spark plug from advance for 3 bucks and disconnected the battery and changed the air filter and swaped all that out and reconnect the battery drove for 50+ miles and its gone

 

[Scallywag]

Yea I just wanted to make sure because the guy that told me it is the Powertrain Control Module, is the head mechanic of the shop I took it to and he just so happens to own a very nice 98 White Mark VIII w/Whitewalls and a working ballast he had just gotten a few days ago from some "chat site"(as how he put it). Makes me wonder if he is another recipient of Glitch's magical ballast.

So either the guy is trying to ride me hard for my dough or maybe he does know what could make the code pop up again after they did a full tune up on the vehicle about.... 3 weeks ago.

In the meantime, i will swap out the cop and hope that's all it was.

 

[chicken]

he is an idiot. it is a pcm code probably just like one of those autozone code reader monkeys "it says this so it needs that sensor"