P0303 Code. Cylinder 3 misfire. Pics in thread help needed.

[Aviation]

So I got this code that says cylinder 3 misfire. It has only happened a few times when it rains heavy and I take the car out. It will sputter. I can let it dry and 2 hours later no signs of an issue at all. So it rains again, and again it happens and the check engline light is on. I get the cylinder 3 misfire code. Apparently this is usually an ignition coil or spark plug issue.

So i try to pull the plug. Also, not sure which cylinder is 3, dont know how they are numbered.

I unhook the connector, pull out the part, and it is brass. Not a rubber boot like the pics. Also the connector that goes onto it does not have the protective piece on it. Maybe thats the issue when it rains?

There is supposed to be a plug under the coil, but i do not see that when i pull the brass piece out.

I will post pics shortly. Any help?

 

[Aviation]

 

[joegr]

Wow.
That's not a coil or plug. It looks like a cylinder head temperature sensor, but I'm not very familiar with the V6.
The three large things in the picture that you took are three of the six coils. They are coils 4, 5, and 6, from front to back. On the other side (passenger side) under the top half of the intake are coils 1, 2, and 3, from front to back.

 

[Aviation]

Wow.
That's not a coil or plug. It looks like a cylinder head temperature sensor, but I'm not very familiar with the V6.
The three large things in the picture that you took are three of the six coils. They are coils 4, 5, and 6, from front to back. On the other side (passenger side) under the top half of the intake are coils 1, 2, and 3, from front to back.

There are 4 large things in that picture.

The one that was taken out, just did not have the protective cap on it. Or that is a completely different part that isnt supposed to have that cap?

I have been trying to look up grids of the v6 engine to see which is coil 3, but havent had much luck.

So those other 3, if i pulled them would have plugs under them?

I thought it was the same part but the protective boot came off.

 

[Aviation]

I saw like one or two on the other side,

I thought it was supposed to be 3 and 3...but i cant see them all

so i gotta take the intake off to get to them?

 

[joegr]

Yes, you have to take the intake top off.
Yes, there are three cylinders on each side, three spark plugs on each side, and three COPs (Coil-On-Plug) on each side.
No, the thing you took out is not remotely like the other three large things there. The other three are the tops of the coils. There's no "protective cap" on any of those.
The thing you removed is not nearly as large as the coils.

 

[Aviation]

Okay, that makes sense.

So to get to number 3, the intake has to come off, and it is the one closest to the passenger seat?

 

[joegr]

Yes.

 

[Aviation]

Damn. Sounds like a pain.

How hard is it? Im going to have my friend look at it, i wanna change the number 3 plug and coil

 

[joegr]

There's a banner near the top of this page that has a "Tech Articles" selection.
Or just click these links to get there.
http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/tech/Lincoln-LS/IgnitionCoil00-02V6/
http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/tech/Lincoln-LS/IntakeManifoldV6/

 

[dogsled]

Damn. Sounds like a pain.

How hard is it? Im going to have my friend look at it, i wanna change the number 3 plug and coil

Yes and you may also need valve cover gaskets if there is any oil in there. Also there seems to be a consensus that the motorcraft coils/plugs are the only way to go.

 

[purevilpleasure]

Change them all..do the job once and do it right...or you will be doing it again.

 

[Aviation]

Kind of stuck for cash right now, and need to do my emissions soon, so i was just gonna do the coil/plug on number 3. Im aware the others might not be too far behind, probably do the rest when i get some more income. Might try to do it this weekend or next week, figures it has to be under the manifold and not the ones that are easily accessible

It ONLY happens after a long rain and then still only sometimes. Never when its dry.

 

[joegr]

...It ONLY happens after a long rain and then still only sometimes. Never when its dry.

Okay, I'll answer some of the questions you didn't ask, but probably should have.

1. The water issue is caused by water leaking past the gaskets around the windshield wiper shafts. In your case, it is the seal on the passenger wiper shaft. A kit to fix this is available. It is mostly just a piece of weatherstrip type foam like you get in a hardware store for for house doors and windows.

2. For any water that still makes it to the coils/plugs, the coil boots on the V6 are designed to seal out water from the spark plug wells. A good application of dielectric grease around the outside of the boot (and a little bit on the inside) should be all that you need to seal the water out.

If it were me, I'd fix the cowl seals, replace all the coils and plugs, replace the PCV valve and plumbing, and any seals that were questionable.

Given that you are just trying to get past emissions right now, you might get by with just the one gasket between the passenger wiper shaft and the cowl.