Cylinder #2 - I am sure this question has been asked before, so forgive me for asking again, where is cylinder #2 located? Does anyone have a pic of it? I just replaced a distributor cap (which took the check engine light off). The engine was running rough, and vibrating/shuddering when I had to stop for a light; it is somewhat better but still need to take care of the #2 misfire.

Anybody that can help me out?

Thanks,

Geo

 

Ford's v6's go; (Looking from the front)
3 6
2 5
1 4

(This being the front of the truck if there is confusion)

Ford numbers their cylinders from the front on the passenger side to the firewall and then from the front on the driverside to the firewall.

-- Are you changing a plug or what?

Edit- Here is a pic. You can see #1 #2 and #3 on the plug wires. I took a picture as I was changing them so I would be able to remember what went where.

 

#2 is middle plug, passenger side.

You don't have a distributor cap, what did you really change?

Verify your code, please - P0203 is a cylinder #3 fuel injector malfunction.

 

Thanks phil and glc. Eh, don't know why I called it distributor cap (was the ignition coil)..Had it in yesterday to have 4 tires replaced and alignment - mechanic said it was throwing the following codes (check engine light was on):
P0174 - Lean code
P0316 - (doesn't say what)
P0302 - (geez, can't believe I did it backwards) Misfire cylinder 2

Have a batch of other probs he mentioned, but trying to figure out what is DIY and what to leave up to the mechanic. I do have 235,000+ mi. on it with a rebuilt trans.

 

P0316 is a general misfire code, P0174 is lean bank #2 (driver's side). If you already replaced the coil pack, I'd probably change the spark plugs and wires too. Motorcraft recommended. Plugs are pretty easy, wires aren't too bad but it's pretty tight getting them around the back of the engine to the other bank. You need to look for vacuum leaks, that's what will usually throw a lean code - an exhaust leak near the forward O2 sensor on that bank can do it too.

There's a possibility you may need plenum gaskets and isolator bolts - those eventually crack and leak, effectively causing a vacuum leak.

I'd get the misfire fixed, then clear the codes if it's running okay and see if they come back.

 

glc - thanks again. I will tackle the spark plugs and wires. Have never looked for vacuum leaks so not quite sure how to go about that. (or where the forward O2 sensor is for that matter My check engine light went off (momentarily) after I replaced the coil pack, but I noticed it is back on again. Hoping that new spark plugs and wires will take care of that.

 

I would recommend doing what glc said. Replace your plugs and wires and go from there. The forward o2 sensors are the ones before the catalytic converter. You will have 4 sensors total. 2 on each bank before the cat, and 2 on each bank after the cat. That's a 50 state compliant setup.

Also, make sure you check the gap on those plugs and set them gaps as necessary.

 

You have a 4.2 V6 with a distributor? Please, take a pic of it!

 

Already posted - he meant the coil pack.

 

Ok, I must have missed it first time around.

 

Two things on the plugs.

1) gap them to 0.054"
2) use only Motorcraft, Autolite or Denso iridium plugs. Anything else (especially Bosch plugs) will 99.999999999% of the time cause the motor to run very rough.