I have just replaced my thermostat in a 2002 F-150, 5.4l.

After two days of solving the temp problem, the truck has developed a miss and has a flashing CEL. If I get it scanned at Autozone, whats the next step?

Its currently sitting 40 miles from home. Can I drive it safely home or to autozone? After its trip 40 miles home, if i can't fix it, then its a 40 mile trip back into town to the dealer.

What do I need to do to get it running right?

Quick response is greatly appreciated. Its nearing teh end of the day and i need to figure out whether im going to drive it like it is for 300 miles or so or take it to a dealer or buy parts or what.

 

how many miles? Whats been replaced so far on the ingition system?

flashing just indicates an active missfire. I would recommend investing in your own hand held OB2 scanner for under 100 bucks so you arent depending on autozone to retrieve codes for you.

you probably need new spark plugs, but lets start by pulling the code(s)

 

150k miles....plugs were replaced not too long ago. I think i may have spilled coolant into the plug well...not sure how that could hurt anything though.

 

Well one day i decided i was going to "spray" the engine down at the car wash and when i left the car wash i had the CEL flashing at me and guess what it was a COP that had got wet and failed. My bet is you need to change COPS

 

agreed. you may need new COPs any thing in the sparkplug hole isnt good.

looks like you need new plugs, clean the holes out really good..and probably new COPS..but get the codes pulled from autozone

 

Where do I get OEM quality COPS? How far can I drive it like it is? I really need to get it home....50 miles.

 

i would get the global cops on ebay..i cant ever find them so someone else will have to post a link.

 

CODE: P0308, P0316


Ford wanted 320 bucks to change ONE coil pack if thats what it was. F--- them.

Is this a coil pack problem? Can I fix this?

 

P0303=cylinder 8 misfire

P0316=engine misfire detected on startup first 1000rpms

 

misfire you should probably change plugs and make sure no water/coolant is in there.

the other code, p0316, is probably the same..moisture or the coil may be going bad



yes the dealership is high..the motorcraft coils at ABC are about 80 bucks a piece..

 

Ebay cops are 80 bucks a SET. Search Ebay for "DG508" and buy them from Global Automotive or Uneek Supply. Use only Motorcraft spark plugs.

 

Code 0308 is cylinder #8 last one on the driver's side.
The 316 code is only a support code that the crank sensor reported as well.
It will go away when cylinder 8 is restored to operation.
The flashing is alerting that raw gas is passing through the motor to the cat from cylinder 8.
The possible problem this causes is the cat overheating from burning the raw gas. This is why the CEL lamp flashes for the peticular problem.
All this is not a 'big' problem or mistery.
Just change the coil or whatever is causing the loss of ignition in that cylinder and be on your way.
Since the cylinder is in hard fault, use an ohm meter to test accross the coil terminals and from one terminal to the plug tip terminal to see if it is open, then you know for sure if it is the coil.
Good luck.