I own a 01 Screw 4x4 with the 5.4L engine. A couple of weeks ago I was headed to the lake with the boat and the truck really started missing. I headed for home and put the computer on it and found that I had a misfire on the #6 cyl.

With just under 79k on it I figured that it was time for some new plugs and took it to the shop for plugs and a new coil. Got it out of the shop and it was fine for a couple of day cruising around town.

Tried it head out of town this weekend and about 5 miles out same thing a miss fire or so I thought. Back to town again. This time the code was 1405 and I found that the rear hose on the DFPE sensor was off. Put it back on but still not solving the issue. I replaced the hoses which smoothed out the idle but when you put a load on it the misfire returned.

Took it back to the shop and was told that the coil on #8 was bad and replaced as well as a new DFPE sensor as the nipple the hose attached to was partially burned away(which it was.)

So my question is once a coil goes am I likely going to have to replace them all? I am headed out of town again this weekend to help move family pulling a trailer and don't really want to get stranded in the middle of nowhere again.

Thoughts?

 

I think you would have to look at it this way; you never know when anything will go wrong.
It could even be a flat on new tires or anything on the truck no matter how new or when anything was last serviced.
For your peace of mind now, the best bet is to invest in a code reader for about $50 so you can read the codes to see what cylinder has gone out.
Carry a spare coil and some tools to change it.
As far as the DPFE, it would have set a differewnt code, not normally cause a miss and not normally influence the drivability that much until fixed.
Otherwise we are all in the same possible situation everytime we go anywhere.
Can you say triple A (AAA) road service. Well worth the small cost in times of need.
Just this spring I went on a trip towing and lost a cylinder on the way back.
I have a full time monitor with diagnostics so could tell what cylinder was out. Changed it out and just motored on home.
Good luck.

 

^^^ why buy a code reader when he can buy a tuning device and enjoy some benefits to his spent money or he can go to a autoparts store and the codes read for free

 

I understand that there is always a risk when you hit the road. I just didn't know if this motor had a history of a chain reaction when it comes to the coils. I would will willing to change them all if that was the case. Not want to but would do so.

 

If you do replace them all, check eBay. You can pick up a set of 8 COP's for less than $100. And as long as your in there, replace the plugs as well.

 

Did AAA bring a new coil and install it? As far as I know... they will bring you gas if you run out, start a dead battery, or tow the vehicle to the nearest garage within a set amount of miles where you are still stuck till it is fixed. BUT....YES ... the price for AAA is cheaper than a rollback picking you up

 

There are always some silly reples!!!!
I have AAA and know full well what they will and will not do.
They are not allowed to work on a vehicle other than a tow, fuel and jump starts out on the road to try to get people going again and because at that time they are considered 'not qualified' to do any work on AAA time but must do it after the destination has been reached when it's not AAA's resposibility any longer but the decision of the owner, to have any work done..
Tow truck operators normally do not work on anything else.
It's a matter of libilityfor AAA. They are not in the biz of repair.
.
As far as the coils, these motors do lose coils due to age and engine heat.
As to a chronic condition, NO.
These coils have been used as far back as 1993 on some models and continue to be used today.
They are considered a replaceable item the same as tires, spark plugs, brakes etc that often have even shorter life spans than coils.
The problem is in the ''head". There are 8 coils and their cost that people can't get over and use to, instead of one coil like the old days.

 

I had a coil go bad one time, got 8 off e-bay and changed out the driver side. Still got 4 "new" coils and 3 old coils. Now they are not hard to change if you know a little something, so when I go camping I take the old tool box and a "new coil".
My miss would only happen on a really hot day with the a/c on or pulling the toybox.