"cylinder 1 misfire" code

[shabba]

This code is present. We took out the spark plug cleaned it and set the gap
To the proper size. Car still runs like crap. Sputtering like crazy
Does this sound like it could be a bad valve? It's a ztec

[Sponsor]

[whynotthinkwhynot]

P0301?

Was the back strap blued? Did it have a thin black residue that was difficult to get off? Was there any red on the porcelain inside the combustion chamber?

It could be a bad plug wire or coil. You'd have to do a compression test to see about the valve, but the spark plug would've had fluffy, thick, wet black residue on it.

[sailor]

As whynot hinted, just what the plug looked like B4 being cleaned is critical information for diagnosis.....

(so is a compression check)

As to "guesses", the coil and it's connector pigtail are common issues - followed by plug wires & their connections. "Cracking" of the coil, especially in the base area that can only be seen after removal, is indicative of an issue there. Inspecting the coil connector & it's wiring is always a good idea on these, there's a reason a replacement "pigtail" is available from Ford....

Speaking of "tests", I like to do a quick check for spark with a neon spark tester, either an in-line model or the cheap & quick AC brand pocket pen tester that you only need to hold to the wire to see if you have a good jolt of electricity moving through it!

Luck!

[jackdangle]

Had the same thing happen to me. Swap the #1 and #2 plug wires (on the coil pack too). If the code is now on #2, its a bad wire.

[rotarypwr]

Another way is since its a waste spark coil you can swap 1 with 4 at coil and see if miss moves to 4. If it does its the coil.