Multiple Cylinder Misfire

[ryan8787]

I took my 01 zx3 Focus out for a ride yesterday and ran into this problem. Right when i started the car, the steering wheel was hard to turn like my power steering was cut (not sure if that has anything to help diagnose or not) shortly down the driveway it gets significantly easier to turn the wheel and i go about my business. As i make it maybe a mile and a half down the road the car starts to stutter like its loosing power, but keeping RPMs, and as i go another quarter mile the stutter takes over and im driving with little acceleration power at the pedal no matter what gear i choose. Now the CEL is flashing.
So i turn around and bring it home to see if there are any noticible problems under the hood, and all seems well. I go to the store and get the CEL checked to see what the code is. It throws a Cylinder 1 and 4 misfire. I replaced the coil, plugs and wires a ~40k miles ago, could it be time for a replace and an easy fix?
Im away at college with little to no tools unlike at home, so im trying to weigh my options prior to making a move. Thank you in advance, Ryan.

[zetecDon]

Moved to "General Technical Chat".

[amc49]

Cyls. 1-4 are paired off one of the coils. Try looking very closely at where the coil power supply wires (NOT plug wires) go into the front of coil, on older cars one of the small wires can break at the connector to act up like that. Probably not middle wire, one of the outside ones of 3 total wires there. Or one half of coil pack is bad. Look for cracks in coil outer casing, not a good sign........

[BC_ZX3]

Originally Posted by amc49

Or one half of coil pack is bad. Look for cracks in coil outer casing, not a good sign........

I'd vote for this one over the other possibility. Usually you get a P0351 or 352 code (Ignition Coil Primary/ Secondary Circuit Malfunction) if any of the two outer coil connector wires break. Duff coils usually just give the cylinder misfire code in my experience.
Coil pigtail or coil itself cost about the same.