[Rabbitccc]

01 SPI Sedan 63,000Miles Stock
My father called me up the other day and said his car had no get up and go. So I took it for a drive and there was a very noticable misfire. But if you drove it like a grandma it was fine. But if you gave it half throttle right at about 20mph and on up it would pull 3/4ths of the time, but every second or so it would basically do nothing. Changed the plugs and gapped them properly. 2/4 had no electrodes left. They were the original plugs. Although this didn't help the issue. Sprayed water on the wires and they were sparking in about 5 dif. spots. Changed the wires and put them in the right order. Still doing the same exact thing. I rulled out clogged fuel, because it still lets you get up to 70mph if you do it gradually. I also rulled out timing because it idle fine. ???????????? No codes or anything. What do you think? Should I replace the coil pack? Please give me some ideas.

 

[jetrinka]

I betcha either the distributor cap or the rotor or both are worn. The contact points between the rotor and where the plug wires get their power can wear down over time creating misfires especially at high speeds or sudden throttle where the time the contact points are together is significantly reduced. I would replace these both and see if this helps.

 

[04PZEV]

My timing belt off by a tooth and it idled and revved fine and drove fine if slowly accelerating but every time I would give it some throttle it bogged down a little until about 4500rpm. Similar symptoms. Wouldnt hurt to check.

 

[whynotthinkwhynot]

I betcha either the distributor cap or the rotor or both are worn. The contact points between the rotor and where the plug wires get their power can wear down over time creating misfires especially at high speeds or sudden throttle where the time the contact points are together is significantly reduced. I would replace these both and see if this helps.

Yeah, does that one have a distributor or is it magnetic pickup ignition? I've never worked on an SPI so I have no idea.

Another thing to consider is the fuel filter. If he didn't change the plugs, he probably didn't change the fuel filter which would cause misfire at WOT or higher rpm's held for a while.

 

[Rabbitccc]

Well it's only bogging out 1/4th of the time. So if the timing belt was off one or two teeth wouldn't that make it bog on every cylinder. I'm not sure what ignition it has. I'll have to look at my hanes manual. He just got this car as a replacement about 10,000 miles ago, so we have no clue what maintenence if any was done. The only reason I figured it wasn't fuel was- Bare with me, numbers aren't going to be right. just examples.
20mph light throtte=5% fuel = OK
20mph heavy throttle=25% fuel and it bogges out
45mph light throttle=15% fuel = OK
45mph heavy throttle=35% fuel and bogges out
70mph light throttle=35% fuel = OK
70mph heavy throttle=60% fuel and bogges out
Shouldn't the car choke on fuel at 70mph or is my thinking not even correct at all.

 

[illinipo]

it has a coil pack, no distributor. so timing could still be an issue (in the tune)

check the pigtail going into the coilpack, theres probly a bad connection there

where are you getting those % fuel numbers and what do they mean?

 

[Rabbitccc]

I said bare w/ me. Numbers aren't going to be right. Just examples.
I was just stating that I would think if it was clogged fuel I wouldn't be able to get up to 70mph.

 

[illinipo]

no i mean what are they from? like where did you get those percentages?

 

[Rabbitccc]

I made them up.

 

[jetrinka]

it has a coil pack, no distributor. so timing could still be an issue (in the tune)

check the pigtail going into the coilpack, theres probly a bad connection there

where are you getting those % fuel numbers and what do they mean?

Huh looked at a pic and sure looked like it had one. lol.

 

[illinipo]

oh try unplugging the neg battery cable for 30 mins and then put it back on and try

 

[mofocuszx3]

You might try the o2 sensers, my 2000 se had the same problem, but only at 55+ mph.

 

[Rabbitccc]

To clear things up the focus does only have a coil pack.
But I purchased a fuel filter for the car today preety much just to change it, cause I knew it needed done. I was going to take off the coil when I had enough time. I figured there was also a 5% chance that it would fix the problem, well it fixed it. Car runs great. Not to mention my dad's probably going to get 50% better gas milage now that his plug wires work right and he's got a good fuel filter and his spark plugs actually have electrodes. Thanks everybody for your ideas. I appreciate it. +1's for people that gave good ideas.

 

[jetrinka]

Wow. Seriously clogged filter.

 

[Rabbitccc]

That's what I said. I don't understand how a clogged filter could make a pulse.(Felt like a miss)