Hi everyone. Basically, brought this car yesturday. Took it for test drive every think was good and running well. Brought it drove it home. Literally just as I got home it started misfiring, middle two plugs weren't working.

Looked at it this morning, yet again ran fine untill it got warm. Checked all the plugs they are fine.

Done a google and few people say change the coil pack. Can any one add to this ? Has anyone had this problem ? I find it strange how the coil pack works when cold but not hot

Any infomation would be great cheers, as most my experience is Renault.

Could well be the coil pack, have you checked the HT Leads. Did you check the spark plug gaps with feeler gauge or just visual. Also just curious have you checked for any excessive smoke from exhaust and what colour it is. Would like to know bud. Hope you get to the end of it. More than likely one of these parts that are at fault.

HT leads were fine. Just looked at plugs. Not the spacing. Would the spacing make a difference between cold and hot ? Nah no excessive smoke bud.

Coil packs can start to break down when they get warm so it could quite possibly be.

I would recommend changing the coil pack, leads and plugs with genuine parts all together.

Couldn't agree more with stef123. Been working in motor trade for about 4 years now and this seems to be the problem 9/10 times!

Ok thanks for the replies. Il change them sometime this week and get back to ya.

Very unlikely to be plug gaps, because I suppose if they were wrong when fitted then the problem would of been there from start. I just like to make full diagnosis with things so you can eliminate! I'm sure you know that anyway mate.

Yea Darren I agree. Just try to eliminate it and work towards the problem. If I change the leads plugs and coil pack and still misfires then that's beyond my mechanical experience and have to suck it up and take to a garage

I am quite confident that the problem will be resolved when changing the plugs, leads & coil pack. If not then we can look further into it but I think this will resolve your issue!

Does anyone know the part number or code for plugs. There is a variety on euro car parts

So today I fitted new coil pack, leads and plugs.

Ran fine for 10 mins then started juddering and misfiring again. I could cry lol

Any suggestions ?

Ok, so you say the middle pair of plugs (cylinders 2 &3) are the ones not firing? Are you sure about that? So assuming you have confirmed that, you are still looking at a coil related problem. The coilpack is actually two coilpacks in the same casing. One set of windings feeds cylinders 1&4 while the other feeds 2&3. You have replaced the coilpack so its unlikely to be that but the electrical connection to the coilpack is similarly divided between 1&4 and 2&3.

My own experience is with the older 1.6 zetec engine but I think its the same engine as yours without the VCT. The electrical plug onto your coil should have 3 wires. One is for cyls 1&4, one is for 2&3 and the last is a common ignition feed see http://uploads.turbosport.co.uk/Remote0987632434287ghj/httphomebroadparkno~sfedogpublicedis2jpg

If the plug connector is dirty or corroded or the cable is chaffed, it may give you the problem. The cables go back to the ECU so try check them all the way back there. Good luck.

Ok thanks for the reply Vendee. I'm assuming the cables are fine as all for plugs fire when the cars cold. It's only when the engine is warm then it starts misfiring again. I'm debating on taking it to a ford garage. But I no that would cost ££££.

Has the ECU have anythink to do with this problem ?

Ok thanks for the reply Vendee. I'm assuming the cables are fine as all for plugs fire when the cars cold. It's only when the engine is warm then it starts misfiring again. I'm debating on taking it to a ford garage. But I no that would cost ££££.

Has the ECU have anythink to do with this problem ?

Don't forget, the electrical resistance of a wire or bad connector will increase with temperature. Yes, it could be the ECU but that would be really bad news. Buy/borrow a cheap OBD II reader and see if there are any codes showing.

Ok cool? Why ECU bad news? My knowledge of electrics and fords is very little.

Can I just put a different ECU in replacement of mine if it's faulty ?

Been told today to check for a air leak in the inlet. Would this cause a Misfire when warm ?

Il have a look after see if I can find a air leak

Yes an air leak would cause a misfire and these engine are prone to split hoses but you said that cylinders 2 & 3 were not firing which would be ignition related. An air leak would cause problems on all cylinders.

As for replacing the EEC, even if you picked one up from a breakers, I think they have to be programmed to your car (immobiliser, keys etc) at a main dealer and the whole thing isn't cheap.

Ok I investigated it more last night. Wobbled some cables and the misfiring stopped. So gna strip it back tonight and get to the problem