Possible COP issue

[Trode1121]

Recently bought 2004 Bird with 47,000, have seen some comments online about coil over plug problems. Had some issues with a Ford chassis motor home with the V-10 so am familiar with the set up.

On trip recently I went to Blue Ridge Mountains and took side trip to Pilot Mountain (for those familiar with it) which consists of a 2 mile curvy climb to the summit with average grade of 9%, though some sections are >12%. The car climbed fine, reached the top and got out for a look, I let it idle for about 4-5 minutes to allow transmission and engine to cool, then shut down. Walked around for about 10 minutes and when we returned to the car and restarted it idled very rough, clearly a miss on one if not 2 cylinders. I can not accelerate this car in park, pedal has essentially no throttle response, so I pulled out of spot and miss continued for just a short time, then smoothed back out. Roll forward 5 or 6 days....home, took car for short ride then stopped at grocery store for a few things, upon re-starting after about 15 minutes, engine stumbled baddly, idled very roughly but felt more like fuel issue than spark. I shut back down, restarted and seemed to smooth out, put in drive and drove fine.

A little concerned about these random problems, am suspicious of COPs, especially once warm. No issues to date on cold starts at all.

Thoughts?? Any way to test COP individually to see if weak and possibly breaking down when hot??

Thanks

[02-T-Bird]

I suggest you pickup a good OBD code reader . Also coils and plugs are not that expensive and just change them all out and be done with that for now.

[007Cruiser]

Yes you definitely need to check for codes. My suspicion is the same as you. I recently had one go bad and changed out the entire bank since most of the work involved is getting to them.

[007Cruiser]

Fall sunrise at Pilot Mountain

7215B443-5CB6-41BD-A89F-4BC069432724.jpeg

[Gobird]

Go with new coils and plugs.

[snowbird]

Has the ' check engine light " not come on ? As Ted suggested, get a OBD reader if it has as it will tell you if its a coil and also which one . I am leaning more to problems with the " throttle body " sticking or just needing a good cleaning . Went through these problems last year on our '03 .

[Trode1121]

Thanks for suggestions
there are so many OBD’s out there, any thoughts on best option?

[Frank Dreano]

First off - these cars have a rev limiter; I think its 3,000 RPM at idle - so goosing the car without a load doesn't indicate a problem. There are also admonitions in the owner's manual at excessive idling at high revs causing overheating and other issues - mayb letting the car "cool down" by idling it at high altitudes wasn't the best idea - I can't say.

Yes, the COPS are a problem and you have to be careful which replacements you buy; there are some generic ones that won't fit without trimming. As far as COPS and other recommended parts you can read up on some good ones here:

https://forums.fordthunderbirdforum....oils-cop.5040/

This is the best scanner for a DIY home mechanic (or general owner) - it not only scans and gives you codes it goes online and downloads the common issues for your SPECIFIC car that can cause the codes and what parts were changed to fix the issues.
And it does so with smartphone readouts that mere mortals can understand, you don't have to have an ASE degree.

I own two of them - one in the toolbox and one I travel with:

https://www.amazon.com/BlueDriver-Bl...ICLE_SCAN_TOOL

It also does "enhanced scans" that not all scanners perform. And it'll work on every vehicle you have the same way.
Yes, you can buy a $20 scanner - and at the end of the day -- you have a $20 scanner.

While you'rw waiting for the scanner run a bottle of Techron fuel additive through the car and get some miles on it, you may be pleastantly surprised at the results.

[02-T-Bird]

Thanks for suggestions
there are so many OBD’s out there, any thoughts on best option?

Personally I use BlueDriver and like it.

[Smedley]

I have occasionally experienced the exact same issue as described, always at a warm start. I doo have an OBD, I'll run with it for a few and see if it throws up anything. No Engine Lights, just changed plugs to eliminate that.

[Trode1121]

Thanks for all the help here, I am going to order the BlueDriver and see what I find. Glad you are here!!