How To Test The Ford Escape COP Coils (Troubleshooting A Misfire)

Testing the COP coils in your 3.0L Ford Escape (or 3.0L Mazda Tribute) tin can be a challenge, since three of them are under the intake manifold plenum (this article can be applied to several other iii.0 Ford models).

The three that are underneath the intake plenum are the COP coils for cylinders #i, #ii and #3 (cylinder #i is the one closest to the serpentine belt).

These three can non be easily tested similar the ones that are on the engine bank that is closest to the radiator.

Well, in this article, I'm gonna' offering you a comprehensive testing strategy that'll help you go to the bottom of the misfire on your 3.0L Ford Escape or iii.0L Mazda Tribute.

En Español You can find this tutorial in Spanish here: Cómo Probar Las Bobinas De Encendido (3.0L Ford Escape) (at: autotecnico-online.com).

Of import Tips And Suggestions

TIP 1: Although the primary focus of this article is testing the COP coils on a 3.0L Ford Escape (3.0L Mazda Tribute), the tests utilize to the vehicles listed in the 'Applies To' box on the 2nd column (since these vehicles also take the COP coils for cylinders #1, #2, and #3 underneath a plastic intake manifold plenum).

TIP ii: The fuel pump relay needs to be removed before testing the COP coils for spark. This is a safety precaution that will prevent the engine from starting.

The photo of the fuel pump relay (in the fuse box) in this article is of a Ford Escape (Mazda Tribute). You can come across this photo here: Location Of The Fuel Pump Relay. If your vehicle is not a Ford Escape, you'll demand to consult your possessor's manual or a repair manual for the location of the fuel pump relay on your specific vehicle.

TIP three: Testing the COP coils on your Ford Escape may require removing the pinnacle part of the intake manifold (known every bit the intake manifold plenum).

TIP 4: When removing the plastic intake manifold plenum, you've got to be actress conscientious goose egg falls into the open intake manifold ports.

Once the plenum is off the intake manifold, stuff clean rags into the six open ports to prevent any foreign object (similar a commodities) from falling inside.

Symptoms Of A Bad Ford Escape COP Coil

The most common symptom of a bad COP ignition coil on your Ford Escape is a misfire condition. What 'throws a wrench into the works', is that the misfire status sometimes doesn't set a diagnostic trouble lawmaking (DTC).

You may also see one or more of the post-obit symptoms:

  1. Bank check engine low-cal is on with ane or several of the following DTCs :
    1. P0300: Random Cylinder Misfire.
    2. P0301: Cylinder #i Misfire.
    3. P0302: Cylinder #2 Misfire.
    4. P0303: Cylinder #three Misfire.
    5. P0304: Cylinder #4 Misfire.
    6. P0305: Cylinder #5 Misfire.
    7. P0306: Cylinder #six Misfire.
  2. Rough idle.
  3. Bad gas mileage.
  4. Excessive tail-pipe emissions (pollution).
  5. A "rotten egg" scent coming from the tailpipe.
    1. This smell is caused by unburned gasoline from the misfiring cylinder overloading the catalytic converter's oxidation process.
  6. Engine misfires under load. In other words; the engine starts to miss as you give it gas.

What Tools Practice I Need To Test The Ford Escape COP Coils?

You'll exam and diagnose the ignition coils on the machine or truck with some very basic tools. You'll demand:

  1. A 12 Volt automotive test light.
  2. A multimeter.
  3. An HEI spark tester.
    1. This inexpensive spark tester is a MUST have tool to be able to correctly diagnose the ignition coil pack on your Ford (or Mercury or Mazda) vehicle with the info/tests in this article (don't have an HEI spark tester? Need to buy one? Yous tin buy it here: OTC 6589 Electronic Ignition Spark Tester).
  4. You'll demand a helper to assistance you creepo the engine while yous perform the tests.
  5. A repair transmission.
    1. For any remove and replace info that I don't cover in this article.

A scan tool will come in handy to read any misfire diagnostic problem codes stored in your Ford Escape's PCM'south retentivity merely to test the bodily COP coils -You lot DO Non need a scan tool.