Im trying to resolve a misfire with my girlfriends 2001 v40. She was getting an intermittent misfure, pulled the code and got a misfire for cyl # 2. Figured changing spark plugs would be a good start, so I replaced the plugs (which looked heavily oxidized) with a new set. Now the car doesnt want to run at all. It stumled to start and was misfiring. I checked all of the conncections and everything seems to be good. Now the car wont start at all. I pulled the coils again to look for cracks, and they looked good as well as the spark plug wires. Any other ideas? TIA!!

 

Did you pinch a wire putting the spark plug cover back on?
If so then you blew a fuse. Repair the wire and replace the fuse and it should start.

 

Thanks for the help! I didnt pinch a wire, checked the fuses they are all in tact. The car will crank, it just wont fire up. It sounds like it wants to but then it stumbles and nothing. The one time it did run it ran very poorly, and was misfiring very badly. Just to verify (assuming cylinders are 1-4 from pass to driver side) Cyl 1 has a wire connecting to coil on cyl 3 and s connects to coil on #4?

 

Cylinder 1 is on the passenger side. And the connections are as follows.
Cylinder 1 wire connects to cylinder 4 coil and cylinder 2 wire connects to cylinder 3 coil.

 

Ive got everything connected correctly then. When I go to start the car now the engine cranks, but wont fire. No stumbling, just cranks and cranks. Its getting fuel (pulled #2 plug and smelled gas) The only thing I changed was the plugs, and like I said the coils and wires look good. Any suggestions?

 

Maybe pull one of the wires out and install one of the old plugs in it and crank it over with the spark plug grounded and see if you have spark.

 

Ok Ive got the car running, I reconnected everything. Seems to be running ok except that it wont start unless I give it gas and it wont idle if I take my foot off the gas. Is there some type of ISV on these cars that might be sticking? Where is it located? Thanks again!

 

Is the check engine light on now?
The idle motor might be acting up. It is located in the front if the intake and looks like a Ford idle motor.

 

CEL is off now, service light is on but I assume that is for sched maint. Car seems to run fine, no more misfire, except that it needs throttle input to start and will die once I let off the gas.

 

There is a valve in the induction hose just before the turbo that goes bad at times. Try to locate it and with the key on give it a little tap with a long screwdriver or something like that and then start and see if it will idle.

 

Wahoo! I took the plastic cover off foe the idle motor checked thecpnnection and gave it a good whack with my trusty bfh. Car started up fine and is no idling. Thanks or the help! If you're ever up in jacksonville let me knownk owe you a beer!

 

Remove the idle motor and clean it out good then reinstall it.