1996 Ford Windstar Service Engine Soon Light

1996 FORD WINDSTAR
103,000 MILES • 6 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
JOHNANDJJ
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
My 96 Windstar was hard starting and kept stalling once started. I floored the gas when started to keep it going and it kept running. The "service Engine Soon" light immediately came on. When I took it to a parts store to have a diagnostic run, the code was "Misfire cylinders 4 & 5". Trying the basics, we replaced the plugs and wires but when started again, the problem returned as above.

What next?
Mar 10, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Advertisement
Avatar
SCHRIMPIEMAN
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 166 POSTS
Make sure you have ignition spark to cyl 4 / 5. Do a compression check.

Cyl 4 and Cyl 5 are the cylinders (lucky for you) nearest the radiator. 4 is the one nearest the pwr steering pump, 5 is the cyl in the middle. Do a compression check on Cyl's 4 - 5- and 6. If it's around 150-180 PSI on #6, but substantially lower on 4 and 5, then you have a blown head gasket where compression gasses are rushing between the cylinders of 4 and 5 at the head gasket.

I'm saying "lucky for you" because cyl 1, 2, 3 are on the firewall side of the engine.... harder to reach.
Mar 10, 2009 at 7:53 PM