Changed plugs and wires and coil pack still will not start?

Tiny
STOVE
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 FORD EXPLORER
  • 4.0L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
Ordered plugs wires and coil online. Installed everything and vehicle won't start. Put the old coil back on and the vehicle starts instantly. I contacted the seller, and they sent me a second coil. I installed it and the vehicle still won't start. Should I just purchase a coil locally?
Monday, April 14th, 2025 AT 6:21 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,541 POSTS
If the old coil works, why are you replacing it? Coils work until they fail, they really are not a wear item. That said it sounds like the online parts might be bad or counterfeit.
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Monday, April 14th, 2025 AT 10:37 PM
Tiny
STOVE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
When I purchased this vehicle, it was running but ran rough. So, I found that number 3 and number 6 were not plugged in properly and they were burnt up. All the plugs were in rough shape so that's why I decided to change everything. It strange that I can put the old coil back on and it starts instantly and still has a slight misfire with the old coil.
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Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 AT 4:36 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,541 POSTS
Not really strange, a lot of fake parts out there. I buy from the local parts stores or the dealer, much less chance of getting bad parts.
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Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 AT 9:32 AM
Tiny
STOVE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks for all your help.
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Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 AT 10:09 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,541 POSTS
You're welcome. What you are running into is why I only buy parts from known sources. Seen way too many complaints from folks buying on Amambay.
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Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 AT 11:46 AM
Tiny
STOVE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Hey thanks again. Maybe you can answer this question for me. Once this same vehicle starts the tachometer stays up around 4,000 RPMs but it's not actually running up that high. Is it just a dash problem? Thanks
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Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 AT 12:07 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,541 POSTS
It could be. You say it has intermittent misfires as well, that could send a bad signal to the body module and the dash is fed the wrong information. Many scan tools have a test function where you can control the gauges for testing. You can set the tachometer for 2000 and see if it reads 2000. If you don't have one, being you have a Ford look at FORScan. That program running on a laptop with the wired dongle is more powerful than the factory tools on Fords. And it is much less money.
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Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 AT 9:59 AM
Tiny
STOVE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks for the information on that. I also bought a new coil pack from Napa, and it started right up and is running much better than ever before. After getting two bad coils offline. Thanks
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Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 AT 10:04 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,541 POSTS
Good to hear. Online I tend to limit myself to Rock Auto or dealerships for parts. Locally I have Federated, NAPA, Worldpac, (plus the chain stores) and a couple local yards for used parts. Even then a bad part slips through but I haven't seen any fake ones from those sources.
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+1
Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 AT 6:41 PM

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