Misfire detected...please help

[z400rdr]

A while ago my car had a rough idle and the Service Engine light came on. Since then it has run worse and worse. I took my car to Advance Auto Parts and got the code: P0303 Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected Now I can feel the misfire pretty bad when WOT and then the car will take off. I had all of the spark plugs changed yesterday hoping that would fix the problem. It ran a little better but still stalls after flooring it and sometimes while sitting at stop lights.

Can someone help me narrow down the problem? The car gets very poor gas mileage and it gets pretty expensive if I have to drive far.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[SHOZ123]

When one coil goes bad the others aren't far behind. It has also been observed that when you handle the coils they tend to die.

I would get 4 new ones for the back. I would also avoid the Motorcraft ones. http://www.murraysdiscount.com/internet/prog/phone_order.jsp is the cheapest.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

I would also avoid the Motorcraft ones.

Paul, I'm curious as to why you say that, since 99% of the aftermarket coils -- including Motorcraft (but not Delco) -- are made by Wells?

Matt, did you try resetting the batty to clear the computer?

 

[SHOZ123]

My new Wells coils didn't look anything like the OEM '99 coils I had.

 

[z400rdr]

Matt, did you try resetting the batty to clear the computer?

Yes, that was the first thing I did when I got home. I drove the car this morning with the SES light off but the light came back on in the afternoon.