Well given my response was to the post above me and not yours. Might that clear it up better for you. For the record I'm not of the opinion that this happens to all Tours. However again the post I was responding to has classic symtoms. If you read through the whole post you probably noticed my problem has turned out to be the secondaries being pinned open. To think some people do it on purpose. In your case I don't recall did you say you did your fuel filter yet? Or your plugs? Failing those 2 items I would move to the ignition coil (less probable but could make sense) or the MAF. By replacing your plugs you get some great spark from the new ones that may mask your symptons temporaily leading me to guess that your problem never has gone away yet.



No I have not looked into the fuel filter issue yet. But yes, with new fresh plugs the problem alleviates for a couple days. With premium fuel it bucks less than with reg. When the engine is cold she bucks not. Until I changed out the original plugs at 85K it never, ever missed a beat in it's life. It bucks more with the a/c on. It never misses at any throttle position other than 10-35%-ish. Once the Atx kicks down on the freeway it's smooth as ever. The dealer said; "uh, duh, I put it on the diagnostic machine, but it says everything is OK. And you didn't have a Cel did you" ? (it's a scary to see where mechanics are heading these days. I doubt one of them could do a standard tune-up on a non-compter car anymore) I had our Ranger pick-up in the shop 5 different times to 3 different Ford dealers because it pinged ALL the time. Do you think those idiots could figure it out ? HA !!! Finally the service manager pulls me aside like he's going to give me some giant revelation or tell me a state secret and says "uh, look, my 95 1/2 ton pick-up does exactly the same thing. And I've never been able to figure it out either, I just turn the radio up". After I got over my disbelief I couldn't do anything but hang my head and walk away. So this forum seems to be the only chance to remedy this problem. But I believe you are correct, the new plugs only masks the problem, not cures it. So I need to make the next logical step down the path to repair. I will look at the MAF and then try the coil. I also read of the DPFE going bad in lots and lots of Fords. I have also read of the O2 sensor needing replacement. So I will go after some of those first as I have no idea where the DPFE is or what it looks like. But thanks for your help even if it wasn't directly to my post, I have never been shy about chiming in. Whether to ask for help or to offer it, Ken

Ken, 99 Silver Frost SE Zetec Atx, polished alloys, Kumho's, Pioneer hi power CD/AM/FM. Factory spoiler (added) Audi side lites, Borla stainless steel muff. Stolen, recovered in pieces. Looking for another Tour, preferably V6, 5 speed.