97 Ford Expedition 4.6L P0301

'97 4x4 Expedition randomly runs rough, CEL will blink (P0301), then will stop skipping and run normal like nothing is wrong... Engine light will sometimes clear itself. put brand new plugs and wires on 6 months ago. Seems to do this every other start-up... and most of the time when it runs good at first, it will start running rough while driving. Exhaust tone very different when it happens. Very annoying and very embarrassing. If anybody has had this happen before or knows what might be wrong then let me know.

- I also had been using a Hypertech programmer for a few weeks before this started happening... when the misfire started i took it off and returned to stock but nothing changed. Maybe i just need to get my stock computer reflashed at the dealership???

Will Holland

Vehicle: 1997 Ford Expedition XLT 4x4 4.6L 130,000 miles

Did the problem start after you installed the plugs and wires? What brand parts did you use?

New plugs and wires were installed in June '08... i think they were bosch double platinums, and the problem started just recently on New year's '09. I have a feeling it might be just a bad plug, if not a coil...

You say Bosch plugs and Im no fan of these but whats funny is the last ford class I took the instructer gave us a bosch plug part number to install in fords to help the coil on plug set up from buring up coils all the time. You can swap the plug to different cylinder to see if the misfire follows, sounds like a wire more than anything else.