Need help not Mustang but still Ford

I always thought that was typical with Ca emissions.

Isn't 11 KOEO(R)=OK? and 538=insufficient RPM change? Meaning a cylinder is already crapped out and it doesn't make a change in RPM when it is turned off?

Are the old plugs looking bad, oily? Did you do compression or leakdown test?

Actually there are 3 different meanings for 538 according to my book. A 538 during the KOER test would indicate insufficient RPM change. But I only get the code when I do the balance test. As I recall how the test works the PCM drops the injectors one at a time and looks for a RPM drop to verify the cylinder was working. It's when one of the cylinders is dropped and it doesn't see any change that it knows that that particular cylinder wasn't working to start with. Problem is the PCM won't enter the balance test to start with. Which leads my back around to a possible problem with the CID ckt. I'm assuming it won't enter the test because it doesn't know which cylinder is which. Which brings me back to my original question. Besides the CMP what other sensors are in the CID circuit?

Try alt.autos.ford. The traffic is pretty low in here lately.

Symptoms, erratic idle, loss of power, engine stumble. Seems to be an ignition problem. Possible failure points: Camshaft position sensor, ignition module, crank trigger, coil pack, spark plugs and wires to name a few. And the winner is

"broken woodruf key?!"

Seems the dampener came loose and sheared the key. The trigger ring was moving causing the timing to be out of alignment. Found it when I was replacing the crank trigger.

Good job! I think I would reset computer just to make sure it doesn't have any bad habits stored.