Q: Cylinder #2 Not Firing (1997 Ford Mustang, V6, 3.8L)

The 3.8L V-6s had head gasket issues and what you are describing sounds to me like a blown head gasket. Before going through all the diagnostics, and spending money on unneeded parts, I recommend looking at the oil dipstick for traces of coolant and/or testing the coolant for the presence of hydrocarbons. This is a simple test that any garage should be able to do by dipping a strip of paper into the radiator and seeing if it turns a certain color. If it shows positive for hydrocarbons then my guess is you have a blown head gasket. You might also want to get a compression test done (you can do this yourself very easily with a gauge). This should difinitively tell you if there is a head gasket problem.

Hello Michael,

Thank you for your help. Can you explain how the head gasket issue would prevent the generation of a spark at the ignition coil located on top of the engine? When I did my testing, I left the spark plug wire connected to the spark plug and removed the other end that connects to the ignition coil, I held the wire very close to the coil module and looked for a spark when I turned on the car. The other five coils that I tested in the same manner sparked. I was thinking that there is an electrical issue that is preventing the generation of a spart at the module.

Thanks again, Tony

that is very hard to see, attach it to a timing light, or just hold it and see if it snaps ya. I think you have the dual firing plug things, you may have to replace that module. (no distributer cap)

I mistook the "no fire" comment and it didn't register with me that you had no ignition fire at the plug. Does the engine in your car have individual coils for each cylinder? If it does then try and swap coils between a working cylinder and #2. About the only thing I can think that would affect one cylinder is a bad coil (if you have six coils), something wrong with the crank pickup sensor or a computer malfunction. You have checked the other things I would suspect. Checking the sensor might be a job depending on where it is located and may require specialized equipment. I don't know of any way to check the computer yourself other than to plug in a working unit and see if that solves the problem. I doubt it is the computer though as those failures usually mean a dead engine.

have a 1991 mustang 4 cl not firing have changed every thang coils /module/ crank sensor/ computer/ it has 8 spark plugs /i need help with this 1 .have checked all wires car was ruing ,but at times it ran on 2 /cylinder but know it wont spark at all..thanx

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title says you have a 6, in your post you say it is a 4, and has 8 sparkplugs ?

also a 1997 OR a 1991 ?

let us know what you have, and we can help

Wow this guy is confused! 91/97 model v6/i4/v8 is not firing all/some of the time when car is ruing? Maybe it is the extra plugs you have installed in 91 on your 97 model?