99 3.0 issue

[Blu99XLT]

I'm sure this has been covered before. When trying to start my truck, it's kinda like it's "out of time" (long, laboring cranking), but I know that the ECM adjusts for timing, it will start when I give it "full throttle". When trying to find out what's going on with it, with the engine running, my brother took each plug wire off at the coil pack to check for spark. With removal of each wire the engine would try to die as expected. He would hold the wire close enough to it's respective coil and would get a strong spark. This was done with all the cylinders and all but the #5 would have a good spark. With removal of the #5 plug wire the engine would not try to die. Is it possible it could be a bad coil pack? Maybe a bad plug wire? Would a bad head or head gasket cause this? I'm also planning to check the compression as soon as I can get ahold of a decent compression tester. I apologize if it's been covered before, but thanks for indulging me. I'm ready to get this thing back on the road.

 

[McCormack]

If #5 cylinder isn't sparking like the rest then it sounds like you've pretty much narrowed it down to the coil pack. Perhaps you could save some money by getting a salvage yard coil pack.

 

[Blu99XLT]

I forgot to update, but I borrowed the coil pack from my brothers 3.0 and a spark plug wire from the same cylinder but there was no change. After it would get warmed up a while, it seemed to have smoothed out, but I would put the truck in gear and the engine would start "knocking". Not a ping, but an honest to God knock. This would happen with the original coil pack and plug wires as well. It has plenty of oil and was not overheating. I may have deeper issues. I'm saving money (slowly) for a new engine. Would love to put a 4.0 in it but it needs to be as little of a pita as possible.