Quick flashing CEL and acting strange out of no where..

[JimRummy]

So I was driving today and everything was completely normal. Stopped and had lunch, and truck was hesitant to start. It took two tries, and it took about 5 seconds to get her started. From then she drove kind of strange, not as much power as normal, and the brakes were worse then normal. Got on the freeway, and it seemed like it didn't want to downshift as easily as normal.
So I'm going about 75 and I let off the gas and it kind of bucks, like the brakes were tapped (but more of a transmission slowdown feel then brakes) and the CEL flashes a few times really quickly, and it seemed to downshift hard. Went a little further and the same thing happens again for the rest of the freeway (maybe 5 miles). Get off and it seems to be somewhat back to normal. Not 100% of the power back, but better then the freeway. The after getting going again it does the same thing, bucks CEL flashes really quickly, and it doesn't want to slowdown like normal, and again hard downshifts.....
Got home all fluids look good, everything acts normal, no rough idle or anything.
The random braking feeling happened once about 2 or 3 weeks ago, but when it happened then the parking brake light flashed not the CEL.. Heres the thread http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141218
I am at a loss, and I SOooOO do not have the $$$ for this..
Thoughts? any input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
1993 4.0 AT 114k miles

 

[adsm08]

It's misfiring, and bad from the sounds of it.

Probably a problem in the coil pack.

 

[JimRummy]

Okay, I did have to replace the wires (and I did the plugs at the same time, all motorcraft) about 7k miles ago..Until then the wires were originals. When it misfired then it was a lot more substantial, but I don't remember it every have a CEL. Would the Coil taking a dump effect the downshifting and whatnot too?

 

[RonD]

Yes, flashing CEL means immediate attention is required.
i.e. "If the light is blinking, a severe engine problem such as a catalyst-damaging misfire is occurring and should be addressed as soon as possible. "

Steady CEL means have a look when you can.

You can test a Ford Coil pack pretty easily with an OHM meter
Google: How to Check an Ignition Coil Pack video

You should have the A4LD transmission, it should have EEC controlled torque converter and in '93 an electric shift control for 3rd/4th, so yes in a heavy misfire situation the computer may have lockup and shift issues.

 

[adsm08]

Only a miss of a certain severity will cause a flashing CEL. The engine running poorly can wreak all sorts of havoc on auto-tragic transmission operation.

 

[JimRummy]

Alright. Now just to be clear it wasn't a solidly flashing CEL but more like a quick 1/4 second flash, like it didn't even completely illuminate any of the times it flashed.. Just a quick flashed couple seconds quick flash etc, and only when its doing its stange slow down thing, never while accelerating..

Many thanks for the quick replies fyi.

 

[JimRummy]

So I put a new duralast coil pack in today, and so far so good. Drove around for about 40 miles up to 75mph, and no issues, no misfires or CEL's, hard shifting.
Don't want to count all my chickens before they've hatched, but it seems like it was the coil pack. I'm not a huge fan of duralast though.. That's all I could gegt a hold of today though.. Thoughts on a solid coil pack? MSD, Accel?
New Motorcraft?
Ford want's $144 for a new coil pack.. worth it?
Thanks!

 

[PlumCrazy]

I run Accel coil packs on my 4.0. They are a little hotter, so you can gap the plugs about .010 more.

But my first one died after 30k. Cyl 5 died when ever it was humid or I was wheeling in heavy rain/standing water

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