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2002 Ford Escort ZX2 P0351 Code: Misfire and Intermittent Crank Sensor Suspected

Model: 2002 Escort ZX2 Fault Code: P0351 Posted: 2011-08-31 07:57

My son took the 2002 Ford Escort ZX2 to school this morning, and the car started but ran with a noticeable misfire. It ran smoothly yesterday without any issues. A P0351 diagnostic code appeared today. I replaced the ignition coil, but the problem persists. Could a faulty crankshaft position sensor be sending intermittent signals that cause the misfire? The vehicle has not shown any other symptoms like stalling or rough idling.

Related fault codes
P0351
Comments (4)
Anonymous 2011-08-31 15:16

Check for a bad spark plug or loose wiring connections—these are common causes of P0351-related misfires in the 2002 Escort ZX2.

Anonymous 2011-08-31 17:47

The symptoms strongly suggest an intermittently failing crankshaft position sensor, which can cause incorrect ignition timing and trigger a P0351 code.

Anonymous 2011-08-31 19:55

I recently installed a new crankshaft position sensor with no improvement. The spark plugs and wires have been inspected and are in good condition. Could the timing belt have jumped a few teeth, disrupting the crankshaft position signal?

Anonymous 2011-08-31 20:47

That's a plausible scenario—where is the ignition module located on a 2002 Ford Escort ZX2? Knowing its location could help with troubleshooting and replacement.