I just recently changed plugs and wires on one of my V6 3.8 moneymaker fix up and resale cars, after fixing the vibration problem (was the torque converter).... it developed a misfire, which at first was just a little jump in the tach but no bucking...then a day later it was jumping and popping and got the blinking SES light. "Misfire cylinder 5" Wire and plug were fine, so I changed out the coil #2/5 and the problem is fixed....it was running fine before changing out the plugs and wires-maybe the new plugs and wires caused the coil to fail. Just an experience I had that may help some of you guys if you have a problem like that.

Probably just a coincidence, a fresh plug and wire shouldn't take out the coil pack.

Maybe so but just seemed really strange-especially after looking at all the posts people are putting up that plugs and wires not fixing a problem.

That's interesting. After I changed my plugs and wires and put a new EGR valve on there mine started missing (#5 cylinder) and I remember posting on here trying to figure out why it was doing that. I guess it wouldn't hurt to put a new coil and fire it up and see if that does it. If it doesn't it's not like i'll be out that much money at all. It may be a coincidence but at the same time it's worth looking into. I'll let you know if it fixes it on mine

changing the coils didn't do it. I think there's a compression problem but I also think it would be easier and cheaper to swap for another 3.8 in decent condition. what do y'all think? If it does turn out to be a compression problem then how much would it take to fix that?

If you have replaced the wire, plug, coil, and (the injector)-you probably have some type of internal problem (although a wiring issue to the coil/injector could even come into play-there are ways of checking all of that as well) Have you done a compression check to see? That would be the next logical step. I have seen 3.8's with around 75-100k go for $400-600 from the junkyard around here in CA I just bought a nice one for $600 with 70k on it to replace the knocking one in a 99 car I bought for $1700 (has 20's, stereo, t-tops nice car engine fix means nice profit $ lol)

It all depends on what you find is wrong-if it is in the head I would just fix the head, but if it is in the bottom in just get yourself a used replacement-it seems these engines can be more expensive to fix than to just ****ecan.

$400-600 seems to be the average of how much a used 3.8 costs around here as well and I think it would be nice to just get a used one in there and be done with it. I know someone around here that did the same thing and he got it faster than he did with the old engine.

I have some news. turns out that the ignition coils did the trick. took it to the shop and they tested everything and they ran it for a while, drove it some, and told me that everything was fine. They said the main reason it was running a tad rough still was that it had sat for a little while and it was just working the old fuel out. so yeah it's fixed and I'm happy. she purred like a kitten on the way home.