Thanks for any help you can give. I thought most of the codes are universal so I am posting here because the Ford boards and searches ar junk.

Hopefully someone can give me some insight as to the possible cause. I got a check engine light in my 96 explorer for PO303 Cylinder #3 Misfire. This is the second time I have gotten the code. First time was 2 years ago and then again on Monday. Both instances the truck was parked for the night and we had heavy rains. Started it up next morning and CEL pops on. Clear the code and it goes away and everything runs and check out fine with the scanner.
Any clues? I have gone as far as wetting the motor down with a hose and cannout reproduce the fault.
Thanks for any help you can give.

Flame suit on, for owning an Exploder and posting about it.

 

Twice in two years isn't really much to worry about... but I guess in theory it shouldn't happen at all.

Plug wires? Cracked plug? Coil or coil pack (I dunno how the ignition system in the Explorer is setup)?

When (and what) was the last time you did general maintenance? Filters, plugs, wires, etc?

 

Plug & wires 1 year old, oil and all other filters changed last week. So it has done it before and after maintenance.

It has a distibutor less ingnition, but one main coil pack not individual coil over plug (if that makes sense).
Your right about twice in 2 years but just curious as to the cause since I can't repeat it with water but the heavy rain part is the only common ground I have to go on with both instances.

 

I wouldn't worry about it. It's probably some moisture in a connection or something small like that. I doubt it's anything damaged because it wouldn't just fix itself like that. Most likely there is nothing wrong.

Found On Road Dead

 

I was waiting for that. It never really died, just caught a cold. Actually it has given me 165K miles of trouble free driving (can't say the same for my truck, explorer is the wifes), even the stupid code isn't bad since it goes away.