So I had this misfire in my truck. Posted in the forums, not one reply in ten days. So, I got into the manual and studied and thought about the symptoms.
Reasoned that it almost had to be the Cam sensor, crank sensor, integrated coil pack or ECU. Coil pack made most sense, as I could hear arcing in the AM radio at times. $88 later, found out I was right.

Ranger forums? Useless.

 

One interesting thing: My 3.0L engine has "wasted spark ignition" like a Harley. That is, every time a piston gets to TDC (+/- timing) the plug for that cylinder fires. Some models don't have a CAM sensor, cause they don't need one, they fire every plug on every revolution.

I do wonder how many car/truck engines use "wasted spark" ignition.

 

Harleys fire one every stroke.

 

Exactly: "Wasted Spark" ignition:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasted_spark_system
Simple lawn mower engines do this as well, but I had no idea any four wheel passenger vehicle would have wasted spark as well.
The 3.0L V6 Ranger does.

 

Odd, the forum ate my post!

What I said, was that the Harley is a "wasted spark" engine as in the case of simple lawn mower engines. Any four stroke that fires on every rotation is a "wasted spark" engine.
I had no idea ANY four wheel passenger vehicle used wasted spark. But the 3.0L V6 in the Ranger does.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasted_spark_system

 

So it was the ignition 6-in-one coil pack. $89 for a new Duralast OEM part from O'Reilly's. Box it was packed in came from Ford's parts warehouse in Kansas, like I said, OEM part - I do not risk it with aftermarket electrical modules or parts, even with the Ranger.

Just ONE for the Crossfire is that much.

 

"I had no idea ANY four wheel passenger vehicle used wasted spark" Many Honda motorcycles and Buick 3.8 and 3800 engines.