I have a 2003 Tribute with the 3.0 litre engine. It keeps melting the front cat converter and then plugs the main one. The shop can't find anything wrong. I want to change the plugs as the car has 110,000 miles and I don't know when, or if, they were ever changed as I bought the car used. It was fine until about 7 months ago. Then all hell broke lose. The converters have been replaced 3 times under warranty but the people are not willing to do so again until I fix the problem with the engine that causes the meltdown. It runs fine for a while then on a wet, rainy type day it goes wacko.
I have the car at home. The shop wants over $300 to change the plugs so I am hoping to do it cheaper myself. But I was considering changing the coils but can't seem to find any online to even price them. Any ideas?
Thanks......

 

Moved my 2003 Tribute 3.0 (94,000 miles) in the driveway this afternoon after 2 days of rain. I have a similar problem. Although I hope that the catalytic converters are ok. I haven't changed the plugs yet. Hoping this is the problem.

Car started rough and ran rough. Check engine light came on solid at first and then started to flash. I tightened the gas cap, although it had been driven a few times since the tank was filled.

Car continues to run rough and check engine light is still flashing. I won't run it anymore since the manual warns that running with the engine light flashing can burn out the converters.

Did you have any luck finding the replacement coils? I will check some of the local automotive stores to see if it is a part they carry.

Thanks

 

I changed the 6 spark plugs and the three hard to reach ignition coils. I found the coils at almost all of the chain auto parts stores. Picked them up for about $65 each.

Found great instructions for removing the intake manifold online.

Car seems to be running smother. Engine light still on. Hoping that it will reset after a few clean drive cycles.

Hopefully the catalytic converters are ok.