HI Jim (and others),

I read with interest the Engine Misfire postings. My 99 SOHC (107,000
mi) just did similar things, but is still sitting in the local shop,
unable to be started  ...

The other night, I came home after my 50 mile highway commute, and
stopped in the driveway (shut off engine) to retrieve something blocking
my spot in the garage. When I restarted the car, it had a hard time
starting and ran very roughly. I pulled into the garage & shut off &
restarted, same thing.

I had experienced this before a couple of times, and previously after
sitting overnight it started & ran fine. I figured something in the fuel
system did not like the shut off / immediate restart behavior after a
long run.

This time the next morning it was still running roughly, and the CEL
came on. I limped to the local shop (which had done the 100,000 service
a while back including plug change, wire change, and coil pack change).
They claimed the coil pack needed changed due to a 'miss' at higher RPMs
with the new plugs/wires. I wasn't really convinced but let them change
it anyway, figuring it to be good 'insurance' if the coil pack was a
known problem item.

During the drive there, when I got above ~25MPH, the CEL started
blinking. When I came to a stop or a lower speeds, it was on steadily. I
smelled what seemed like wire insulation smoldering, but no smoke was
visible. All 'gauges' were at normal levels, BTW.

When I got there, I shut it off, got the tech to come over, & restarted,
still rough. No smoke or additional burning smell at that time. Shut
off, filled out paperwork, he restarted & pulled into garage slot.

Apparently that was the last time the thing started at all!

Anyway, there was only a P0302 code, and he checked the plug, wire,
etc., and other things for signs of disconnections, arcing or other
damage. With key turned on, the 12V gets to the coil pack power wire in
the 4-connector plug, but now there is no secondary voltages (no spark)
apparently to any of the spark plugs.

Supposedly he checked the position sensor ...?  

He got another coil pack to try, same thing.

He thinks maybe it is the computer, not sending control signals to the
coil pack. But it is an expensive thing to try blind ...

I don't know if a fault condition could cause the computer to go into a
shutdown mode that needs reset - he says not.

His 'buddy' mechanic at a local Ford dealer is trying to help him
diagnose the problem ...

Maybe having it towed to said dealer is the only solution at this point
...