[DanielB_ZX3]

I got the part from the dealer in the end.. couldn't find a cheap enough online US price for (when you include shipping and GST at the border).. so I paid the $37CDN+tax - it took a few days as none of the dealers in the area had it in stock.

While I was waiting, I played around with the original harness - that thing is a M.F. to repair (get the original broken wire out of, and then the repaired wire back in).. don't even bother, chuck it and buy a new one 'cos you'll end up doing it anyway.

New harness kit comes with heatshrink tubing(x3) and butt-connectors(x3).
It was a bit of a PITA as the 3 original wires are different gauges and the instructions say to strip the wire and then fold the wire over (x number of times, depending on the thickness of that particular wire) before its inserted in the butt connector. Not difficult, just frustrating because you have to get the stripped length right otherwise you have too much exposed wire left over.

Anyhow, got it all connected, started the engine.. PERFECT.
Heat-shrunk the tubing over the repairs and discovered that the protective tubing that the harness wires originally were crammed into is not big enough for the repaired wires. I shoved them in as much as I could and wrapped the thing in tape - it'll have to do until I get a protective tube(split) to put around it.

Ford said I needed a new coil (nope), new plugs (I suppose they wouldn't hurt but mine aren't in bad shape, so they can wait), and said I need new sparkplug wires. I decided to test that out by using a water spray bottle on 'mist' setting and misting the wires with the engine running. If the rubber casing on the wires is breaking down, current will escape (path of least resistance-> out) and you will see arcing as the water droplets get zapped. Of course, my wires were perfect!! damn Ford techs trying to rip me off.

Went for a test-drive. Runs nicely. And the check-engine light is off now, of course because it was the broken harness wire all along.

What pisses me off is that I *specifically* mentioned this to the tech working on the car and he said it was fine - it was the coilpack that was "toast". I'm going to go back and tell the tech to get his eyes checked cos that 1 harness wire was just hanging..

I'm glad I pulled the car after having only spent $90 for the scan (which is outrageous) + an oil change. I'm going to complain but nothing will come of it other than an apology because they didn't do any work. The point is, I *could* have walked out of there $600+ lighter if I'd trusted them.

fuckers..