How to QUICKLY check if engine is misfiring, 2003 Ford Focus?

How to QUICKLY check if engine is misfiring, 2003 Ford Focus?

Start it from stone cold and start touching each port of the exhaust manifold.
If all cylinders are firing equally, they will heat up at the same rate.

If one is slower warming up, that cylinder is not firing properly.
It's likely to get too hot to touch fairly quickly, so be careful…

If you have (or get on ebay) and infra red thermometer, you can check the manifold port temperatures with that after driving for a few minutes.

You can usually feel and hear when a 4 cylinder engine is misfiring. A flashing check engine light should illuminate as well as it is deemed a critical failure.

You should be able to feel it and/or hear it. It'll stand out from what you're used to.

Listen.

I have a small almost random misfire right now. Can hear and feel the little hiccup.

Also, just get the odb2 codes scanned for free at your local auto parts store.

Did the codes come up with which cylinder was misfiring? Best bet if the 4 cylinder just replace the plugs and injectors

You stop at an auto parts store and have them read the codes for free.

Ideally a diagnostic check needs to be run to ascertain if a coil /plug etc is failing or we have another issues ( injectors?) a quick way for most mechanics. Is to remove spark plugs and check color /sooty/ clean etc. Or a 'wet ' plug. If its an intermittent fault it can be more involved. Hence diagnostic check by somebody knows what they are doing is best.