Spark plug wires and ignition coil

Post by **HenryJ** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 7:48 pm

I've been trying to eliminate sources of an annoying tick on the upper engine, so I checked out the possibility of ignition leaks. I disconnected the under hood light, applied the emergency brake,started the engine, pushed the dome light switch four times and looked under the hood.

Wow, nice light show!

At first I thought it might be the addition of the MSD 6al causing the sparks jumping every where, but it even did it when bypassed.

I have one wire on each side of the engine that arc pretty bad, two boots that are allowing leakage, one wire was shorting to the vent tube attached to the trans. dipstick (shifted that one and it quit) and the ignition coil has a leak on the front side near the base. In daylight I was able to see the gray "ash" left by this activity, so it has been occuring for some time.

In the dark you can feel a slight rumble of the engine, as the shorts are happening.

Coating all the areas with hairspray helped some, and eliminated all but the two faulty plugwires and ignition coil.

It is not bad enough, yet, to show an engine misfire in the stored data, but troubling to me.

I just don't think the quality is there in this set of wires.

So , I ordered new performance wires and coil.

Hopefully this will smooth things a little more and one more "tick" eliminated.

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 9:45 pm

wow that sounds interresting. i just hit 50k and i was thinking of replacing plugs and wires myself

Post by **HenryJ** » Thu Apr 24, 2003 5:22 am

I went with Taylor spiro pro wires and an MSD coil.

EDIT: The MSD Blaster coil failed in just under a year. I would not buy one again

You're right about being time to look at your ignition system. I will be changing my cap &rotor. I haven't checked the plugs in a while, but remember that they should be pretty good plugs and may be fine with a re-gap.

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Thu Apr 24, 2003 6:21 am

HenryJ wrote:I went with Taylor spiro pro wires and an MSD coil.

You're right about being time to look at your ignition system. I will be changing my cap &rotor. I haven't checked the plugs in a while, but remember that they should be pretty good plugs and may be fine with a re-gap.

But it's supposed to go to 100k miles before servicing.

Maybe that's if ya stay stock.

Post by **HenryJ** » Thu Apr 24, 2003 5:16 pm

quickbiker wrote:But it's supposed to go to 100k miles before servicing.

Maybe that's if ya stay stock.

I'm a bit on the picky side

It will probably go the 100k , just like the Dex-cool will go five years

I prefer a higher level of tuning. Nothing better than it starting in less than one revolution, and running so smooth it doesn't even wiggle

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 6:51 pm

Just finished replacing the plug wires and coil

The old coil had a grey area about the size of a quarter, where it had been arcing, on the front side.

The old wires were 7mm (see rant in stock forum), but the new 8mm wires fit in the stock separators ok.

Seems to run a bit smoother. I'll have a better feel for the improvements after Sundays trail ride.

EDIT: It is smoother and no "light show". Hopefully I'll show some improvement in mileage.

Last tank I gained .5 to 1 mpg for city driving. Need a couple more tanks to avg. the results.