Here's A Wierd Spark Problem,need Input
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: SAN DIEGO(SANTEE) CA.
Here's A Wierd Spark Problem,need Input
Last nite I took my g/f out to dinner and while car was warming up I figured I'd mess with the carb. Car was running and it got dark and I kept hearing this popping sound. After looking for about 20 min. I found that it was at the dist. It was arcing thru a hole that's in the cap to the latch that comes up and holds the cap on.
NOW my question is, can somebody tell me why this is doing this? It's only doing it on the pass. side of the dist. the hole in the dist. is standard and its only sparking on the fire stroke. never seen this happen before. Has anyone got an idea why. is it the wrong cap? It's really weird.
TIA
Rich
NOW my question is, can somebody tell me why this is doing this? It's only doing it on the pass. side of the dist. the hole in the dist. is standard and its only sparking on the fire stroke. never seen this happen before. Has anyone got an idea why. is it the wrong cap? It's really weird.
TIA
Rich
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 977
Likes: 1
From: wash. dc
Originally Posted by 73 red vette
Last nite I took my g/f out to dinner and while car was warming up I figured I'd mess with the carb. Car was running and it got dark and I kept hearing this popping sound. After looking for about 20 min. I found that it was at the dist. It was arcing thru a hole that's in the cap to the latch that comes up and holds the cap on.
NOW my question is, can somebody tell me why this is doing this? It's only doing it on the pass. side of the dist. the hole in the dist. is standard and its only sparking on the fire stroke. never seen this happen before. Has anyone got an idea why. is it the wrong cap? It's really weird.
TIA
Rich
NOW my question is, can somebody tell me why this is doing this? It's only doing it on the pass. side of the dist. the hole in the dist. is standard and its only sparking on the fire stroke. never seen this happen before. Has anyone got an idea why. is it the wrong cap? It's really weird.
TIA
Rich
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
I've never seen a hole in a cap before either, however, electricity is going to follow the path of least resistance. If that path is to ground as you describe I would assume theres too much resistance between your rotor and plugs. Perhaps new plug wires, cap and rotor are in order. Then again, I'm no expert either.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Originally Posted by 71redskin
i'm no expert rich but i don't recall any distributor cap that comes with holes in it... i'm sure someone more knowledgable will chime in...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
From: SAN DIEGO(SANTEE) CA.
Originally Posted by SanDiegoPaul
Any PRE HEI dist cap has a hole in it for adjusting the points. The arcing is from carbon trails in the dist cap.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 12,065
Likes: 2
From: Smalltownville Michigan
Cruise-In 5, 6 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by kb2fzq
Make sure all connections inside the dist. are tight and put on a new cap...see if it changes.
if it is carbon trailing its time for a new one!
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 248
Likes: 1
From: Apopka Florida
Originally Posted by 73 red vette
Last nite I took my g/f out to dinner and while car was warming up I figured I'd mess with the carb. Car was running and it got dark and I kept hearing this popping sound. After looking for about 20 min. I found that it was at the dist. It was arcing thru a hole that's in the cap to the latch that comes up and holds the cap on.
NOW my question is, can somebody tell me why this is doing this? It's only doing it on the pass. side of the dist. the hole in the dist. is standard and its only sparking on the fire stroke. never seen this happen before. Has anyone got an idea why. is it the wrong cap? It's really weird.
TIA
Rich
NOW my question is, can somebody tell me why this is doing this? It's only doing it on the pass. side of the dist. the hole in the dist. is standard and its only sparking on the fire stroke. never seen this happen before. Has anyone got an idea why. is it the wrong cap? It's really weird.
TIA
Rich
I think the problem is you though you would mess with the carb just before taking your girlfriend out to dinner. 
Im suprised you didn't get a popping sound on your head from her.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by rcread
Those holes are probably vent holes, to keep the air inside from becoming electrically charged. This can cause a problem with cross fire. How was the dinner?
Still you must have a carbon track that is the path of least resistance for the spark. Clean the cap, check for cracks, repace if necessary.