Wierd Arching on distributor cap
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Wierd Arching on distributor cap
Last night I bought a new cap, rotor, and wiring for my HEI
I put the rotor on backwards and a big flame came out of the carb, but that wasn't the problem
when we put the coil back on the distributor cap and fired up the car, we noticed a little puff of smoke coming from the coil, and you could see a tiny pink spark on the edge of the coil (between the magnet and the coil).......it quickly formed a small flame, and we shut the car down
thinking this was odd, we switched in a different coil (exact same, from different car) and there was no little pink spark, but when i was driving the car last night I sensed the faint hint of burning wire smell in the cab.......after checking it, there was no sparking, but a little bit of a smell
any ideas?
I put the rotor on backwards and a big flame came out of the carb, but that wasn't the problem
when we put the coil back on the distributor cap and fired up the car, we noticed a little puff of smoke coming from the coil, and you could see a tiny pink spark on the edge of the coil (between the magnet and the coil).......it quickly formed a small flame, and we shut the car down
thinking this was odd, we switched in a different coil (exact same, from different car) and there was no little pink spark, but when i was driving the car last night I sensed the faint hint of burning wire smell in the cab.......after checking it, there was no sparking, but a little bit of a smell
any ideas?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
Re: Wierd Arching on distributor cap (Glutamine83)
I must admit I am stumped with that one.Never saw flames in a distributer before.Do you smell gas in the crankcase?(Maybe a faulty fuel pump leaking fuel into the crankcase.)In any case I'd be investing in a fire extinguisher for sure.Double check your ground from the coil to the block,maybe it's loose.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Re: Wierd Arching on distributor cap (The Money Pit)
it's wierd, the sparking was right on the coil, on top of the cap
funny thing is I don't think it was happening before the rotor change, but it could have because we had a cover on top of the coil
funny thing is I don't think it was happening before the rotor change, but it could have because we had a cover on top of the coil
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
Re: Wierd Arching on distributor cap (Glutamine83)
You did put the graphite contact/spring in the cap when you changed the coil didn't you?I had one that ran for 120,000 miles,never been touched from the day I put it on,and found it had burned clean though the contact.Funny thing is the engine still ran great!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Re: Wierd Arching on distributor cap (The Money Pit)
yeppers, i put the contact spring in there and I'm almost positive it's making contact
i will check tonight to see if I'm still getting that wierd smell
could new wiring smell like that the first time it gets hot?
i will check tonight to see if I'm still getting that wierd smell
could new wiring smell like that the first time it gets hot?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Re: Wierd Arching on distributor cap (Glutamine83)
Are you not running the car with a coil cover? Not certain from your posts but they imply that you installed the new setup without a coil cover. If that is the case and the coil is exposed, you will definitely get some arching (the coil cover helps prevent arching). If you installed the coil cover and it is cracked, you may be getting arching also. You may also want to ensure the metal strip that normally attaches to one of the 4 corner coil mounting bolts/screws was installed (I believe it allows attachment of the external 2-wire distributor connector. That can often be omitted/forgotten during a coil removal/re-installation.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Re: Wierd Arching on distributor cap (TedH)
well, we ran it for a while with the cover off, and there was arching, now I am running it with the cover on and I don't think there is any arching
but thanks, that totally answers my question
and yes, that little metal strip is installed properly, or at least just like it was before!
but thanks, that totally answers my question
and yes, that little metal strip is installed properly, or at least just like it was before!
Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From: winnipeg MB
Re: Wierd Arching on distributor cap (Glutamine83)
glutamine hasn't managed to see it, but i still see arching inside between the coil and the core. You have to look deep inside and theres a small blue spark. Definitely. The car runs fine though...
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