Coil Wire Arcing
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
Coil Wire Arcing
The coil wire is arcing going into the opti. I discovered one day as I was under the hood listening to all the other annoying noises, and heard this intermittent "click". The coil wire was arcing to the water pump. I put some wire wrap between the pump and the wire, but it still arcs now to the block. I couldn't spot any loose grounds, and the wire seems to be fully connected. It's an MSD Superconductor by the way.
Anyone know what causes this and/or how to fix it? I haven't seen any of the plug wires arcing...yet.
Anyone know what causes this and/or how to fix it? I haven't seen any of the plug wires arcing...yet.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 694
Likes: 54
From: Sandwich Illinois
Coil Wire Arcing
I had this same problem on our LT4! If you take the coil wire out of the Opti, and twist the boot, you will see that the boot is split. I found mine, and replaced the whole wire.
I understand that this is a common problem!
GM coil wire-12192000
Delco # 347R
I think they are about $26-$27
I understand that this is a common problem!
GM coil wire-12192000
Delco # 347R
I think they are about $26-$27
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
I thought it might be the wire itself as the arc was coming through the boot. The MSD set came with an extra wire, and I think(hope) I still have the GM wire as well. Thanks for the reply, I was starting to think I was the only one this happened to.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 694
Likes: 54
From: Sandwich Illinois
Coil Wire Arcing
You're welcome. That wire was driving me nuts, trying to find the miss. I finally bit the bullet, and put in a new cap and rotor on the opti, and a new set of wires. I found a coil wire at the Corvettes at Carlisle swap meet last August for $3, so I'll carry that in the car for a spare!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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You might just as well replace the entire set of wires, both for the coil and plugs. The O.E.M. wires are rated for 60,000 miles maximum service life. If you've got one that's gone ****-up, the rest are soon to follow.
No better time to replace the plugs, looms and wire holders, too.
No better time to replace the plugs, looms and wire holders, too.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
You might just as well replace the entire set of wires, both for the coil and plugs. The O.E.M. wires are rated for 60,000 miles maximum service life. If you've got one that's gone ****-up, the rest are soon to follow.
No better time to replace the plugs, looms and wire holders, too.
No better time to replace the plugs, looms and wire holders, too.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
Likes: 9
From: Fort Knox, KY
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I pulled the wire Sunday. There is no visible defect. The wires are MSD 8.5's I put them on last summer. The cap and rotor were put on this spring. The arcing seems to be a relatively new event. I think my next step is going to buy a set of O.E.M. style wires and replace the coil wire and see what happens.
My O.E.M. Delco/Packard wires were shot.
