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Arching off the coil's...

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Old Jul 19, 2008 | 08:28 PM
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Default Arching off the coil's...

Swapped sparkplugs & wires. Sounded and looked good so I took it for a test drive all was well throttle response was so smooth and quick. Then I do a left hand U-turn and it sounds totally different engine is lugging and sounds really rough. When I got home I pop the hood to look at the engine running and saw a small ~1cm arch coming off the coil where the MSD wires go and occasionally on another. I shut it down but I didn't think it would arch I put di-electric grease on both the plugs; perhaps too much and thats why they fell out. But I don't know how it could arch as the wire was still nearly all the way up. Although when I shut off the engine the plug wire fell right off from that pesky rear plug by the brake booster on the driver side.

I think if I wipe them off a little and re-attach it may be ok but whats up with it arching? Got to tell you having random sparks in your engine bay especially right next to fuel lines and possibly arching to fuel injector wires is not the most comforting feeling. Is there something that maybe I'm doing wrong? Over application of di-electric grease?


Thanks.
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Old Jul 19, 2008 | 08:33 PM
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It's my understanding that grease should not be used (I don't). I'm sure if you wipe them clean and re-attach all will be well.
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Old Jul 19, 2008 | 08:37 PM
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Originally Posted by MagRedConv
It's my understanding that grease should not be used (I don't). I'm sure if you wipe them clean and re-attach all will be well.
In a different area I may but Florida is known for excessive rain and insane dust/dirt that is airborne. My engine bay is always getting covered in sand/dirt and I don't drive on any dirt roads or anything close to it. I also did it to help them slide off a little easier but apparently I made it too easy.
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Old Jul 19, 2008 | 08:54 PM
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Understood. Now you're going to laugh out loud at this but, get a hood seal; it'll help keep the bay clean.
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Old Jul 19, 2008 | 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by MagRedConv
Understood. Now you're going to laugh out loud at this but, get a hood seal; it'll help keep the bay clean.
I actually bought one along with grill inserts when I bought me vette a year ago. I'm kind of lazy.
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Old Jul 20, 2008 | 11:39 AM
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Th e'99 that I gave away had something weird happen to it that was similar. Turning a specific corner (not any other one) right turn then immediate left, the engine would suddenly stumble badly, then clear up and it would be fine until the next time I went around the same corner. I replaced all of the wires with new Taylors and all was fine after that.
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Old Jul 20, 2008 | 12:14 PM
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Cleaned and re-attached the wires and all was well. I had swapped the plugs and wires about 2 months ago with what vato-zone had in stock. Big mistake ran crappy. When I pulled the plug wires off 4 of them (3 on one side) had the connector rip right off the wire. And one of the spark plugs was not firing at all. I pulled all those plugs and 7 looked fine the last looked brand new.

Replaced with MSD wires and NGK TR6 plugs which is what I had on the car before and its just such higher quality stuff the wires especially. They actually click into place and feel super firm.
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Old Jul 20, 2008 | 11:38 PM
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The dialectric grease is good BUT,,,,,,,it helps trap air under the boot and that can force the boot off the coil tower or plug. The plug is a lot less problematic but the coil boot seems to be more subseptible to this issue.

I insert a small tiewrap (the flat end) into the boot prior to inserting the boot on the coil tower. Once the boot is on the tower (it makes TWO clicks) I pull up on the tiewrap to relaese the tapped air and remove the tie wrap.

This helps keep it from popping off!

BC

BC
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