Spark plug wire
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 1
From: Hudson Valley Area New York
Spark plug wire
I am having trouble with wire #8 coming loose and causing the check engine light and the traction light to come on and message service traction handling system. After putting the wire back on all the lights and message disappears. Anyone else experience this problem ?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 609
From: DFW Texas
You do not specifically state the problem, but I will assume your spark plug wire is popping off the coil and not the spark plug. You should be sure that both the wire boot end and the coil connector are clean. Then use a Q-Tip to place a small amount of dielectric grease around the inside of the plug wire rubber boot. Then push the wire boot onto the coil. There will be trapped air as you push the boot on and you will need to "burp" the boot to expel the air to create a vacuum inside the boot to help retain the wire on the connector. You should also feel or hear a "click" when the metal connector pushes into the coil connector. If you do not burp the wire boot when you install it, there will be trapped air that will create a positive pressure, especially with the added engine heat, that will pop the boot off the coil connector.
I hope this makes sense and helps.
GD
I hope this makes sense and helps.
GD
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 433
From: Boca Raton Florida
Originally Posted by gdmoore01
You do not specifically state the problem, but I will assume your spark plug wire is popping off the coil and not the spark plug. You should be sure that both the wire boot end and the coil connector are clean. Then use a Q-Tip to place a small amount of dielectric grease around the inside of the plug wire rubber boot. Then push the wire boot onto the coil. There will be trapped air as you push the boot on and you will need to "burp" the boot to expel the air to create a vacuum inside the boot to help retain the wire on the connector. You should also feel or hear a "click" when the metal connector pushes into the coil connector. If you do not burp the wire boot when you install it, there will be trapped air that will create a positive pressure, especially with the added engine heat, that will pop the boot off the coil connector.
I hope this makes sense and helps.
GD
I hope this makes sense and helps.
GD
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 1
From: Hudson Valley Area New York
I have about 81,600 miles on my car. It has never happened to recently. It coded misfire on #8. I never did a tune up so I replaced the spark plugs and wires. It happened again. They put the wire back on and so far so good. It scares me because it happened like 2 or 3 times. I have brand new wires should I replace them with MSD ? I used ACDELCO #748UU
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 433
From: Boca Raton Florida
Originally Posted by shelleygraham
I have about 81,600 miles on my car. It has never happened to recently. It coded misfire on #8. I never did a tune up so I replaced the spark plugs and wires. It happened again. They put the wire back on and so far so good. It scares me because it happened like 2 or 3 times. I have brand new wires should I replace them with MSD ? I used ACDELCO #748UU
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 609
From: DFW Texas
Here is a good thread with PICs & a write-up on replacing spark plugs & wires on a COLD engine. This member used MSD wires, but the stock wires you purchased will be fine as well. Interestingly enough, Step 7 will direct you in how to install the coil side of the plug wire & "burp" it to help avoid them from dropping off the coil. What I stated was from my personal experience with replacing the #6 plug wire that dropped off my coil and how I reinstalled it. It has stayed in place now for 2 years, but I had to "burp" the coil side boot to expel the air. The boot makes a fairly tight seal and when you add a small bit of the dielectric grease, it will be a bit slick & push back on the wire as you compress the captured air. I squeezed the boot expelling the air as I seated the boot. It works.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s-of-pics.html
Good luck.
GD
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s-of-pics.html
Good luck.
GD
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 212
This is such a BS. I have been driving and maintaining my cars for the last 55 years, you burp babies not spark plug wires. The reason the made in Mexico wires are falling off the coils because they have chitty connectors made out soft iron that will break or fail. Dump them get some MSD's that will no longer your problem. Look at your connectors, than look at the connectors they advertise on MSD we site even before you spend money on them than you will understand why you and many others had that very same problem. If the connector is deformed or broken no amount of burping or farting it will keep it there, other than a zip tie.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 5,277
Likes: 509
I had it happen once, found a friggin' ty-wrap! on the plug wire, so prior owner or some mechanic?? must have put it there. It also happened on my Sierra.
Replace vette wires w/ OEM, never happened again. Just re-attached Sierra wire, never happened again.
Replace vette wires w/ OEM, never happened again. Just re-attached Sierra wire, never happened again.