I noticed a couple of my new plug wires in my "other" car are leaning against metal parts of the engine compartment (sorry, don't know the names of the things they are leaning against) Is this a problem ? It's not leaning against the exhaust. Could the spark be leaking out into the metal ? The wires are too long, and just flop onto whatever is there, even though I have them going through all the right guides. I sometimes get a one-cylinder miss / knock at high speeds, low throttle.

Thanks

 

You can check for spark leak in a dark area. Raise the hood, start the motor, and see if you can see blue spark jumping out of the wires. (Just don't catch your fingers/hair/jewlery/clothing/pets in the moving parts or exhaust or etc...) You can also use plastic wire ties to "hang" the wires up and out of the way of metal stuff.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Another way to check if a wire is leaking is to get a spray bottle full of water and spray the wires while the car is running.

The engine will "miss" while you are spraying if there is a leaker.



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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R

GO #3

 

Tom P and Engineboy, thanks for the info. Very interesting.