302 plug wires arcing, causes?
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 5
From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
302 plug wires arcing, causes?
I have been having a bad miss for months, replacing everything.
Put some good Moroso Blue Max Spiral Core wires on, replacing other new, but inexpensive wires. I had major arcing between the black caps that go onto the distributor. A bright blue continous spark. What is it a possible indication of? Wrong coil for my ignition? Ballast resistor problem? ?? ?? ?? Could it be the cause of my miss all along even when there is no arcing, just as an indicator of a problem? How about engine ground? Anyone seen this before?
73' 302, stock distributor with a magnetic pickup points replacement unit, coil unknown but looks cheap, ballast resistor old, but working (I think)
Any ideas appreciated!!
Thanks.
Put some good Moroso Blue Max Spiral Core wires on, replacing other new, but inexpensive wires. I had major arcing between the black caps that go onto the distributor. A bright blue continous spark. What is it a possible indication of? Wrong coil for my ignition? Ballast resistor problem? ?? ?? ?? Could it be the cause of my miss all along even when there is no arcing, just as an indicator of a problem? How about engine ground? Anyone seen this before?
73' 302, stock distributor with a magnetic pickup points replacement unit, coil unknown but looks cheap, ballast resistor old, but working (I think)
Any ideas appreciated!!
Thanks.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Are you sure the wires are full seated into the cap? sometimes the boots are tight, and lift the wires out of the cap. I'd try a new cap (once a carbon arc trail has formed it will keep arcing) and put a very thin film of silicone grease on the outside of the cap posts (use only silicone grease, petroleum greases can break down the silicon rubber boot) . Give the boot a small back and forth twist after seating the terminal. Another possibility is someone pulled on the wires to remove them from the cap, the wires are relatively fragile and should never be pulled on or used as a handle, always pull on the boot only while twisting gently. Do you power wash your engine?
Last edited by AXracer; Nov 21, 2004 at 11:45 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster CA
i have had wires that look good arc straight out of the boot. I dont even use a ballast resistor and have never really had a problem. anyhow do what he said and everything that should hopefully fix the problem. good luck
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 5
From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
The wires are new, the cap is new, I believe they were fully seated into the cap, I will indeed check that they do not go in much further than I expected them to.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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