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View Full Version : Spark Plug wire jumps off?

USAFPILOT
06-07-2012, 01:55 PM
No idea why this has started...but I have a wire that keeps working itself off the plug for some reason. Any ideas or tricks to get it to stick onto the plug better?
rhipsher
06-07-2012, 02:45 PM
How old are your spark plug wires?
USAFPILOT
06-07-2012, 03:31 PM
no idea...i noticed that the one wire would come loose but stay in enough to still make spark, so periodically I would just mash it back on, but now every so often the whole boot is working it's way out. I don't think it's getting blasted out, but definitely works its way off at random times. Tuesday night it happened twice. It is real annoying to putter around on 7.
BigJohn
06-07-2012, 03:34 PM
Squeez the end that connects to the electrode?
USAFPILOT
06-07-2012, 03:40 PM
I am going to try to squeeze it, but its hard to see down in there. Will the boots come off the wire? I'm trying not to tear it up, cuz that will certainly mean a plenum pull.
BigJohn
06-07-2012, 04:01 PM
Try it on a spair sparkplug to not damage connector in the plug wire.
Blue Flame Restorations
06-07-2012, 04:12 PM
Get some very long nosed needle nose pliers. This should get you in there.
rhipsher
06-07-2012, 06:04 PM
That may be the cause of your miss you've been dealing with for the longest time. My 02 Mazda 626 check engine light had been on for 5 years. I took it to a mechanic to diagnose what the problem was. He said it was the catalytic converter. It's $1100 to replace. I said for that POS? So at 175k it threw a rod and I had the engine rebuilt. Still had the check engine light. Then it started stumbling and running like crap and slowly getting worse. I checked the spark plug wires and they were literally falling apart. I pull the boots off and the electrode that clips on the spark plug wasn't even attached to the plug wires anymore. I replaced all of them and spark plugs. Runs fantastic now and no more check engine light. It also passed emissions. Bad cat my azz. So I'd just replace the wires. The wires on my Z are older than mosses but they havent caused me any problems.
Paul Workman
06-07-2012, 07:33 PM
This is just a "stab in the dark", and might be "out there", but it happens (or did to me): If the plug is loose, the boot might be getting forced out by chamber compression? Any sign of gas leaking around the plug??

P.
gbrtng
06-07-2012, 08:22 PM
Replace the spark plug - torque to 19 #-ft.
scottfab
06-08-2012, 10:06 AM
This is likely to be a leaking O ring at that plug in the valve cover. If the problem occurs more ofter after a WOT then that's it.
Pete
06-08-2012, 12:58 PM
Replace the spark plug - torque to 19 #-ft.


BINGO

Been there,drove me nuts trying to find the problem.

Pete
RHanselman
06-08-2012, 01:04 PM
BINGO

Been there,drove me nuts trying to find the problem.

Pete

I really dont think thats what drove you knuts Pete ;)
John Boothby
06-08-2012, 02:57 PM
This is just a "stab in the dark", and might be "out there", but it happens (or did to me): If the plug is loose, the boot might be getting forced out by chamber compression? Any sign of gas leaking around the plug??

P.

I was thinking this also.
USAFPILOT
06-08-2012, 04:32 PM
i don't see anything i squeezed it down a little...then it wouldn't go back on...so i opened it back up a bit and too loose, then squeezed an on tight...still pops out. Going to try the O-Ring thing next before new plug wires.
Pete
06-09-2012, 04:06 AM
i don't see anything i squeezed it down a little...then it wouldn't go back on...so i opened it back up a bit and too loose, then squeezed an on tight...still pops out. Going to try the O-Ring thing next before new plug wires.

Before you do all that work changing wires and taking cam cover off.
Did you change the spark plug?

Been there done that,just trying to save you time and money.
New spark plug $2.00 and 30 seconds.
Pete

PS
Ron H. your right i've been nuts for a while LOL
scottfab
06-09-2012, 02:11 PM
Before you do all that work changing wires and taking cam cover off.
Did you change the spark plug?

Been there done that,just trying to save you time and money.
New spark plug $2.00 and 30 seconds.
Pete

PS
Ron H. your right i've been nuts for a while LOL

I agree try spark plug first but don't replace. Move swap it with another cylinder. If the plug on that cylinder move out you have it. If it stays on the same cylinder you have it (O riing). If neither backs out the you had contamination in the threads.