#6 Plug lead arcing

[DerekJ]

A follow up to the earlier problems. The car started fine as I prepared to go out for a test run. Before leaving I opened the bonnet and had a good listen and look - and noticed that there was some arcing at the plug between the lead and the wire clip on the heater hose.

The new bumble bee leads came from AH Spares and have solid plastic? heads at right angles to the plugs. This puts the #6 head lead very close to heater hose clip. There is no apparant damage to the HT lead, no black marks and no visibly exposed wires.

I have taped up the clip and pushed the lead as far away as possible I drove around without any problems but Im not very happy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Anybody ever come across this before. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Dave Russell]

Hi Derek,
A couple of thoughts:

The original plug wires came straight out from the plugs. Would this give more clearance?

The heater valve orientation can be changed by using a slightly thicker or thinner gasket. This would allow rotation of the valve to give maximum clearance.
D

 

[Keoke]

HI DJ, Yes,the heater hose clip is not grounded so why does the hi voltage arch to it.Well it just may be that that heater hose is old and at the high voltage level of the ignition system its carbon content has become conductive.On the other hand, if the hose clip is the original wire type it just may have chewed its way through the rubber and be in direct contact with the valve body. But even so the cap{Plastic Head} should not break down. Therefore, I would suggest that if possible you exchange that #6 plug connector{Plug Head} with one that is free of potential grounding points.Say # 3or 4 or replace #6 wire with the old one if you saved it.Sumpin wrong with #6.---Fwiw---Keoke

 

[DerekJ]

Dave

Yes a straight out lead would be better, Im going to switch.


Keoke.

I think you're right, there could be a problem with that head. In fact I might replace all the heads. I really don't like them and would advise people not to get them. (Sorry AH SPares - you are normally very good)They are kind of a very hard brittle plastic with Champion molded on them. They have a cheap clip arrangement inside them which is already broken on the #3 lead meaning the cap is just resting on the plug. I might call AH Spares today and see what they say.

 

[zblu]

You using carbon or copper leads?
Clean all, might be dust causing the tracking