how to test for spark leakage?

[chevyn0va1]

Other than looking at the wires in the dark looking for blue spark jumping what other ways is there to check for arcing, leaking or bad wires. There was referance to bad wires or fried wires but how can you tell?

[sector95]

IMHO, spark plug wires are one of those "expendable" items on a car. Given the environment they work under, it's amazing they hold up as well as they do.

The arcing is one way to check them... do it in the dark so you can see the arcing.... you won't see it in the daylight.

Physical inspection... remove each wire....clean it off and look for abrasions or wear areas in the isulation... bend the wires sharply and look for cracks.

Put each wire on an ohmmeter to check for overly high resistance (the internal core is breaking down if the resistance is too high... you'll need a manual to find out what the specs are).

Doing all this, you still might not uncover a problem if there is one. You have a 6 year old car with more than likely 90K on it.... if you still have the original wires, and they are suspect, just replace them rather than go through all the trouble of trying to find something bad with them.

Mike

[chevyn0va1]

Originally Posted by sector95

IMHO, spark plug wires are one of those "expendable" items on a car. Given the environment they work under, it's amazing they hold up as well as they do.

The arcing is one way to check them... do it in the dark so you can see the arcing.... you won't see it in the daylight.

Physical inspection... remove each wire....clean it off and look for abrasions or wear areas in the isulation... bend the wires sharply and look for cracks.

Put each wire on an ohmmeter to check for overly high resistance (the internal core is breaking down if the resistance is too high... you'll need a manual to find out what the specs are).

Doing all this, you still might not uncover a problem if there is one. You have a 6 year old car with more than likely 90K on it.... if you still have the original wires, and they are suspect, just replace them rather than go through all the trouble of trying to find something bad with them.

Mike

Thanks for the tips. I have replaced mine but I was curious as to the best way to go about checking them.

[A. Souphound]

Originally Posted by chevyn0va1

Other than looking at the wires in the dark looking for blue spark jumping what other ways is there to check for arcing, leaking or bad wires. There was referance to bad wires or fried wires but how can you tell?

Hey, ChevynOva1!
Try this.....
Turn you radio on, volume up, AM band, and off station. You will be able to hear your ignition. Rev. the engine and you will hear it track with the RPM.
With the engine running put a screwdriver on the sparkplug wire and put it close to the engine head/block and listen for a 'pop'. Or, if you think you have a leaking sparkplug wire you can separate the wires or move them away from the head/block and listen for the change.
Regards,

[chevyn0va1]

Originally Posted by A. Souphound

Hey, ChevynOva1!
Try this.....
Turn you radio on, volume up, AM band, and off station. You will be able to hear your ignition. Rev. the engine and you will hear it track with the RPM.
With the engine running put a screwdriver on the sparkplug wire and put it close to the engine head/block and listen for a 'pop'. Or, if you think you have a leaking sparkplug wire you can separate the wires or move them away from the head/block and listen for the change.
Regards,

ill try it and see-lol