Ok, the coil on my car is definitely arcing from the coil to the square metal bracket. I get an arc every now and then from a plug wire, but a constant arc from the coil to the square bracket. Here's the problem:

Three different coils, two on one bracket with the ICM and one on a totally separate bracket from a car running fine. ALL THREE COILS WERE ARCING FROM THE COIL TO THE SQUARE BRACKET ON THE PROBLEM CAR. I can't for the life of me find a reason as to why this would be happening. On the problem car, there isn't a stud holding the bracket on, just a bolt. So all those ground wires are just sandwiched between the bolt and coil bracket. that's the only thing I can think of.

Speculation??? I need help!!!! I'm dying to have my car running right!!!!

 

Maybe the ground strap that goes from the fender to the "sandwich" you are talking about. See if it's corroded were it bolts to the fender. That's got to be it because it wouldn't arc if it could ground though the strap.

Jeff D.

 

I'm going to go take a look at that right now. FYI, Here is where the arcing is occuring.

Basically, the coil is going to arc continually there if there's a bad ground???

 

This is just what I would look at. I am not a guru or anything. Since the arc is from the coil to the bracket then the bracket's ground is good (or better) then the coil pack ground (more likely bad). I would think the coils ground is broken or badly corroded to have it jump an air gap but this is the coil we are talking about and that's it's job it to jump air gaps (spark plugs). Look for were the coil pack has a ground. It's either in the socket plug(s) <--1 or 2 depends on the year or the coil pack has it's own grounding strap that goes to the "sandwich" which is bad. I would have to go look to see were it is. Can't remember.

Jeff D.

 

Well, the only grounding strap I could find that seems to come into play is the one going from the front left frame to the front left side of the engine block. That strap is a little rusted, but the connectors are clean. That's the only grounding strap I could find. I've also got the stock various grounds going to that bolt, which all look good, and the grounding wire for the Accel 300+ going to it as well. I have run the car with the Accel 300+ not plugged in, essentially stock, with the same results. I for the lift of me can't think of what it could be. Everything checks out to me, but the freaking coil is still arcing to the square bracket!!!

 

Just for giggles; I would take and ohm meter and just place the leds on the ends of the ground strap that goes from the fender to the "sandwich". It should be near zero ohms. Then one on the fender itself and the other on the "sandwich" If it's high or doesn't read; it's bad.

Jeff D.

 

Wish I had gotten that Ohm meter the other day.

One thought though, if that ground strap was bad, wouldn't I be having more problems that just a rough idle/stumble/rich condition. I think it's rich because not enough spark is getting to a cylinder or two or eight.

 

Well, I just did the space the coil bracket mod, and no help. I found a couple of good equal length studs that spaced it a good 1/2-3/4" out from the head.

Could fouled plugs cause enough resistance for the spark to jump at the coil??? I'm starting to lean towards just throwing a new set of plugs and wires at it anyway.

 

True; you are losing your spark energy from the arcing. That energy is never reaching the plugs.


.Switch your thinking around. If you have fouled plugs from running rich it's because you are not producing enough spark at the plug to burn the mixture or it is flaming out. This would be because the spark energy is discharging at the coil(the arcing problem) before it goes to the distributor and the plugs. At least that's how I see it.

Jeff D

 

That makes perfect sense actually. Now the question comes into play: What is causing such a resistance that the spark is jumping the air gap at the coil to the square coil bracket. I'm definitely not getting a light show from the plug wires. I did notice that I got a couple of spark from my coil wire to a bolt, but that thing was almost resting on it. I moved it, with no improvement. Could it be that the wires just gave up the ghost? I may be picking up an Ohm Meter tomorrow for at least the sake of knowing if the grounding strap is any good or not.

 

Yeah, I would get a ohm meter. Use it to check all the wires too. They all should be near zero. You know; something just popped in my head. How old is the cap and rotor? Maybe something wrong with the rotor. Are all the plugs fouled? If the majority of the spark energy that the coil makes can not pass though the cap and rotor then it will have to discharge somewhere back up the line and that is what it is doing.

Jeff D.

 

Opti is brand new. I initially thought that was the problem. Pulled my other brand new one in lieu of the brand new one that's on there. At least I have a spare now.

 

You are chasing a ghost. I have the same problem and gave that up long ago. Years ago actually. Put in new coil, opti, ignition box, plugs, wires. The coil still does exactly what you described. I think it's a trait of having a Accel coil for whatever reason. Does your coil wiggle in the bracket? Mine does and when I tightened it it still arc's. My friend runs a msd blaster w/ no arcing. Put his in and no arcing in mine now. Go figure........ My car runs great w/ either coil too. I'm buying a Crane hi-ball this go around....

Glad to know it wasn't just me w/ that experience.

 

Well, my problem is that it's ANY coil I put in it. I have a Hypertech in it right now, Arcing. Previous test subject was an MSD Blaster, Arcing. Original felon was a brand new Accel coil, part of the 300+ setup, Arcing. It's something causing resistance down the line that's enticing the spark to jump the air gap from the coil to the bracket. New plugs and wires getting ordered today.

It's becoming pretty obvious that this is my problem. Everytime I'm under the hood playing now, when I goose the gas, I can see the arcing become much more visible, almost like a glow, while the stumble is there. As soon as I pass up the stumble, it goes pitch black and revs to the moon like it should down low too.

 

I am having the same problem my coil will arch all the time i even bougs a new OEm coil and now a MSD coil still the same problem.

BUT what i have now found out is that a bad wire or connection to the plug or the opti will make the coil arch Because the spark has to go somewhere.

Well anyways i found the somehow my plug wire is arching across my plugs white part to the block. I have not figured it out yet (new wire and plug in place) but i do know for a fact that if u have 1 bad wire the coil will arch...

Send me an email when u get it fixed
Asadler@clintonnursing.com