Im not sure of where its coming from sounds like an arch but when at idle I cannot see anything under hood in dark and it does not make the sound. It only will do it when under load like just off the line. Now when I R2ed my opti rotor I noticed some plastic broken inside of the coil wire. Would that cause this arch under load? Or even at all? where else is there prone arching besides plug wires on a factory stock car?

 

What do you mean there is plastic broken at the coil wire? Are you referring to the tower where the coil wire plugs in? If that tower is broken then sure, you could be getting an arc right there.

Try taking a squirt bottle of water and in the evening squirt small amounts around your plug wires to promote an Arc if there is a weak spot. Obviously do not soak the opti but just a small squirt on the wires should yield you some results.

typically the audible arc or snap your hearing is Ignition related. When a DC arc is heard its not usually an intermittant thing or something you cant find.

Under load you have a better chance of Misfire (arcing at weak spots) becuase creating an arc over the gap of a plug in a fuel richened atmosphere of the cylinder is harder. What that means is the current looks for an easier path to ground and weak spots in plug wires can be that path. You can try brake torquing the car to create the loaded condition and have someone else look for any signs of tracking/arcing.


Terry

 

yup, I know this is old but I still have the problem.

By broken plastic I meant the plastic inside the plug wire itself. Well I R2 the coil wire and it seemed to go away... but it is back.

Ive checked in the dark under the hood and do not see anything, but I can hear it snap if I give it a little rev and let off. Sounds like its coming from the coil area. I checked and there is no evidence of arc. Nor is anything broken in that area. as the plastic mentioned was inside the coil wire itself.

 

If you hear it, it is arcing. You just need to find it.

 

yeah thats what I thought, it just usually does it when Im driving(mostly just before idle as I come to a stop.) I figure its got to be on the high voltage part as it goes away with rpm, Like a plug wire.