kiztope

Hey all,
I was changing the oil in the Z and I just noticed that when the car is running, if I touch the valve covers I get a shock at steady short intervals. I'm thinking of checking out the plug wires, but do you guys have any suggestions of anything else I should be looking for? Is there a common ground for the ignition coils?

Thanks!

fuseone

i would go with looking at the plug wires if i was you.

Danny2tek

iTrader: (1)

I've heard you can try MISTING some water around and look for the arcing

99345hp

could the coils be shorting out to the valvecovers?? I Don't think the plug wires are close enough to arc to them.

lovin myls1

iTrader: (4)

The high voltage is made in the coils so I suppose that could happen, yeah.If you could narrow it down to which one, you could take it off and look for cracks and carbon tracks from arching on the bottom or sides.
You might be able to unplug each coil one at a time(not pull the plug wire) untill the shocking stops?

99345hp

^^^ that is the best idea. Then you can narrow it down to which coil or plug wire it is.

kiztope

Thanks for the great suggestions... I'll give them a shot and let you guys know! If anyone else has any tips, feel free to chime in!

ksk1980

iTrader: (33)

yeah unplug the sparkplug wire while its running and tell me how ya feel
dont ask how i know

blockheadnic

sounds like your car doesnt want you to touch it anymore

primer84z

iTrader: (7)

you have a plug wire that is arcing. I bet if you turn the car on in the dark and look under the hood you will see it. Probably a cracked wire or one is not on securely. It takes about 5 mins to check them all....

fenix999

iTrader: (17)

replace spark plug wires :ding ding ding: what do i win!?!?

kiztope

lol... I should be able to look at the car again in the next couple of days.. It's been raining here... Rain always puts a damper on working on the car!

If it stays dry, I'll probably check for the visible sparks tonight...

Beaflag VonRathburg

iTrader: (176)

^ The rain would make it extra fun to play with electricity.

jimmyblue

iTrader: (11)

You may want to put voltmeter from block to chassis sheet
metal (like that ground terminal stud on the wheel well) and
see if the motor is at different potential. If so, look to the
ground braids (back of driver's head to firewall, maybe others).
The current loop ought to be so low a resistance that spark
can't bite you. There is a lot of electrical bumping goes on
and flyback from any cyclic inductive load could make the block
potential jump if it's not well strapped. That kind of thing can
really make block-referred sensors act freaky too.

kiztope

Do you think that it could cause the coolant level sensor to flip out? Even though it's full (hot and cold), I get that dash indicator randomly from time to time....

primer84z

iTrader: (7)

that sensor goes out randomly, common problem in these cars and other gm's. Cost like 30 bucks for a new one, it just pops in and out, you wont lose too much coolant.

99ssleeper

iTrader: (98)

hah...i was just going to say....