ok, i am stumped. my spark is tiny!

[vash]

i went through and took out the CDI box. cleaned all connections, added an extra ground strap to the chassis of the box. checked for continuity at #3, that was fine, (no grounding). pulled the centor coil wire at the dist checked for spark, mega spark present, big fat and blue/white. move downstream. i got one of those psuedo plugs that you can vary the gap, ground it, attach spark plug wire. i crank the motor, and the spark is pathetic. cap, rotor, points new. magnacores ordered. but no way i have tiny spark at three different cylinders, is there? i am losing juice along the way. i checked various wires and re-taped the iffy ones. but no evidence of accidental grounding found. i drove it yesterday! after it mysteriously allow me to start it after it didnt in the morning.

i gotta get this fixed, along with some of the other car issues so i can learn to chase some of those other bay area guys around. help!

for now, jogging with dog, rent video, and drink scotch. i couldnt find (talisker?). haha.

cliff

[john walker's workshop]

old carbon core wires, or are they steel core.? steel wires don't break down like carbon wires. how about the plug connectors? have you checked them with an ohmmeter? they burn out. they should measure around 3000 ohms resistance. the cap connectors are also resistors, and they should be around 1000 ohms.

[greglepore]

Levitra, Cealis, Viagra, take your pick.

[vash]

carbon core. i didnt suspect them because, how can 50% of my wires go bad? i tested them before, and i got consistent readings. and the fact that yesterday the car didnt start, then did start. and this morning didnt start. new wires on the way, to eliminate them from the equation.

cliff.

[Zeke]

Just wait for your new wires. My car ran like crap as it was coming to life. When the new wires got installed it was a world of difference. Your wires are dead.

[vash]

thanks zeke. i know you are right. i am just freaky like that.

[azasadny]

Unfixed,

I replaced my wires (Bosch/Beru) last summer and I can't believe the difference it made. I was having cold start and backfire problems caused by spark plugs gapped too wide and bad wires. I put on a $129 set of Jacobs wires and everything has been great.

[na2ub]

You can always use a helper, and pull all the plugs. Line them up on a board, or something non-conductive. Turn the lights off and have your helper turn the car over while you view all six plugs snapping. Pull the fuel pump fuse if you are worried about flooding. Just a thought. I have never tried this on a P-car.

You can usually see if one or more plugs is sparking weak (compared to the others).

[onewhippedpuppy]

Cliff, calm down, it's OK. It's not the size of your spark, it's how you use it buddy. And when your girlfriend says it's "cute", that's alright, when she meets a real man she'll appreciate it more.
Just remember when you read this, my wife is pregnant and I haven't had sex in 8 months.

[Superman]

I have a question and a comment. Here is the question: Does Cliff's ignition system have those metal screw-tips on the ends of the ignition wires? The ones that screw into the spark plug connectors? Or is his car one of those where the plain ignition wire just screws into the Beru Connectors? Which Beru connectors does he have? Cliff, if you have the early-style Berus, then the suggestion below is REALLY EASY.

Here is the comment, which I have made before: Cliff, even if you're going to install fancy expensive superconducting, fusion-reaction, anti-terrorist ignition wires, please just bring your existing set up to snuff while you're waiting for NASA to finish building your new wire set. If you have the plain screw-on Beru connectors, all you will need to replace the wires is about 20 feet of 7mm wire. Sure, it's not easy to find but you can find it. Motorcycle shops tend to have it. NAPA can get you a roll, if necessary. Test each connector with an ohmmeter, like JW says. PM me if you have questions. Changing wire should take about five minutes. Use metal core wire. The only problem I would caution you about, is that if you do this, you will not notice a difference when the NASA wires arrive.

[vash]

i sh!+ canned the "nasa" wires (that is funny!) idea. no sense attaching a firehose to my garden hose spigot. i have a friend giving me a set of good wires, that i am going to systematically test with my ohm meter, and go from there.

thanks guys.