Running on 3 cyl. Safe to drive?

[wwdwgs]

Hi
Urgent. Num 2 xyl wire cracked and spark does to nearby hose vacuum
How much miles is safe to drive?

[wwdwgs]

Update:
I wrapped around spark wire boot 100000 layers of electrical tape and it helped. I got home safely.

[mazdaverx7]

Any port in a storm I suppose. I've done it to get get home once and it helped. Best fix is definitely to replace the wires. The original Beru wires are the best choice in my opinion.

[wwdwgs]

Yes. That's the first time I saw "electricity" grounding to a rubber.

[Jfrahm]

Too late but no, washing one jug down with fuel is not good. But tape is effective. It can also superheat the cat as 25% of the fuel goes into it and burns up there.

I might drive a mile or two but would be worried about a Long Beach BBQ from a red-hot cat.

[v2rocket_aka944]

^^ i imagine if one spark plug is out, you could unplug that injector too?

[wwdwgs]

V2rocket... Hm.. that's a good idea to prevent gas dumping.

[Monkey Wrench]

I had a lifter go in my old volvo. pulled a pushrod out, readjusted the rest of the valves, removed the one spark plug. drove 200 miles back home. It sounded funnybreething in and out of my spark plug hole. ran well though. the loose lifter just flung upwards and left the cam since it had no pushrod to hold it against the cam. wheen I got home I had to drop the pan, flushed everythign out well. changed the cam and it was just fine.

a few months ago I pulled my volvo 740 off the road, it wasn't idling well, had poor performance but I had driven it around like that for about 6 months wondering what was wrong. I made a jig to check the fuel injectors under pressure. I connect a little container that I can fill with sea foam or carb cleaner and I pressurize it , then connect a 9V to open the injector, then I can see how it sprays, and if it shuts off .I backflush them. one didnt open. I was running all the time on 3 cylinders basically with one stuck closed injector.
you can buy the little seals cheap and there is a screen where the fuel enters. backflushing didn't show any restriction, so I left them alone but you can change the little fuel screens if you like. you can change the pintle little washers and the O ring at the same time. ( cheaply) I figured that way I dont mind using used parts if I can just ensure they spray and open and close ok. You can buy cheap made in china ones if you like too. I dont know if they are ok or not, probably work?

so yes you can.. Its not the best situation but it may save a towtruck bill.
If I service the ignition I like ot pull the plug wires, wash them in alcohol to degrease them well, check the connectors, good to replace them anyway, who needs the trouble. I clean them if they are ok but I'd say if the car is new to you and they look old, It's probably good to just change them out . With the spark tracking problem that's a given. I got aftermarket ones for mine. Jury is out on weather they are ok or junk but they looked ok. I sprung for the OEM Bosche cap so it won't have aluminum parts.

unplugging the injector makes sense, no point dumping fuel in with no spark , but that's resolved anyway.

[wwdwgs]

Funny, or rather sad, thing is that these spark plug wires are only 4 years old and I didn't put many miles on them - about 900 at most.... I don't remember their brand...I probably bought the cheapest ones... When I got "stuck" on the road with this problem, I was ready to walk to the nearest auto parts stores to buy the wire set, but 1 - they didn't stock then, 2 - they were priced about about $270 a set and 3 - they were available either by the end of the day or next day.
Imagine how furious I was!!!!

Monkey Wrench,
knowing that you have 944's and you mention (with love in your "voice") Volvos, I though you own 240/244 models.

[originalowner]

Originally Posted by v2rocket_aka944

^^ i imagine if one spark plug is out, you could unplug that injector too?

I think the other cylinders would run quite rich due to the excess oxygen passing through and into the exhaust manifold, though this would be the case for not pulling the injector wire as well.

[v2rocket_aka944]

unplug the O2 sensor too then