My rig was running like crap. I thought the timing needed a little adjusting. WELL.. when I was fiddling around with the distributor, I noticed at the same time the truck sputtered, I heard a *zap*

Upon further examination, I noticed the wire going from the coil to the DC was arcing from under the boot to a hose clamp under the distributor. Like a dumbass, I reached down and pushed on the boot... You all know what happened.

I turned the truck off, wrapped it all up in electrical tape to make sure that was the problem and not the timing. I could still hear a zap, not as frequently, but I couldn't see any sparking. So, I went to rotate the distributor back to where it started, and apparently I had my left hand on something metal, and I got it again.. worse than the first time. I turned the engine off, tightened down the adjusting bolt, closed the hood, and called it a day. I'm gonna go pick up some NGK wires on pay day

So here's the point of this post. When there is a short, don't put your freaking hand on it! OK OK OK here's the real point..

Be sure to check your wires. Including your coil wire. Check your distributor, cap, and rotor. The headache you're having could be as cheap as $15 to remedy.

Oh and if I can keep just one person from having a dumbass moment, then mine was well worth it.

 

The best way I've found to check plug wires/coil wire is to grab any spray bottle, fill it with water, and spray down the wires. Use a screwdriver, touch it to ground and lean it over toward the wires. If the wires are shot, you'll see sparks jump from them to the screwdriver (which is grounded)

I actually have a long piece of 14awg wire that I soldered a probe to one end of, and an alligator clip to the other specifically for checking my plug/coil wires. Works like a charm every time.

 

Very good tip. I prefer the finger test. It kills 2 birds with 1 stone. Does it have juice? Does it have ENOUGH juice?

 

Been there, done that. I prefer not shocking the living poop out of myself. haha!

 

A nice shock makes you feel alive.

 

Its funny cuz its true......I bet the numbers of those that have NOT done it are very small around here....

 

been there done that!!!i was doing something completely different and just got to close! and then went out and bought new plug wires!

 

lmao... It's a Toyota thing them Jeep guys just wouldn't understand..