Author Topic: Bad spark plug wire???  (Read 5099 times)

March 03, 2011, 12:56:35 am

maxfax

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Bad spark plug wire???
« on: March 03, 2011, 12:56:35 am »
Well, not quite, but that's what it feels like.. I feel it when cruising at a constant speed usually from about 45mph to 65mph.. More noticeable when hitting a slight incline..  I don;t want to say it bucks or jerks, not smooth enough to be what I would refer to as a surge, just kinda like a slight misfire when the wires are shot on that Chebby Tree Fiddy.. 

I posted about this years ago, got some good ideas (air leaks, fuel filter, fuel quality, injectors, timing, compression, cv's etc), But never really got to the bottom of it in the last almost 200K miles.. Injectors have been replaced/rebuilt twice, pump was resealed and gov mod done..  Clutch, CV's, and trans have been changed in this time..  At one point the shut off solenoid started leaking fuel around the stud so it got replaced.

The kicker is, it comes and goes..  Weather makes no difference.. Fuel makes no difference..  It can go a month and be fine, or it may to it every other day, or every day for weeks..  I think the issue was slightly worse and more consistent when the shut off was leaking.. But I can't say that for 100% sure..

I've been thinking pump issue for the longest time..  This is on the "crack" engine..  I wasn't going to bother investing anything more into this engine (I think I said that a few $$$ ago though) as it's not intolerable..  But since I blew the budget on a building another friggen 1.6 NA (I think I coulda bought an AAZ for what I have in that wreck) I was considering reusing this pump for now..

Thoughts, ideas, recommendations, donations?




Reply #1March 03, 2011, 01:09:55 am

mystery3

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2011, 01:09:55 am »
But since I blew the budget on a building another friggen 1.6 NA (I think I coulda bought an AAZ for what I have in that wreck)

I know the feeling exactly.

As to your issue I would think it's probably pump related but perhaps you're getting intermittent air in a fuel line?

Reply #2March 03, 2011, 01:12:17 am

truckinwagen

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #2 on: March 03, 2011, 01:12:17 am »


As to your issue I would think it's probably pump related but perhaps you're getting intermittent air in a fuel line?

I think this would be it too, I have been noticing it in my car too, seems to go away with the lift pump.

do you have a lift pump on it?

-Owen
83 Opel Kadett Diesel

Reply #3March 03, 2011, 01:28:54 am

maxfax

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #3 on: March 03, 2011, 01:28:54 am »
I've run with and without a lift pump..  Doesn't seem to make a difference..   Tank has been removed and cleaned, new lines (both rubber and steel) front to back on inlet and return.. Tried another filter housing for the heck of it..  I wish I could rig a couple gallon jug under the hood and drive it say 100 miles off that..  But then again that could be one of it's well behaved 100 miles..

When I had the pump apart for the reseal there didn't seem to be any obvious issues with the lift pump and governor..  I have no ideas about the mileage on this thing, could be that the head is just getting worn.. But I'd think it would be not so intermittent..  

First time I replaced injectors I bought new ones from a less than reputable seller.. The engine did run smoother/better overall other than the plug wire thing..   ::)  Second trip I had the originals rebuilt and even watched them being tested.. Those injectors didn't act much different, so I guess that says something for the China injectors, at least that batch...

Overall I've never had a problem with starting, economy, or power..  I know I'm not crazy, well totally crazy, as I've had a few other people take it a spin with no knowledge of what they were looking for..
« Last Edit: March 03, 2011, 01:33:32 am by maxfax »

Reply #4March 03, 2011, 08:19:44 am

rs899

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #4 on: March 03, 2011, 08:19:44 am »
I had a similar issue with the Jetta that I reconstructed.  I decided to rebuild an older IP I had lying around and when I swapped that in, the problem went away.  I haven't dissected the "problem" pump, so I can't say what was wrong, but the car had been sitting for several years.
'91 Jetta 1.6 NA, '82 Caddy 1.6NA, '81 Cabriolet,  4 Mercedes OM616/617s , 2 Triumphs and a Citroen DS19 in a pear tree.

Reply #5March 04, 2011, 10:40:33 am

maxfax

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2011, 10:40:33 am »
The pump is the only thing left in the equation I suppose..  I have some others that I may try resealing and see what happens.. At worst this pump is at the least useable...

Thinking about it, this pump has over a half million miles, and has only ever had seals and a bushing.. And, when I bought this car it did sit about 2 years till I did something with it...

Reply #6March 05, 2011, 02:57:36 am

Smokey Eddy

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2011, 02:57:36 am »
i ve had a similar thing happen and it was from the wire going to the fuel shut off being frayed/burnt/corroded inside the plastic sheathing.
replace that power wire to the pimp as close to the dash as you can get. AT LEAST change where the wire moves any amount.
Ed
Blacked out mk2 AAZ Jetta RIP. You are missed.
White 1999.5 ALH Golf 2dr. Low & wide. Rammed off the road RIP.
Blue 2009 CR140 Jetta CBEA/CJAA. Malone stage 2. EGR/DPF/Exhaust-valve deletes. 2.5" open exhaust. ADP Turbo swap. 1-stage nitrous kit. THROWN ROD

Reply #7March 05, 2011, 10:26:17 am

maxfax

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2011, 10:26:17 am »
Ed, has anyone told you that you are BRILLIANT lately???  

I read your post before I left for home last night, took one of my jumper wires with..  Sure enough it was misbehaving, so I pulled off and hooked that bugger right to the battery.. It was fine the rest of the way home, and back to here..

And now things are making a whole lot of sense..  No so long after I started running this car the wire to the IP rubbed, shorted, smoked, and got cussed at... I replaced the worst part of the wire, but never the whole thing as I planned to get around to it later...   ::)  And I'd say that pretty much when this started..

I'm wondering if it may also be wise to replace the ignition switch while I'm at it.. I dunno if it's ever been changed, but this chassis is probably pushing 600K - 700K miles..

Thanks again Ed!!  Something so simple I never gave it a thought!

Reply #8March 06, 2011, 03:00:20 pm

the caveman

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2011, 03:00:20 pm »
I was going to suggest looking at the rotor and distributor cap.....maybe even the spark plugs.....................................
" I'm a vegetarian,not because i love animals, it's because i hate plants"
1970 Type 3 fastback
1972 Renault 12
1971 Super Beetle 140 HP 159 ft lbs
1987 Fox
1989 TD Jetta
1990 Fox
1989 Fox
1998 TDI Jetta
1990 T3 German MIL Transporter 1.9 na Giles super pump
1997 Jetta GLX TDI

Reply #9March 06, 2011, 06:45:09 pm

maxfax

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2011, 06:45:09 pm »
I was going to suggest looking at the rotor and distributor cap.....maybe even the spark plugs.....................................

I was suspecting the points and condenser myself.....

Reply #10March 06, 2011, 08:46:04 pm

macka

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #10 on: March 06, 2011, 08:46:04 pm »
I was going to suggest looking at the rotor and distributor cap.....maybe even the spark plugs.....................................

I was suspecting the points and condenser myself.....
points are set at .020" FYI
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I do know that I drive torque,  while listening to my friends prattle on about horsepower.

Reply #11March 06, 2011, 10:54:43 pm

truckinwagen

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #11 on: March 06, 2011, 10:54:43 pm »
I like that idea!

I may go and replace as much of the shutoff wire on mine too, someone put one of those "quick splices" in that wire to switch some stuff under the hood, probably not doing it any good...

-Owen
83 Opel Kadett Diesel

Reply #12March 06, 2011, 11:07:43 pm

maxfax

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #12 on: March 06, 2011, 11:07:43 pm »
Couldn't hurt..   I sure as heck never even gave it a thought.. I have about 3 crimp connections where I doctored the wire "temporarily"  ::)..  No clue what it looks like under the dash... IT probably isn;t good after the short...

  I was thinking about putting a relay on it while I'm at it..  I suppose it isn't that high of a load, but I like relays.. I have a new ignition switch on the way too...  Can't hurt I guess..

Reply #13March 07, 2011, 11:20:34 am

rs899

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #13 on: March 07, 2011, 11:20:34 am »
Quote
I had a similar issue with the Jetta that I reconstructed.  I decided to rebuild an older IP I had lying around and when I swapped that in, the problem went away.  I haven't dissected the "problem" pump, so I can't say what was wrong, but the car had been sitting for several years.

Come to think of it, when I rebuilt the pump, I crimped on a new lug on the shutoff.  I wonder if that's all it was....oh well, good experience anyway rebuilding the IP....
'91 Jetta 1.6 NA, '82 Caddy 1.6NA, '81 Cabriolet,  4 Mercedes OM616/617s , 2 Triumphs and a Citroen DS19 in a pear tree.

Reply #14March 07, 2011, 11:47:19 am

R.O.R-2.0

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Re: Bad spark plug wire???
« Reply #14 on: March 07, 2011, 11:47:19 am »
this problem has happened to me so many times i didnt even think to say something about it..
92 Jetta GLI - Black, 1.6D w/ GT2056V turbo..
86 GTI - 4 Door, Med Twilight Gray, Tow Machine..
86 Audi Coupe GT - Tornado Red, All Stock.. WRECKED.
89 Toyota 4Runner - Dark Grey Metallic, LIFTED!

Turbo: exhaust gasses go into the turbocharger and spin it, witchcraft happens and you go faster.