Arcing at the coil wire

[94 formula]

Tonight while going up a steep mountain on the way back to school my car started feeling a little sluggish. By the time I was near the top I had a noticable stumble all across the RPM range. I pulled off turned my lights off and looked under the hood. I didn't see any arcing until I happened to look around the intake elbow and noticed my coil wire arcing badly. It looked like a strobe light was right near where the coil wire plugged into the opti. Do I just need to replace the wire and be done with it or is there anything else I should look at?

[Rob B (shoebox)]

The wire would be a good start.

[Joe 1320]

Tonight while going up a steep mountain on the way back to school my car started feeling a little sluggish. By the time I was near the top I had a noticable stumble all across the RPM range. I pulled off turned my lights off and looked under the hood. I didn't see any arcing until I happened to look around the intake elbow and noticed my coil wire arcing badly. It looked like a strobe light was right near where the coil wire plugged into the opti. Do I just need to replace the wire and be done with it or is there anything else I should look at?

I would replace all the plug wires. It is likely time.

[94 formula]

I would replace all the plug wires. It is likely time.

Plug wires don't have 4k miles on them yet. I changed plugs and wires when I put in the new engine this summer it was a lot easier routing them and putting in plugs with the engine out. The coil and opti don't have 5k miles on them so I guess the coil wire is the last origional piece of the ignition left I just overlooked doing that with the rest.

[Joe 1320]

Plug wires don't have 4k miles on them yet. I changed plugs and wires when I put in the new engine this summer it was a lot easier routing them and putting in plugs with the engine out. The coil and opti don't have 5k miles on them so I guess the coil wire is the last origional piece of the ignition left I just overlooked doing that with the rest.

I have also seen instances of the metal boot protectors causing a grounding of the ignition energy. Mine was arcing at the coil pretty badly until I removed the boot protectors and replace with taylor firesleeves. Not saying that is your problem, just be aware that it can happen.

[94 formula]

I have also seen instances of the metal boot protectors causing a grounding of the ignition energy. Mine was arcing at the coil pretty badly until I removed the boot protectors and replace with taylor firesleeves. Not saying that is your problem, just be aware that it can happen.

I took my boots off when I did my headers last year. They were almost touching the boots and I figured that may cause arcing. I periodically check my wires just to make sure have burnt and so far they look fine.