Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me!
 

going for double exposure for the n/a peeps that dont hang out in the FI forum area...

ok, every 1k or so after a plug swap the car will start to skip up top in rpms when under load. I've always assumed it was the plugs fouling out cause of the greddy blue box I use.

HOWEVER! there has always been these two black streaks on the middle two plugs when I pull them out. At first I thought it was just grease or something from the plug wires or what not.

Anyway, this time I decided to take a look at it further. IT'S fucking electrical burns!! Looks as if something has been arcing on these 2 plugs!!! one just has a small burn, the other one cuts into the porcelain and ends with a visible "electric dusting" on the top of the metal part of the plug.

what could be causing this?? are my plug wires bad?? they're msd 8.5mm wires and I run an SCI ignition and blaster ss coil.

sorry about the pic but my digital camera is HORRIBLE...any pic is better than no pic though.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...d/f9b01bb9.jpg

edit: new camera so here's a better pic heh.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...9/f9afde71.jpg


Modified by stackz at 1:17 AM 2/8/2004

flash?

Re: (LSVTECoupe)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LSVTECoupe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">flash? </TD></TR></TABLE>

lol, flash just turns the area into a bright light haha.

anyway, the main reason for the picture is to show the scar down the side of the plugs. you can see the one on the second to left one. being able to pick it out of that blurry ass pic kinda shows just how bad it is.

Re: (stackz)
 

lol sorry bro that is a really horrible pic.. cant really see much .. at all just outline of a plug ..lol

Re: (ekb18cCivic)
 

If this has been a problem with several sets of plugs, I would say try changing you wires. If it was just this set of plugs, I would guess you either got bad plugs, or you cracked them while installing them.

Re: (yellow_jacket)
 

bump

Re: (stackz)
 

much better pics !!!! https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif try replacing the wires.. i would go back to OEM ones..

i would say its your wires.

Re: (redrum eg6)
 

yup, i woud start w/ the wires...

Re: (ekb18cCivic)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ekb18cCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">much better pics !!!! https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif try replacing the wires.. i would go back to OEM ones.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

lol! ya i think the same thing on the pics haha https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmilep.gif

sigh and to think these wires are only about 8 months old. I've got maybe MAYBE 9000 miles on them at the MOST.

it won't matter running stock wires with the SCI ignition and blaster ss coil will it?? I heard the thinner diameter creates interferance problems??

Re: (stackz)
 

oh and what would cause the arcing like this in the wire??? doesn't seem like there's anything that could cause it to do this to me?? https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emsad.gif

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (stackz)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stackz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...9/f9afde71.jpg


Modified by stackz at 1:17 AM 2/8/2004</TD></TR></TABLE> ok .. did this only happen to these two plugs???

you shouldnt have a problem running the OEM wires .. you should be fine

you said you only have like 8k on these wires.. but i have noticed that most aftermarket wires dont not have along life at all

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (stackz)
 

Get rid of the aftermarket wires and find a set of OEM Honda wires (Sumitomo).

Aftermarket wires are mostly junk. Honda's ignition components are some of the best in the industry.

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (ekb18cCivic)
 

it looks like from the picture that the aftermarket wires arent making a clean conecttion to the plug it looks like its arcing itself to the base of the plug.. which is giving you that electrical burn from the tip to the base... go back to oem wires and make sure you have a solid connection between plug and wire

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (ekb18cCivic)
 

totally dood.. everyone is telling you the same thing, go with the wires..

make the change and give us your results..

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (ekb18cCivic)
 

Yep like what everyone else said oem wires own. The next best thing is ngk if you cant find oem. http://www.sparkplugs.com

You could also try some dielectric grease. It helps insulate the connection by keeping out oil/water/air out and also prevents electrical seepage.

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (func-tion)
 

yeha i def wanna hear what the end result is.. let us know..

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (ekb18cCivic)
 

well crap and to think the dealership is closed tomorrow heh.

I'm wondering if once I change the wires if I should toss these 2 plugs back in and see if it comes back or not?? I mean that would actually tell me if the wire swap worked out right?

other than the outside arcing on them the actual plug terminals themselves look just fine.

anyone know how much the dealer charges for a set of wires?

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (stackz)
 

Plugs are cheap. I would just buy 2 new ones, but you can always try them out first to see if they're okay if you just dont want to spend the money.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stackz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
anyone know how much the dealer charges for a set of wires?</TD></TR></TABLE>
They're pricey, almost $20 each.

This is why you don't throw away the stock wires that you take off of the car (or remove them at all in the first place).

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (stackz)
 

D16y8 wires?
http://www.slhondaparts.com/images/PCI/13S020/021/4.jpg
$44.98 pn:32722-P2F-A03
Buy them HERE Item#5

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (Targa250R)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Get rid of the aftermarket wires and find a set of OEM Honda wires (Sumitomo).

Aftermarket wires are mostly junk. Honda's ignition components are some of the best in the industry.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've seen this happen before with AM wires. Just swtich back to stock and you shouldn't have anymore problems.

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (func-tion)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by func-tion &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">D16y8 wires?

$44.98 pn:32722-P2F-A03

Buy them

Item#5</TD></TR></TABLE>

ok so "ignition wire" is the set of 4 I take it? or i can buy them individually? not too bad.

yeah, i never should have thrown away the factory wires or coil or cap eesh. this msd setup has been nothing but problems for me I swear.

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (stackz)
 

i don't think you want to buy them individually even if you can. just replace all 4. i recently spent 55 bucks.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stackz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...9/f9afde71.jpg</TD></TR></TABLE>

not to hijack but do you see that brown stuff between the metal and the porcelain on that second plug?? i recently changed my plugs and they had about 1/4" of brown stuff like that all around. is that normal or do i have a problem? https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emdgust.gif

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (jwn7)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jwn7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i

not to hijack but do you see that brown stuff between the metal and the porcelain on that second plug?? i recently changed my plugs and they had about 1/4" of brown stuff like that all around. is that normal or do i have a problem? https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emdgust.gif </TD></TR></TABLE> i may be wrong but i to me the brown stuff looks like where the arc was completed.. it falls right in line with the electical burn...

Re: Spark plugs revisited...pics for you to diagnose with me! (ekb18cCivic)
 

are the parts off a D16Y7 distributor interchangeable with a D16Y8 one? i've got a friend who can just outright give me his old distributor complete with cap, coil, and wires....

how do I tell the difference between the two distributors if it's different??