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Topic: Spark Plug Wires Popping Off Plugs

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Spark Plug Wires Popping Off Plugs

Posted: 3/28/15 9:25pm Message 1 of 13
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Edmonds, WA - USA
Joined: 9/21/2014
Posts: 46
Vette(s): 1980. Black with T-Tops.
Short story, had a shop put a new exhaust system on my 80.....new wire set was needed to clear the manifolds coming off the block. Shop ordered in and built the wire set (not a hard thing to do really) and I got the car back about 2.5 months ago. Driven the car about 800 miles since then. Yesterday I was on the freeway and the car started running really rough. Got off on next exit and looked under the car...nonfluids leaking but sure as sh!+ there was a spark plug wire dangling. Right side (facing forward) closest to the firewall had popped off. Awkward position on a hot engine...bought a set of gloves and adjustable pliers insode the gas station and got the plug wire reattached. Drove 35 yards and the problem re-emerged....popped the hood and left side second from firewal was hanging off the plug....that ready me was partially melted as it fell into onto an exhaust pipe. I was able to reattach it and it works. Drove another 8 miles and sure as sh!+ right side 2nd from firewall pops off the plug! Popped it back in and have have driven it about 25 miles since then with no issues. Accepting comments....:)


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Re: Spark Plug Wires Popping Off Plugs

Posted: 3/29/15 9:23am Message 2 of 13
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Grapevine, TX - USA
Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1522
Vette(s): 1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air. 2017 Black Rose Grand Sport convertible.
Maybe you should check ALL of the sparkplug boots to make sure they are all the way on.  Just sayin'...


   

Re: Spark Plug Wires Popping Off Plugs

Posted: 3/29/15 4:00pm Message 3 of 13
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Either they were not properly installed, or the wires are no good. Ouch


Joel Adams
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Re: Spark Plug Wires Popping Off Plugs

Posted: 3/30/15 9:53am Message 4 of 13
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Edmonds, WA - USA
Joined: 9/21/2014
Posts: 46
Vette(s): 1980. Black with T-Tops.
I checked them all they appear seated properly. Any risk of serious damage if I drive it and one or two drop off again? Remember...I am a gearhead in training...:)


Re: Spark Plug Wires Popping Off Plugs

Posted: 3/30/15 10:39am Message 5 of 13
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
 Won't cause any major damage if they fall off, other than melting the wires, or possibly firing up a fuel leak, but as you know, it ain't gunna run very well! LOL
 If you have gone thru and verified ALL of them are pushed all the way down onto the plugs, and you felt the "click" of the metal terminal, then they should not fall off again. Just the tension of the boots themselves should hold the wires on, even if the terminals are a little loose. Make sure you have the correct size boots(and terminals) for the plugs....there are different sizes of boots, since some older plugs have larger diameter porcelain than the later ones. Thumbs Up 


Joel Adams
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Re: Spark Plug Wires Popping Off Plugs

Posted: 4/1/15 6:35pm Message 6 of 13
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Edmonds, WA - USA
Joined: 9/21/2014
Posts: 46
Vette(s): 1980. Black with T-Tops.
Talked with the shop via phone and told them the circumstances (falling off at freeway speeds). the guys first question was do you have headers? The answer to that is yes, and the question tells me he's familiar with this problem because the headers must be vibrating too much and shaking the wires loose.


Re: Spark Plug Wires Popping Off Plugs

Posted: 4/1/15 7:41pm Message 7 of 13
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
EDeBella said: Short story, had a shop put a new exhaust system on my 80.....new wire set was needed to clear the manifolds coming off the block. Shop ordered in and built the wire set

Hmmmm....they must have a really bad memory if they don't remember installing the headers themselves....Ermm
Never heard of a tube steel header vibrating enough to blow the wires off the plugs. I'll have to store that one in my "Are you f-ing kiddin me?!" file....Wacko

My suspicion is that the wire terminals are not right, or not properly seated.



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Re: Spark Plug Wires Popping Off Plugs

Posted: 4/2/15 5:03am Message 8 of 13
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Equinunk, PA - USA
Joined: 10/31/2007
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Vette(s): 1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.
Angry  Somebody has bats in their belfry or rotten in Denmark for that assumption. I agree with The Apple. What a story!  Nuke


Re: Spark Plug Wires Popping Off Plugs

Posted: 4/3/15 9:00am Message 9 of 13
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HOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
If they are snapping on correctly and the boots are the right size, try adding a little dab of silicone grease to the inside lip of the boot. It may allow the boots to slide a little further down and remove some resistance if the boots are dry and pushing against the porcelain.


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Re: Spark Plug Wires Popping Off Plugs

Posted: 4/3/15 11:20am Message 10 of 13
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Oak Creek, WI - USA
Joined: 5/21/2008
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Vette(s): 1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190 hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vettes Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!! Now own a 1998 C-5!
Did you piss off the Corvette Gods at all??

Dan da ManHug



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