spark jumping??

[imdawrlus]

i have previous posts about how my truck had been getting lean codes 44, stumbles at idle, and has no power...i tried all the advice that was given and nothing...yes, the fuel pressure is good, 14 psi.....i have never found out what the problem was....

until now....maby....i was checking for misfires with my timing light....i took the light and put it on a few different spark plug wires and noticed the light flashes a few times normaly and then 3 or so times really quick....i called my dad over and explained that the light flashed every time a cyl fired....(he dosent know anything about this) i asked him what he thought and he said "its all messed up"....its also a cheap light from autozone so that could be the explanation....but i'm gonna go out right now to pull the cap and rotor and look for trouble....if the spark is jumping around in the cap, what would the reason be?? thanks....

[Sparky2263]

I use an ignition oscilliscope to diagnose ignition problems. Hook it up, start the engine, voila! Big ass TV screen full of ignition pattern. Instant diagnosis. Why not find someone with a scope that knows how to use it? I charge $50 to scope, fuel pressure test and computer scan. That will find better than 3 of 4 driveability problems with no further testing required.

Find a guy that can do that. Pay him the $50. Fix the damn truck and quit guessing. ;)

[imdawrlus]

haha ok? thanks for the advice......my time is very cheap as am i.....haha i hate to spend money and i dont mind tinkering with my truck as long as i'm making *some* progress.....i think i may be on to something with the ignition......

anyways i checked the cap and rotor tonight and they both look good.....i very little wear....they are only 3 months old.....is it ok to have plug wires zip tied together?? i have a few that are......

also, why would the timing light flash so wierd like it did??

[Sparky2263]

Cheap timing lights are prone to inductive charges from nearby wires. Heck, my Snap-On timing light will skip a beat occasionally.

It is not advisable to use zip ties. This can induce spark jumping BUT, on a dark night, you'd be able to see it.

If you have AC/Delco plugs (and a couple other brands) take a look under the hood when it's pitch black (and I mean pitch black) outside and you can actually see the crimp at the porcelain glow every time it fires the cylinder. They used to be called "Fire Ring" spark plugs. Pretty cool.

[imdawrlus]

SPARKY!!!!!

i went to napa today and got some spark plug wire looms...none of the wires touch eachother at all....i also pulled every plug and checked the gap....i had them set close to 40, book says 35, so i changed them....i also put my old oxygen sensor in....all in all it seems to have a little more balls and the idle is deffinately smoother....i dont know if i should give credit to the ignition or 02 sensor....dosent really matter....

while i was working i noticed that one of my air injection fittings was rusted through...i start it and feel air coming out of the fitting....

hmmm....I HOPE I JUST FOUND MY LEAN PROBLEM! could this be it??

[Sparky2263]

yup, yup

[imdawrlus]

huh? haha is that a yes?? how does it cause it to run lean? or is it only *thinking* its running lean?

[imdawrlus]

sparky!!!!! hahah

[Sparky2263]

An exhaust leak will generally set a code 45, rich, due to the extra oxygen content. But, who cares, fix the damn exhaust leak.

;)

[imdawrlus]

well i fixed the air injection leak with a peice of hose and it seems to run smoother than ever now.....before the idle would surge between 1-200 rpms....now it dosent seem to surge at all........i'm not sure if its the air injection that fixed the problem or the 02 sensor.....i will never buy another aftermarket 02 sensor again.....if i need one, i'm goin to the steeler......

[Sparky2263]

Parts like O2 sensors, tune-up stuff, etc. are AC/Delco parts. Most medium to large size towns have an AC/Delco parts store. Our local one is called The Parts House (original name, huh?) and they carry Delco and Motorcraft. MUCH cheaper than the dealer.