Ignition Problem (sorta related)

[Andrew W. Macfadyen]

Looks like a plug fouling problem ---  either incorrect plugs or broken piston
rings  could also be a plug lead problem but this is much  less likely.
Back in the  pre electronic igniton days you used to see devices advertised  as
spark boosters they were really just air gaps to raise the voltage produed by the
coil, I've seen hand made ones improvised at the road side as a get you home
measure out of a button. Some outboard motors still use plugs with built in gaps.

Kevin Vannorsdel wrote:

>  This is a tad off-topic..... but may still be of interest.
>
> My VW motor (OK- engine) has this problem that it only runs decent if I pull a
> few of the spark plug wires out of the dist cap a bit...    actually-  it only
> runs good when I pull it out far enough that it starts arching from the cap to
> the wire...
>
> If I make a good snug electrical connection... the cylinder never fires (and
> the bug runs real crummy)
>
> I am sure this is a common problem and must have something to do with the
> voltage built up by the coil... can anyone comment...?  Maybe off-line is best
> since this is not directly EFI.
>
> Thanks for the bandwidth.
>
> KV.
>
> ________________________________________________
>   Kevin Vannorsdel     IBM Arm Electronics Development
>     408-256-6492                Tie 276-6492     kv at us.ibm.com