ok ok,

so im drivving to work...suddenly car dies ...and wont idle at all....fires right back up.....but have to keep on gas in order to kep running......

so i pull over...(to see if all spark plug wires and coil wires are still attached......i touch a coil wire and got a huge jolt.....(the car had decided to somewhat idle by this point..so it was running...

should i be getting a shock wen touching coil wies when the car is running?..or is this a sign of a bad coil wire/ park plug wires.....

thnks

Paul

 

I would replace the wires, typically that means the unsulation is breaking down. could cause an arch.

I grabed the coil wire once when I was 16, havent done it since. My arm hurt for a week.

 

It's probably a good idea to replace the wires but I doubt this was the cause of engine stalling. Judging by the fact you had to hold the throttle open to keep it from dying I'd say the carb was flooding. Probably some debris caught in the needle and seat or something like that...

 

What's it, like 10000 Volts going through the coil wire to the distributer? Getting shocked by that isn't that shocking, pun intended.

I always steer clear of all the distributor wires when its running. Experience is a great teacher! When for instance you are holding a spark plug wire with the plug or a coil wire out to see if there is a spark, always use an insulated plier, or ZAP

Your problem sounded carb related....

 

You don't always learn.... One time we were trying to get a recalcitrant lawnmower to start. It was flooded REALLY badly. So, I pulled the spark plug out, held the coil wire away from the engine with one hand, held the throttle wide open with the other, and my friend gave a few good yanks with the starter cord.

Think about that, 'cos I sure didn't. One hand on the spark plug lead, the other one grounded to the engine.

Then we cross threaded the spark plug hole in the head after yanking the plug so many times. Kinda wedged the plug back in (cross threads are better than no threads!) and the thing started! With puffs of flame shooting out where the spark plug wasn't sealed to the head properly. Damndest thing I ever saw. I'm really surprised what with all the screwing around with lawnmowers that we did, that we all still have all of our feet and hands

That reminds me... NEVER look at a fan with a timing light. The fan will appear stationary. Until you absentmindedly try to rest your hand on it. >>>ZING!!<<< Don't worry, I still have all seven fingers!

Back to your problems. Really bad plug wires will arc like that. Wires are cheap enough, just change 'em out. If it was particularly wet outside when this happened, it could have been the whole trouble. Bad wires love wet weather, it gives them the opportunity to find a much easier path to ground through the insulation! (Or the poor guy who happens to grab the wires... )

 

yea I would think that wouldn't feel good peejay.

 

**** I kinda like it, gives me a good buzz. When I dont have bad plug wires, Im sure to carry a 9v battery inmy pocket for those times I need a good jolt via my tongue LOL