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Old 04-18-2003, 07:13 PM   #1
Stickee
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Unhappy Help! Sparks between distributor cap and spark plug wires!

Here's the problem, I'm seeing and hearing sparks right where the distributor cap meets the spark plug wire for spark plug 1. The spark is coming from under the rubber of the wire.

Also, when driving, it seems to bog off the line, and I'm hearing pops from my exhaust, I normally hear pops from my Borla, but not to this extent. I usually hear a pop when switching gears or when letting off the gas, but now, it's just popping at idle.

Last thing, it's alot worse when the car is cold, I'm starting up for the first thing in the morning.

Anyone know what's wrong? And how I could fix it?

Oh yeah, MY99 OBS. 120k km (~70k miles). Catback exhaust w/Borla Turbo muffler. Removed snorkle. K&N air filter.

TIA
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Old 04-18-2003, 07:35 PM   #2
orndog
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Forgive me if I'm wrong, but we don't have a distributor, much less a cap for one, right? Distributorless ignition...
You have a cracked boot or a cracked coil pack, unless it's just loose. Check if it's loose, then pull the wire off (engine NOT running) and examine things. If all looks well, apply some dielectric grease around the inside of the boot and reinstall.
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Old 04-18-2003, 07:51 PM   #3
Stickee
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whoops. i'm no gear head. Here's a pic (not my engine, but you get the picture)

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Old 04-18-2003, 08:28 PM   #4
ciper
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Switch two spark plug wires, if the sparks follow its the wire. Im willing to bet your coil pack is bad though.
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Old 04-18-2003, 11:48 PM   #5
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Should be simple to diagnose, as we have posted.
Brings up a good question, is an aftermarket coil pack worth the dough for a stocker?
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Old 04-19-2003, 01:23 AM   #6
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If you can find someone who makes an aftermarket coil pack for the Impreza, let alone any newer model Subaru, I would be very suprised. MSD didn't touch the old school late model Impreza (97-01) as they said something to the effect of the stock system being better than what they came up with .


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Old 04-19-2003, 08:42 AM   #7
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I don't want to hijack the thread, but since you guys are already here, I have a question.

When doing a tune up, do you have to change the coil-pack, or can you go with just new plugs and wires?
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Old 04-19-2003, 09:56 AM   #8
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Just plugs and wires. A "real" tuneup would consist of checking the coil packs.
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Old 04-19-2003, 01:53 PM   #9
Fred Zaplitny
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Man, this has been a bad week for coil packs! Seems like everyday this week somebody has poted a thread like this.
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Old 04-19-2003, 02:50 PM   #10
Stickee
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Quote:
Originally posted by orndog
apply some dielectric grease around the inside of the boot and reinstall.
This seems to have fixed the problem, if only temporarily. I'll probably get a new coil pack and/or new spark plug wires.

Thanks for all the input.
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Old 04-19-2003, 04:17 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally posted by orndog
Just plugs and wires. A "real" tuneup would consist of checking the coil packs.
How, with a multimeter or something?
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Old 04-21-2003, 03:27 PM   #12
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Pre 97 systems can use an external ingitor, like the MSD DIS-2 but later units have a combo unit.
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Old 04-21-2003, 07:16 PM   #13
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Stickee: No prob.
Obyone: Yep.
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Old 04-23-2003, 11:23 AM   #14
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Stickee: a coil pack will run about $150, so you don't want to replace it if you don't have to.
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