Electrical problem........

[muleskinner]

.....I have a 1993 Festiva L 5 speed. I am getting arcing at the coil and on the coil wire going to the distributor. It caused my original distributor to go bad (burned out the pick up coil). I have a new distributor in it now and it gets super hot just sitting in idle. I have replaced all the wires & switched out the coil 2 different times with other ones out of other festies, & it still arcs. I'm at a loss trying to figure this out. Any suggestions?

I'm thinking a ground problem, but I wouldn't know where to look.

[WmWatt]

Does "arcing" mean if you run the engine after dark you can see a spark?

[bravekozak]

Install a ballast resistor?

[muleskinner]

Does "arcing" mean if you run the engine after dark you can see a spark?

yes

[muleskinner]

Install a ballast resistor?

How do you do that
?

[WmWatt]

Follow the spark?

[bravekozak]

"In many of today's vehicles, the ballast resistor is not needed. However, in older vehicles where the points ignition is still present, you need to use this type of spark resistor to ensure that the coil does not burn up too quickly. Determine whether the coil is a 9 volt or a 12 volt coil. Since the resistor lowers the overall current 3 volts, you want to use a coil that will not be bogged down by the lower current."

I have one in my Festiva because I am using an aftermarket coil.
The resistor is embedded in ceramic so that it will take the heat and not the coil.I located it un the hole where the prop rod used to be, after I switched to gas hood struts.

[Sid_RallyX_82]

.....I have a 1993 Festiva L 5 speed. I am getting arcing at the coil and on the coil wire going to the distributor. It caused my original distributor to go bad (burned out the pick up coil). I have a new distributor in it now and it gets super hot just sitting in idle. I have replaced all the wires & switched out the coil 2 different times with other ones out of other festies, & it still arcs. I'm at a loss trying to figure this out. Any suggestions?

I'm thinking a ground problem, but I wouldn't know where to look.

Wouldn't hurt to check the grounds. IIRC, wire from the right side of the engine (left if you're at the front looking in the engine bay) going to the chassis and check the (-) cable on the battery and where it meets the chassis.

[Rick the Quick]

Sounds to me like a bad coil wire. You mentioned using parts from other Festivas. If you borrowed plug and coil wires that are worn you arcing is a good possibility. A new set of good quality plug wires should solve your problem. A set being 4 spark plug wires and one coil to distributor wire.

[tooldude]

Check the rotor to make sure it's still indexed to the cap terminal and has not turned - it could be between terminals at spark event. Also, check the rotor for proper contact to the cap button or for any physical damage of course.

[muleskinner]

Problem fixed!

Decided to go back and look at the new spark plugs I put it. One of the spark plugs center electrode had come loose in the spark plug and was resting on the ground electrode. Went out and purchased better spark plugs, put them in, fixed!! I learned, don't go cheap on spark plugs.

Thanks for all the help!!

[ryanprins13]

Glad you figured it out! I like buying spark plugs off rockauto. Big selection and super cheap compared to local stores here. Cheap ones are under $0.50 and i think the ngk vpower i just got were under 1.50 each.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk