So after the 1st service yesterday, the van just didn't feel like it was running 100%. There was nothing really wrong, just not 100%. Out with the timing light, check the timing and a slight adjustment was made. When I rested my hand on the engine case to adjust the timing, felt a little tingle in the fingers which I thought odd, but ignored it (hindsight - I shouldn't have). Took the van out again, still not 100% (slight hesitancy, occasional misfire). Back home, check the distributor - all good. Check the plug leads are on the plugs correctly and all good. Checked the plug leads are pressed onto the distributor correctly. Timing light out again and as soon as I touched the distributor with my hand resting on the engine, the timing fluctuated and I felt the tingle. Pulled the plug leads from the distributor and lead three was quite deep in the boot - probably barely connecting in the distributor. Pushed the boot up the cable and noticed that the plug was a bit black and the distributor was the same. Looks like the lead wasn't pressed in properly and arcing across the gap - hence the problem. Checked all the others and plug two was similar. All adjusted and refitted. Back out for a spin...and all is good in the world again. Note to self, always use the boot when pulling the leads off the distributor and if you feel a tingle when touching the distributor, don't ignore it.
I once fired up a remote starter button while holding the wire from the distributor a bit near the end. I hauled my hand out of the engine bay so fast, I smashed off one of the spot welded tags that hold the cable loom in place above the hatch with my hand. Ow Ow. Actually the spark on a normal coil should be able to jump about an inch or so with the engine running normally. The spark from the dual coils on my Frankenstein's monster can jump nearer 2 inches.. Could be the distributor cap has got dirty or has charred to make a leakage circuit hence the tingle. May be worth replacing it ..
On my list of things to replace Mike. The socket for plug three was quite black so it may have been like it for a while.
