Help: Car sounds like helicopter | FerrariChat

Help: Car sounds like helicopter

Discussion in '348/355' started by Loser, Oct 10, 2014.

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  1. Loser

    Loser Formula Junior

    Apr 11, 2008
    791
    Gilroy, CA
    Full Name:
    Tom
    I recently replaced the ignition wires in my F355 M5.2. I checked all the spark plugs when I made the change and they looked fine. About a month later, the new #1 wire melted against the block for some reason and shorted. I found this because the car started missing out. I ordered some new 7mm copper core cable from Kingsborne and rebuilt the cable.

    Now when I drive the car it runs fine about 10% of the time and the remaining 90% of the time it is missing out and sounds like a helicopter. I pulled the #1 plug from the distributor and the spark is very strong. It also jumps from the distributor to the plug indicating that there is a connection on the spark plug end. When I pulled the plug from the distributor, the engine noise didn't change much. I tried pulling a spark plug boot out, but I can't seem to get them loose. I'm going to try to fashion a tool to help.

    In the mean time, if I don't see anything wrong with the plugs, any ideas of what else to look at?

    Thanks,

    Tom
     
  2. Loser

    Loser Formula Junior

    Apr 11, 2008
    791
    Gilroy, CA
    Full Name:
    Tom
    These are the ones sold by Ricambi. I hope that doesn't end up being the issue. What do you recommend for wire? I can rebuild them by reusing the boots.
    I'm planning on having my major done this spring, so I'll be seeing you then.
     
  3. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
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    Jun 14, 2011
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    SoCal LA/OC/New Mexico
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    Tim Dee
    Take a look at them at night, look for sparking

    I run with the cover off, runs much better
     
  4. Loser

    Loser Formula Junior

    Apr 11, 2008
    791
    Gilroy, CA
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    Tom
    I did that last night. No sparks or blue lights at night. The last set did that.
     
  5. Eric C

    Eric C F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Mar 20, 2009
    11,136
    St. Louis, MO
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    Eric
    100% positive you didn't get your wires chris crossed?
     
  6. Loser

    Loser Formula Junior

    Apr 11, 2008
    791
    Gilroy, CA
    Full Name:
    Tom
    I just checked. They are correct
     
  7. Eric C

    Eric C F1 World Champ
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    Mar 20, 2009
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    Eric
    Do you still have your old wires? I'd start swapping wires until you find the trouble maker.
     
  8. Loser

    Loser Formula Junior

    Apr 11, 2008
    791
    Gilroy, CA
    Full Name:
    Tom
    That's a good idea. I just need to figure out how to pull the plug boots out without pulling the wire.
     
  9. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
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    Dec 1, 2004
    7,795
    Redondo Beach, CA
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    Bruce Bogart
    The wires need to be the wound core. Solid core wires won't work properly.
     
  10. bosshog8

    bosshog8 Formula Junior

    Mar 13, 2011
    448
    Pinelands NJ
    Full Name:
    Demetrius
    I would change, at the very least, the plug with the shorted wire and probably all the plugs because I have been bitten by the "it has new/good plugs" excuse on more than one occasion.
     
  11. taz355

    taz355 F1 Veteran
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    Feb 18, 2008
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    Indio Ca/ Alberta
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    Grant
    Bruce I didn't know that what happens if you use solid by accident.
     
  12. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
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    Dec 1, 2004
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    I can't give a scientific explanation, just my experience. On a 328. Put on solid core wires. I was thinking I was putting on better wires. Car wouldn't run right, drove me nuts. Miss, miss, miss. Friend said ya have to use wound core. I did. Car ran perfectly. I dunno, maybe the solid core wires did such a good job, they drained the coils and they didn't recharge fast enough for the next spark. Like I say, I'm in no way an expert on electricals. Don't know a watt from an ohm.
     
  13. taz355

    taz355 F1 Veteran
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    Feb 18, 2008
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    Grant
    Ok so solid core gave lots of misses then. Our 355s and 348s both use wound cores then. Is this correct?
     
  14. GerryD

    GerryD Formula 3

    May 5, 2010
    2,446
    North of TO
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    Guido
    You can make your own tool to pull the wires.
     
  15. Loser

    Loser Formula Junior

    Apr 11, 2008
    791
    Gilroy, CA
    Full Name:
    Tom
    #15 Loser, Oct 11, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2014
    I believe the original wires were copper core. I did however notice that after I installed the new wires, there was a significant amount of whining noise in the stereo. The new wires are also copper core. I just ordered some bulk Kingborne 7mm mag-wire wound wire. We'll see if that helps with the whining. I will also try replacing the spark plugs. NGK PMR8A correct? Or is it PMR7A?
     
  16. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
    6,919
    Richmond
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    Pete
    Pmr7 (hotter) for 2.7 cars pmr8 for 5.2.
     
  17. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
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    Jun 14, 2011
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    Tim Dee
    Those non resister wires really crossfire, use them for magneto blower motors running alcohol or nitro not these wind up toys

    :)
     
  18. Loser

    Loser Formula Junior

    Apr 11, 2008
    791
    Gilroy, CA
    Full Name:
    Tom
    So I bought some Kingsborne 7mm Mag-Wire Wound Wire and installed it into my #1 ignition wire. The copper core cable measures 6.2KOhms, but the wire wound cable measures 7.5KOhms. Is this alright for the F355 M5.2 or should the resistance be lower? I want to be sure before I modify all of the wires.

    I am also installing new PMR8A plugs all around.
     
  19. Loser

    Loser Formula Junior

    Apr 11, 2008
    791
    Gilroy, CA
    Full Name:
    Tom
    I went ahead and updated all 8 wires since it is fairly simple to change them back if needed. I had a problem with one of the boots arcing, but I pulled it apart and reassembled it which seemed to resolve the issue.

    Overall, it definitely runs better. I didn't get a chance to drive it down the road yet though. Hopefully I'll have time to try it on Monday afternoon.
     
  20. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
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    Cool
    Weird that the solid core wires are "too good", huh?
     
  21. Loser

    Loser Formula Junior

    Apr 11, 2008
    791
    Gilroy, CA
    Full Name:
    Tom
    The solid core wires worked for a couple months, then quit. I also changed the plugs, so it is possible that the plugs were the issue.
     

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