shocking lessons, was:{16v}No spark - what to look at?

[sirocco@telocity.com (Randy B)]

This brings back shocking (pun intended) memories of learning the same lesson.
My dad noticed early on that I usually only learned things the hard way.
Things like the stove is hot (had to burn my hand a couple times to learn), 
knives are sharp (sliced my hand open many time to learn that one), and so on.
Well, one day while he was teaching me to do a tune up on my 77 Ford 
Courier PU (I'd just turned 15 and was my first car), he asked me to reach 
in and check to make sure all the spark plug wires were secure starting 
with the #1 cylinder (of course while the engine was running).
I thought "Ok don't screw this up" while trying to remember all the things 
I'd learned up to that point.
I eagerly reached into the engine bay thinking "Ok, now which one was the 
#1 cyl., hmm....ok it think it was this one"....BZZZZZTTTTTTT "OUCH!!!!!" 
(many other expletives followed).
My dad just started chuckling almost under his breath at my newly acquired 
knowledge and just said this "I guess that'll teach you to grab ahold of 
the plug wires while the trucks running now won't it"
Kinda a small glimpse into my twisted childhood.
I won't even go into how I learned how to fire a rifle...8-O.

Well to this day I still grab ahold of the plug wires from time to time but 
haven't been shocked since that day 8^)

Randy
still learnin' the hard way.


> > Don't forget to test the ignition key switch itself...I've had a couple of
> > these fail on me and it gives the exact symptoms. In my case, it was
>caused
> > by having too much weight hanging (more keys and shit than a janitor!  :)
> >
> > A little addendum to Patrick's note (but you probably already knew this
> > Daun), avoid holding ignition wires "in hand". Use an insulate device
>
>.
> > whenever possible - (embarrassed to admit it, but) I've been shocked
>enough
> > times to know...
>
>I'll agree to this....  In my rocco several years ago engine running rough
>like it was missing
>on one cyl.  So I pull in to a gas station and pop up the hood.  Still
>idleing.  "Hmmm" I think to
>myself..  "I can figure out which cyl is missing if I just pull off 1 spark
>plug wire at a time
>and if there is no change on one of them...then that is the one.  Well, as I
>grabbed the first wire..
>POW,POW,POW,POW before my hand got the message from my brain to let go,
>several pulses
>go through me.
>Scared the crap out of me.  Then I couldnt stop laughing.  Quickly drove off
>w/o looking to see
>  if my ultimate stupidity was spotted.
>
>Ken
>1979 Scirocco  "McFly"
>16v conversion - Engine in, now the hard part
>Electrical  : (
>VORTEX:  "Indiana Red"
>
>
>
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