1977 Delta 88 Flint

Can someone please help me with an electrical issue I may have. After having the crossover replaced the other day, the exhaust guy thought I had a cylinder that wasn't firing right. I went to check plug wires and got a little kiss. I noticed ground wire is rotted away. How safe is this and how is this affecting engine performance??? Merry Christmas World!!!

1970cs

I dosen't take that much money or time to replace the ground wire! If you got a poke from one of the wires you may have found the culprit, if it was mine I would replace all the wires, one at time, just don't go yanking all off wires off at the same time do to firing order and length of wires!

This process makes it easier, I made that mistake at 16yrs old, have not done that since.

Pat

MDchanic

I think the real question is:
"Why not just fix the ground wire?"

I am not familiar with the '77s, but I'm under the impression that they no longer had the ground strap from the back of the head to the firewall.
I believe that they had a pigtail off the Negative battery terminal that went to a ground screw in the vicinity of the core support or front fender.

If you could show us picture of the wire in question, it would be helpful.

To finally answer your questions:
1. Not dangerous.
2. Will not affect performance.

To answers the questions you didn't ask:
1. Will cause miscellaneous electrical problems, including dim headlights and mysterious radio problems with modern stereos.
2. Has nothing to do with your spark plug wires.
3. Yes, you should replace your leaky spark plug wires, as they WILL reduce your performance and fuel economy (not to mention making the car not start on rainy days).

Merry Christmas!

- Eric

don71

Yea, these systems need a dedicated ground. If not, they'll oddly find one. Usually thorugh the shifter cable or the trans and its fluid. Electrolisis is bad thing.

oldcutlass

It's not dangerous with one of the ground straps corroded as there are many other places to pick up one. They are there for a reason however, so replace it when you get a chance.

If you have 1 leaking plug wire you can bet the rest leak also. This is a good time to do a tuneup, cap, rotor, plugs, and wires, if it has been a while.

joe_padavano

Let's back up a little. First, there is NO WAY you would have felt anything from a 12V ground wire. Any "kiss" you got would have been from the spark plug wires, which means that you need new plug wires.

MDchanic

When he said,
I ASSumed that he was talking about geting a kick from the plug wire when he touched it.

Perhaps I was mistaken.

- Eric

1977 Delta 88 Flint

I took car in for a bad oil leak. Mechanic there said and to me looked like new wires, plugs, cap. But then again the guy offered to do side work and said it was the rear main seal, it turned out to be a bad oil sender. So Idk? I will ground the engine off somewhere. The ground strap for mine is located on the front left hand side of engine. Water could easily get to it. But I got a kiss from a couple other wires, but have no electrical issues?

1977 Delta 88 Flint

I went to check if plug wires were snug and got zapped by a couple different wires. I'm not so sure, but will look later for a replaced engine ground. Its 32 degrees or colder. I give 3/4 pumps on the gas and she fires right up...

1977 Delta 88 Flint

Thank you all for the help. If anyone knows a good mechanic near Flint, Michigan send him my way. Happy holiday's all...

MDchanic

If your spark plug wires are leaky, they're no good.

You have to replace them.

- Eric