mx5cartalk.com

After doing heaps of research and coming up empty I am now at my wits end.

Whenever I drive the spark plug 4 wire pops off the spark plug itself.
On top of that the main power relay seems to have come loose because I notice the car doesnt start unless I jiggle around the relay and trip the fan to come one. Once the fan comes on I wait a few moments and the car starts.

Could these two problems be related?

i dont know if they are related.
the lead popping off is most likely a leaking cam cover gasket around number 4 letting crank case pressure pop it off.
once again i relate back to my old honda civic that did the same thing.

to prove it i think i used a match stick wedged between the spark plug leads rubber cap/seal and the cam cover.
this allows the pressure to vent and the plug lead stayed on the spark plug.
i presume our motors can do the same.

Would I be able to see evidence of leaks without taking the cam cover off?

yes ,you should have a little pool of oil down at the spark plug...if the crank case is venting into there oil will come with it.
if there is oil try to mop it up because if you take your spark plug out that oil and any other crap in it will run into your motor.
try a long shaft fine screw driver and a bit of soft rag

I dont think there is a little pool of oil but it definately looks like some oil dampening the area.

try the match stick trick to vent any pressure build up...a very small leak may not let much oil in but will build up the same pressure