Knocking in ignition lead 4

sticky nicky · Postby **sticky nicky** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:25 pm

This may be an unusual one, but recently when checking over the engine of my NA6, while it was running, I pushed down on the top of each of the ignition leads to make sure they were pushed down far enough onto the spark plugs. When doing this I noticed on lead 4 (closest to the front of the engine) there is a knocking feeling (no real sound, just a slight ticking to the engine) When I push gently on the the other 3 there is no knocking/clicking feeling.

Dont know if this is normal or if anyone has come across this before, or if anyone can check their engine while its running and see if it does the same thing.

Cheers Nicky

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:44 pm

First of all, the spark plug closest to the front of the car is cylinder or spark plug #1.

Second, I'd recommend you remove the lead, and confirm that the spark plug is tight. The toolkit supplied should have a long socket for this job, and a bar suitable for checking it. Don't tighten it, just confirm it is indeed tight. If so, the ok, if not, then best tighten firm and go visit a mechanic and ask him to confirm.

G

sticky nicky · Postby **sticky nicky** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 12:42 am

Ok, Ill try that tomorrow, and other ideas if the spark plug is already tight? Ive put new ignition leads on thinking that might be the problem but it hasnt helped.

bigmaxy · Postby **bigmaxy** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:52 am

So when you press on the lead you are feeling a ticking through your fingers but no change to engine idle, no stumbling, no change in sound etc.

I wonder if you got a piece of tube to use as a stethoscope or a screw driver and held it at the front of the engine versus the back whether you would hear a difference. My feeling is that perhaps you are feeling some valvetrain noise. Perhaps an adjustment is needed.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:11 pm

sticky nicky wrote:Dont know if this is normal...

It's not normal & it should be the same as the other three. As mentioned, it might be a slightly loose plug or loose connection of the plug lead to the plug, unless there's an issue developing in cylinder one.

sticky nicky · Postby **sticky nicky** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:39 pm

Well I checked the tightness of the spark plug and it seemed a bit loose to me so I tightened in about 1/8th of a turn and that solved the problem! So thanks for your help guys, one to remember

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 6:41 pm

sticky nicky wrote:Well I checked the tightness of the spark plug and it seemed a bit loose to me so I tightened in about 1/8th of a turn and that solved the problem! So thanks for your help guys, one to remember

Glad it solved the problem.

I'd recommend you take the vehicle to a mechanic to have him check and correctly torque them up - if one was not up tight, the others might not be either!

G