Plug Cap HORROR!!!!!

thegavel

Active member
Joined
May 26, 2008
Messages
29
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Greetings all,
Found something interesting this morning while cleaning engine bay,I thought I'd check my newly installed spark
plug leads and got quite a shock:shocking:(Pun intended)
No.6 plug cap had come loose, so I pulled it out to have a look and to my HORROR found the MSD cap had fallen
apart !!!!!, the cap was like Play doh,not brittle just soft.
thum_30449026db5ac4e8.jpg
thum_30449026ddecc1c6.jpg

Anyone else had this problem?????
I've only driven the car 50 miles or so since replacing the old leads so it's not like it had been on there years.
The other caps are fine just this one turned to jelly.
I'm off to replace this lead now with a normal rubber
boot and we'll see if the same happens to this one.
CHEERS
GAVIN
 
Looking at that, it looks like the plug end of the wire.

HAve you got headers or stock manifolds? Heat from headers will cook wires like that. I fight with that all the time.
 
Looking at that, it looks like the plug end of the wire.

HAve you got headers or stock manifolds? Heat from headers will cook wires like that. I fight with that all the time.

Nope ,Stock manifolds.
Never had this prob with the old
leads/caps.
The other 7 are perfect.
 
Greetings all,
Found something interesting this morning while cleaning engine bay,I thought I'd check my newly installed spark
plug leads and got quite a shock:shocking:(Pun intended)
No.6 plug cap had come loose, so I pulled it out to have a look and to my HORROR found the MSD cap had fallen
apart !!!!!, the cap was like Play doh,not brittle just soft.
thum_30449026db5ac4e8.jpg
thum_30449026ddecc1c6.jpg

Anyone else had this problem?????
I've only driven the car 50 miles or so since replacing the old leads so it's not like it had been on there years.
The other caps are fine just this one turned to jelly.
I'm off to replace this lead now with a normal rubber
boot and we'll see if the same happens to this one.
CHEERS
GAVIN

New one on me. It would seem to have gotten some solvent of some kind on it that melted the rubber. MEK, acetone, or the like.
 
TW, I would call that a "plug boot.". You say "cap", I think dist. cap.
 
It sure looks like some kind of chemical got on it and ate it up,does not look like it has melted.
 
TW, I would call that a "plug boot.". You say "cap", I think dist. cap.
:eek:
SORRY for the confusion.
Another difference in terms between Aussies and
Americans,LOL
I'm still getting used to some of your terms,
eg: plug boot = spark plug cap
fender= mud guard
stone guard= BASH plate
gas = petrol
hood = bonnet
BUT the one I'll never get used to is..
FANNY (Here in Australia it means "lady parts").
Thanks ALL,
I think those of you who said solvent
may be right , I was cleaning up my
bikes carbs so I may have used same cloth
when cleaning up.
I'll be remembering that for the future.
Time for a beer, it's getting warm out.
CHEERS
GAV
 
Last edited:
What were you cleaning the carbs with? Toluene or a cleaner containing toluene? That would eat rubber for sure...

Hey Saudivette, Is that an Aussie flag under your avatar??
If so your a long way from home MATE!!!
(Where you from???).

I just used a store bought carb cleaner
(NULON -Pretty strong stuff).
It's weird you know. I spent over 16 years working for Dulux paint here in Australia using these chemicals
and some other quite dangerous stuff,
So you'd think I'd know better.
:withstupid:.

I remember reading on a can of varnish once:
"When all else fails-PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS"
Wise words.
WE LIVE & LEARN (hopefully).
CHEERS & BEERS
:beer:
GAV
 
Hey Saudivette, Is that an Aussie flag under your avatar??
If so your a long way from home MATE!!!
(Where you from???).
It is indeed an Aussie flag mate. I'm from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland - I have a nice litle place in Pomona.

I'll be back there supping VB beside my pool in 2 weeks and 3 days :nuts:
 
Hey Saudivette, Is that an Aussie flag under your avatar??
If so your a long way from home MATE!!!
(Where you from???).
It is indeed an Aussie flag mate. I'm from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland - I have a nice litle place in Pomona.

I'll be back there supping VB beside my pool in 2 weeks and 3 days :nuts:

Got some good friends from QLD,
I'm in Melb.
Coming back to Oz in time for Summer?
Looks like being another HOT Summer Here,
(30 degrees yesterday here in Melbourne -Glad I installed my RECO radiator.).
Were still suffering from the drought & HIGH petrol
prices-$1.50 litre.
I suppose after being there the heat wont worry
you too much.
Anyway BEST of LUCK & have a great trip back.
CHEERS & (cold) BEERS
GAV
 
Greetings ALL,
Just an update on the spark plug boot horror,
I soaked a piece of the old boot in the same
carb cleaner (I thought caused the "meltdown") for a week,
but couldn't get the same results !!!!!!!!
So the mystery remains.
All the other boots are fine.
Oh well, all's well now.
Time to start preparing for next weekends Show n shine.
CHEERS
Gav
 
I suppose it was just defective in production. It happens.:smash:
 
Hey Saudivette, Is that an Aussie flag under your avatar??
If so your a long way from home MATE!!!
(Where you from???).
It is indeed an Aussie flag mate. I'm from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland - I have a nice litle place in Pomona.

I'll be back there supping VB beside my pool in 2 weeks and 3 days :nuts:

Good to see another Aussie on here :friends: Hey Saudivette, are you traveling down Canberra way again on this trip??
 
Hey Saudivette, Is that an Aussie flag under your avatar??
If so your a long way from home MATE!!!
(Where you from???).
It is indeed an Aussie flag mate. I'm from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland - I have a nice litle place in Pomona.

I'll be back there supping VB beside my pool in 2 weeks and 3 days :nuts:

Good to see another Aussie on here :friends: Hey Saudivette, are you traveling down Canberra way again on this trip??
No mate, the clan members are all coming up to Qld this time...
 
Good to see another Aussie on here :friends: Hey Saudivette, are you traveling down Canberra way again on this trip??
No mate, the clan members are all coming up to Qld this time...[/QUOTE]

That's a shame mate, thought I had a cold beer with your name on it
 
TW, I would call that a "plug boot.". You say "cap", I think dist. cap.
:eek:
SORRY for the confusion.
Another difference in terms between Aussies and
Americans,LOL
I'm still getting used to some of your terms,
eg: plug boot = spark plug cap
fender= mud guard
stone guard= BASH plate
gas = petrol
hood = bonnet
BUT the one I'll never get used to is..
FANNY (Here in Australia it means "lady parts").
Thanks ALL,

Time for a beer, it's getting warm out.
CHEERS
GAV

And a few others....(I spent 9 years in S. Australia, near Adelaide)

windscreen = windshield
boot = trunk
dual carriageway = freeway
reversing lights = backup lights
knave plate = hubcap (This as far as I know an English English word - don't know if it was ever used much in Australia.)

Also, some other interesting words for americans. In Australia don't ask for the bathroom unless you want to take a bath. Ask for the toilet. In many Australian homes (older?) the bath and toilets are in seperate rooms.

Also, in an Australian restaurant it's not a good idea to ask for a napkin. (A napkin is a female hygene item.) Ask for a serviette.

Also, if you're an American female, it's best not to say that you root for a particular sports team. Root has a little different meaning in Australia.
 
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