spark plug wires

[the pharmacist]

If I were to pull a spark plug wire to check how many cylinders I'm running on, what would be the result? Would the motor shut off?

I've pulled spark plug wires one at a time on cylinders 3 and 4 and on each time, the motor shut off. However, when I pulled wires on cylinders 1 and 2, the motor still runs. I do see the tips of the wires sparking when I touch them on the valve cover.

[batever]

personally, I would not touch the spark plug wires while the car is running. 20,000 volts is something I don't want to experience, which you could if there's a problem with the insulation. Pull them when the car is not running, then start it if you are going to try and diagnose using this method.

however, as to your original question, you are essentially shutting off that cylinder when you pull the spark plug. if you get below 2 cylinders running, i would suppose the engine might stall.

Why are you doing this in the first place, is your engine running roughly/weakly?

[PUMASTi]

I've taken them out one at a time with the motor running, I've also placed the tip of the wire to the valve cover to see it spark. I don't know if its bad for the engine, I'm just saying I've done it.

[CarbonEuroR]

I would say if you wanted to check to see if the wires were still good you could use a multimeter, set it for ohms/resistance, the wires bad if it's anything over 25k.

[93accdpj]

I would say if you wanted to check to see if the wires were still good you could use a multimeter, set it for ohms/resistance, the wires bad if it's anything over 25k.

If you are just testing to see if spark is going through the wire you can hook your timing light to each one and pull the trigger. No strobe = no spark. Change the plugs and run it again to see if it improves. Go ahead and prepare to do a compression or leakdown test if you have spark and reason to believe you have lost a cylinder.

[the pharmacist]

personally, I would not touch the spark plug wires while the car is running. 20,000 volts is something I don't want to experience, which you could if there's a problem with the insulation. Pull them when the car is not running, then start it if you are going to try and diagnose using this method.

however, as to your original question, you are essentially shutting off that cylinder when you pull the spark plug. if you get below 2 cylinders running, i would suppose the engine might stall.

Why are you doing this in the first place, is your engine running roughly/weakly?

yes, my engine bogs after warm up. rpms fluctuate after adding gas

[the pharmacist]

if i didn't have a timing light nor compression gauge, how could I test how many cylinders i'm running on just by pulling spark plug wires?

[ja23merz]

if i didn't have a timing light nor compression gauge, how could I test how many cylinders i'm running on just by pulling spark plug wires?

listen to the sound of the engine. if you pull a wire, and the rpm drops, you'll know that cylinder was firing. but if there is no change, that cylinder is dead.

[alb_accord]

your car should not turn off if you do it one at a time. something is wrong in the middle of this.... i am trying to think why is it doing that....