Spark plug wire touching headers

[gmcjosh]

I was at a car wash sitting in my 95, and it shut off. After the car wash I tried to start my truck with no success. It kept turning over but would not start. I opened the hood and looked, I noticed the wire spacer or loom was melted to the header with the spark plug wire. It won't start. Did I fry my eletrical system? Please advise.

 

[buzzerd]

Have you checked to see if there is water under the distributor cap? It maybe shorting out.

 

[Molson02536]

I was at a car wash sitting in my 95, and it shut off. After the car wash I tried to start my truck with no success. It kept turning over but would not start. I opened the hood and looked, I noticed the wire spacer or loom was melted to the header with the spark plug wire. It won't start. Did I fry my eletrical system? Please advise.

There are three scenarios I've seen with these engines that are worth looking into at this point.

1. Distributor cap - the "crab cap" can experience a very rare internal failure where the center electrode shorts and arcs out internally to the #3 terminal. If this condition exists it will not be visible from the inside or the outside because it will be inside the plastic. (Looking at the top of the cap you can see where the #3 crosses over very close to the center electrode.)

2. The ICM (Ignition Control Module) has gone bad and will need to be replaced. You can have you ICM tested at Auto Zone for free before you buy the replacement ICM.

3. http://bertok.us/pics/03dec/distgear.jpg
Distributor Gear - Vortec 350's have a tendency to eat the distributor gear. This is caused by the steel cam shaft against the cast iron distributor gear where there is very little lubrication.

Good luck and keep us posted.