Thread: electric arch going from belt to any ground when engine is running

about a year ago i noticed an electric current or a visible arch in the dark going from the drivebelt to the bracket right above my power steering pump when my engine is running. i can also see it when i put any metal object real close to the belt when my engine is on. i put the lead from my voltmeter and it reads 20-60 volts in the arch. has anybody ever seen this before. i dont think it affects anything but its wierd how its a postive voltage going directly into the block which is ground. i looked online and saw something about water getting into my powersteering pump and making electricity when pump is spinning like some type of generator.

Um, that's weird

yea i was freaked out too since the highest amount of volts in a car should be around 14 to 15 volts. i think thats probably why i see small blinking archs on my spark plugs as if my wires were no good but i've changed wires, plugs, ignition module and coils.

no cause i would think any liquid or gel would cause archs to

so 3800's normally arch at the plugs and thats why they sell the grease to prevent it?

do u know if that small arch reduces the spark that goes into the spark plug electrode

yea hopefully. though that other arch will probably remain a mystery forever cause everybody i have asked has never heard of such a thing

Originally Posted by chev1988rolet

about a year ago i noticed an electric current or a visible arch in the dark going from the drivebelt to the bracket right above my power steering pump when my engine is running. i can also see it when i put any metal object real close to the belt when my engine is on. i put the lead from my voltmeter and it reads 20-60 volts in the arch. has anybody ever seen this before. i dont think it affects anything but its wierd how its a postive voltage going directly into the block which is ground. i looked online and saw something about water getting into my powersteering pump and making electricity when pump is spinning like some type of generator.

I realize that this is an old thread but I have seen this before. I would try running the car with out the serpentine belt to see if there is still arcing. If there is no arcing then I would check and or replace the harmonic balancer.
Another way to prove this is to take some "white out" (ENGINE NOT RUNNING) Put a mark on the outter ring of the dampner pulley and a mark on the timing cover. (like a TDC mark)
Now get a timing light and hook it up to the #1 spark plug wire and start the vehicle.
Point the timing light at the marks that you made. (the marks should be in line)
Have a helper or you rev the engine kinda agressive 2-3X.
Use the timing light to look at the marks. (If the marks are no longer in line then the dampner pulley is debonded and needs to be replaced)

Oh also make sure that the ground strap from the engine to the firewall is connected.

Hope this helps

Randy & Jill

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