spark plug air-vacuum and wire to nowhere

[Seajunkie]

I spent some quality time today with my new to me 1980 2000 FI Spider

I removed the console to attempt refinishing it with some marine vinyl that I picked up. I may need to learn how to sew because I can't see how to stretch the vinyl over that thing. I'd love to buy one, but money is tight.




Here is my assistant. She is getting pretty good at helping out.


I have a few random questions.

1. Is it common for the circuit board that serves the rear lights to go bad? I had all of the flasher working by replacing the flasher, and cleaning up some grounds, and replacing bulbs. The right rear flasher/hazard light worked and then stopped. I have flashing power to the circuit board, but nothing at the bulb.

2. I have a lot of air coming out of the forward most spark plug. I removed the plug and it looks fine. I torqued it down and there is still a lot of air coming through. Is this a problem? It seems strange that it isn't sealed and I don't see any cracks.

3. On the top center of the engine there are two wires. One goes to a sensor on top of the engine, the other one is just sitting there and doesn't seem to reach anything that is unplugged. It is circled in the photo. Any ideas about where it goes?

4. There is a vacuum line capped off. I circled it also in the same photo. Is this important for smog or something else? I haven't had it smogged yet.




Am I missing something in the hole to the right of the center console?

[So Cal Mark]

there shouldn't be any air coming from around the spark plug; sounds like the plug is not seating. The spark plug should have a gasket on it or you may have a cross thread situation so the plug can't seal.
I can't tell from your pic of the vacuum hose, but it's probably the hose to the charcoal cannister.
The loose wire is for a second temp sensor; there should be two inbetween the spark plugs. One works the lower part of the gauge, the second is for the overheat section that pegs the needle

[Seajunkie]

Mark,

Thanks for your response. I'll get a new plug and see if it seals better.

Here is a better shot of the vacuum line. I'm assuming that the canister is the thing on the bottom left of the picture with the tube going into it. This other vacuum line comes off of the same tee fitting as the one that goes to the canister. I want to try to avoid failing the California smog test if I can.

Is this picture better? Click on thumb nail for a larger picture.

[So Cal Mark]

should just be one vacuum hose to the cannister. Does the pressure regulator have a vacuum hose on it?

[pope]

That hole in the lower console is from the previous owner and not the factory. Maybe you can stack quarters sideways in there for the car wash!

[launieg]

re. circuit boards, mine were tarnished under the sockets. Drill those rivets out and clean up and re-rivet. Solved my problem and maybe yours. Oh, also put a small wire brush on a dremel or drill and clean out the inside of the sockets.