About a week ago, I started my 2001 Hyundai Accent at night, in a light rain, and as it was idling, I heard a slow snap... snap... snap. I popped thehood and saw white-bluish arcing coming from somewhere under the engine. The arc does not follow the speed of the plug firing, but speeds up with engine revs, as though a capacitance was being charged up and released (more frequent with higher revs). The next day (still wet), we put the car on ramps and watched a 3/16's inch arc jumping from the crankcase pulley to the metal pan nearest to it. I've come to realize it just happens when moist outside, so that eliminates a static buildup off the belts (as some GM cars have seen). I never hear or see anything in dry weather or when the car is hot and dried out. There are no other ill effects, no engine light, no missing... the engine runs fine. Has anyone seen this or heard of this? Thanks

Randy

 

the 2.7 v6 engine use to do that when they have aftermarket drive belt on them. never seen it on an accent before though.