Was a Ford Escort that bit me. Inline 4 with plugs across the front. Brushed across wire/boot with my fore arm. As you say, jumped backwards about 20 feet. I remember it made my teeth hurt. Only time I touch ANYTHING on ignition while engine running is adjusting time. Even then only move distributor with vacuum advance diaphragm (unfortunately very close to belts & fan on big block Ford). Test for spark from safety of a timing light. Bill Robertson #5939 >--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "David Teitelbaum" <jtrealty@xxxx> wrote: > The biggest danger when working around the high voltage parts is not > so much the electrical shock itself (which can be very painful, it > makes your hair hurt!) but the more immediate danger is the > invoulontary muscular contractions. It can throw you against a wall,