Fixing Holley Sniper Issues Caused By Electrical Interference, EMI and RFI Tips V8 Speed Shop

[@professorbooky63]

Thanks!

[@V8TV]

Keith, we just realized you were very generous with your KZbin tip! Thank you so much, and we apologize for the delay in this response. Your support made our day. Cheers!

[@darylvoorhees2629]

Excellent video Kevin !!! I'm an electrical engineer and all of your points are very good. EMI can be a frustrating source of trouble for electronics. Your presentation was great. Sounds like you know your way around electronics as well.

[@V8TV]

Thank you Daryl, we appreciate the kind words. Always trying to help our fellow enthusiast friends!

[@johnnyhotrod]

Damn there were some good tips there,stuff I didn’t think about Thank you

[@SwitchBiker]

I was having this issue, traced it to a new defective spark plug intermittently arcing to ground. It was hard to find until I started moving wires around while running and saw an arc jump followed by an ecm reset. Shut it down, grabbed another plug, viola! Fixed! Basic problem with complicated symptoms

[@GUERRO06]

Great info..Iwill be installing this system along with hyper spark in my 1970 OLDS 442-W30...

[@Shantzonpoint]

I just finished installation on my '69 Camaro SS. It runs fantastic. I'm working with a professional tuner to set the timing and fuel tables so I can get the most out of it I can. Very happy with it so far.

[@GUERRO06]

@@Shantzonpoint Me too....This system is as smooth as can be...Run's like a RAPED APE!!!!! Super pleased!!!

[@BUILTFORDTOUGH79]

Never thought of the stud and air cleaner acting as an antenna. Good call! I don’t have emi issues with my sniper EFI, but it wouldn’t hurt to isolate for future issues. Already have msd street fire wires, and a new billet hei distributor, so I should be good there. Thanks for the info

[@jasonmorales1846]

Thanks for the info.I have the sniper and so far no issues.

[@Rendezvous70]

I have a car with the hp system & couldn't find a random no rpm signal & went through everything in the efi system, called holley, talked to tuners with no luck . Finally i got fed up & put a hall effect distributor in it & bang , runs great

[@MattsMadnessOfficial]

yeah I just installed the hyperspark with the sniper efi and its giving me nothing but problems I hate it

[@Shantzonpoint]

90% of the problems people have with the Sniper are self inflicted by not installing per the instructions. You need to read and follow the instructions very carefully. This is a great video because it has many of the same instructions as the Sniper installation manual. Don't take any shortcuts. Take the time, do it right, with the right components, and you won't have any issues. Holley makes some great videos to help with installation and setup.

[@jesstaylor3200]

Funny how Sniper systems are so susceptible to RFI but the Dominator and HP units arent. Poor design is #1 issue.

[@cooljay2161]

@@jesstaylor3200 my sniper works great

[@jesstaylor3200]

@@cooljay2161 From the multiple Holley dealers (3) that I have talked to they said the snipers are hit or miss. An easy internet search confirms all the issues snipers have. It's a shame Holley just let's their customers hang with faulty units. Glad yours has been working good.

[@chrisspinella8892]

I agree, Holley know they have an issue but they are deep and the poor end user has to do the R&D. If the system was as good as they say, there wouldn’t be one video on KZbin

[@poydapoyderson646]

Crikey! Enough to put a stop to my ambition of installing one of these

[@V8TV]

You just have to do it right! You can do it!

[@corbynvanbrunt8067]

WOW! Best video I've seen that is straight forward and to the point. It was like you were talking directly to me with the air cleaner antenna. The Holly tech just told me to ground the air cleaner. They need to watch your video.!

[@forty6andtwofan]

Getting ready to start installation of a 351W into my wife's 67 Galaxie. Going with Sniper EFI. Thought out the fuel tank. Fuel lines: feed and return etc. Never thought about these issues. Very glad you guys posted. Love this informative channel.

[@V8TV]

Thanks, glad to help! Appreciate the kind words!

[@RYTHMICRIOT]

Thank you for pointing out the many potential problems that can create headaches for this application. I currently run a carbureted 350 SBC and my car runs like a raped ape, but I have been intrigued by the advantages of fuel injection. However, I'm using a MSD billet distributor, MSD 6AL box, dual electric fan conversion, I've converted my sealed beam headlights to HID, added an undehood fuse panel, a Dakota Digital dash conversion which increases underhood wiring, a high Amp alternator, and a secondary battery mounted in the trunk to support an amplified stereo system. I don't know if I'd want to entertain fighting any of these in order to have the convenience of fuel injection.

[@sama.7870]

thanks for this nice, simple explanation that even this old-school hot-rodder can understand

[@V8TV]

You are welcome!

[@aaronfidelisrecine]

This is an excellent video! This should make my install way easier. Thanks for putting in the effort to share all this with us!

[@dividingbyzerofpv6748]

Interesting perspective on that air cleaner and the stud. I was messing with a cap for phasing tonight and the car was idling fine til I put the air cleaner on and then things got bad. Swapped back to the non windowed cap and things were fine again. So EMI was witnessed first hand. Now gonna try chasing down whether I can quiet the system down more.

[@jesseduncan6154]

RfI has much to do with many Issues ,love the input, thank you guys for info.

[@SSbigblock454]

Thanks, good information, I'll keep it in mind. I have a Fitech system. No problems yet, but you never know.

[@JoseGarcia-rb9pq]

Where could I purchase that delrin carb stub ive looked online and no luck, I have a sniper set up and running into some rfi issues

[@zapatajor]

Great video and tips!!! do you sell the stud for the air cleaner or any suggestion where to source ? thx

[@professorbooky63]

great info it's hard to find solid tips

[@forestlawrencegrading9154]

I remember back when everything had points ignition and you'd open the hood after Dark on somebody's vehicle that ran rough and it look like a thunderstorm going on under there

[@johannesschroff4097]

Aftermarket TBI systems aren't shielded/protected in any way like other Engine Management Systems. I recommend using 20-50kOhm Plug wires, 5kOhm sparkplugs and a internally regulated alternator. If Not enough, build shielding around thebwires and Sensors/IAC. Solved my issue so far.

[@MikeBaxterABC]

Talking about shielding?? .. I wonder if grounding straps on the hood, inner fenders, and even the fenders and air cleaner? would help? .. I know when I was in the Army the old MB Jeeps, and Dude and a Halfs, were BIG on grounding straps! They were everywhere, and wen we fitted the old radios to a "new" Jeep, replacing all the grounding straps, was standard procedure.

[@francfurian8215]

Excellent Kev. Cheers😊

[@V8TV]

Thanks!

[@primozkrajcar4144]

Thanks for the helpfull video. I had a qjet rebuilt for my 71vette by a great guy and he set it up just for my application and it runs like a champ. I too was thinking of Sniper efi before but not any more. Well at least until the carb starts to act funny again!

[@davesarena7091]

I like the nonmetallic air cleaner stud for the carb, where can I find one?

[@pufflopez2896]

Did you ever find one. I’d love to get my hands on one

[@jsimmonstx]

I think this is what they used - it's semi-flexible and fuel resistant - www.mcmaster.com/threaded-rods/material~acetal-plastic/

[@onefastgtp2002]

I'm searching the Google machine now, can't find one. If someone does please post. Thanks.

[@PathOfAltansar]

@@onefastgtp2002 Just do a web search for "Delrin threaded rod" (Delrin is a trade name for a fancy type of plastic). Find a vendor you trust and figure out what thread pitch and diameter you need. Once you have a piece of rod of sufficient length, just cut it to size.

[@kevinvissing9540]

Msd super conductor wires fixed my interference problem on my ford engine.

[@callofgeorge]

great video, however unless i missed it, you didn't touch on one of the most important thing to reduce/eliminate electrical noise - proper grounding practice. the correct size ground cable with proper termination/installation. battery to block, battery to frame, battery to body or frame to body. block to frame, and block to each head if there is any resistance between them. Devin Vanderhoof has a good video on wiring practices.. anyone here with sniper issues, I highly recommend checking him out.

[@V8TV]

For sure, good grounds and power connections are mandatory. Thanks or sharing!

[@alhodge4051]

big big help thanks.

[@V8TV]

You're welcome!

[@edvinbeqari7551]

Just purchased a unit and the Holley technician recommended that the plug wires have at least 500 ohms per foot I believe. Most MSD wires I found on Jegs are less.

[@79series]

Very informative video thanks

[@V8TV]

Thank you!

[@delmcclamma8359]

Ty so much

[@TheGramee]

Great detail! Thnx

[@curtthompson2787]

Sounds like holley didnt do a very good job of insulating their wires and working out the ECU so its not so sensitive. I nave pretty new 8.6mm Moroso wires, newer alternator, new distributor, power and ground wired direcy to the battery on their own terminals, new battery wires and the car grounded well to the chassis with 2 guage ground strap. What else do I need to do? What else could it be? Showed no dataand would not clear until unhooking from the battery. Went back into no data a couple minutes later. Finally after many resets got it running again but drove a few miles home and started breaking up again. Stalled and got ERROR on the tach. Turned off and on amd it showed 137rpm while off. Went into high idle a few times trying to get it going on different occasions and would not cone down. High as in 1900rpm. But it ran good earlier. Whats the problem?!

[@ozzstars_cars]

Interesting concept regarding the air cleaner acting as an antenna for interference. Remember the old days when the radio interference would whine louder and louder as the car was accelerating? If you dont remember then your under the age of 40. 😁🤣😁

[@crsp76691]

Great info thanks! Loved it

[@dougthomas2123]

Where did you find that delrin carb stud?

[@patrickwendling6759]

Thank you for your knowledge and videos USA 🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸

[@____MC____]

Just finding this out after 2 years of messing with my sniper unit. Have clip on rf suppressors cliped on everything but the wires share the same path across the fire wall and down the side to the battery with electric fan wires and ignition box wires. Does it matter if they are all in separate wire looms? My air cleaner uses a counter sunk bolt so it doesnt poke the hood. My unit lasts about 10 min or so till it shuts off.

[@Turbo4Joe363]

Great video on protecting the Sniper from EMI/RFI! I'm about to install a Sniper Stealth on my 363 SBF. The delrin stud is a great idea! I'll also ground my big OEM air cleaner (85 foxbody with dual snorkle). If the problem is really bad can you put a small Faraday cage around the ECU compartment on the Sniper?

[@MrKdog818]

If you haven't found foureyedpride yet, look it up, it's an invaluable foxbody community. I can't find it now to link, but someone there shared that they solved their RFI by doing just that, more of a shield than a cage, but it did the trick and looked clean. I was debating about having one milled from aluminum before i even do my first fire up. Aluminum works well for shielding as a material. I don't know how much room there is within the sniper housing, but you can buy faraday fabric that might be able to be adhered with an expoxy to the inner side of the enclosure safely (something holley should have done)

[@219jello]

I have been fighting issues with a customer's 67 camaro. Just added the Hyperspark and it definitely helped the surging go away. I thought the issues were cured, so I did the final test by putting the air cleaner on and closing the hood. It ran fine, so I figured it was all fixed until it decided to die. Took off air cleaner and left hood open and it ran fine. Close the hood and it dies now. Don't understand how it was totally fine but then decided to act up again. At least the surging issue is gone so that was probably due to a bad MSD or plug wires. Any thoughts? Holley says pull the belt to see if it helps with closing the hood and to add a ground strap to the hood. Frustrating

[@Sir.VicsMasher]

Do you know of any tricks when building a SBC that will keep it looking as clean and oil free as a LS. The aluminum intake manifold and other parts on my new ZZ4 crate engine back in the day looked dirty and in need of a good cleaning about every oil change vs most modern engines that don't.

[@herbgoodw9421]

What kind of material did you replace the breather stud with?

[@V8TV]

Delrin

[@herbgoodw9421]

@@V8TV Thanks very much; I have a ton of RFI in my datascans and my car is stalling on deceleration. I am going to try all your suggestions. I had not thought of many of them.

[@sacooper802]

bottom line is the ECU should not go into the throttle body, majority of all other EI sytems have ECU under the dash or tucked away somewhere away from all that noise, I have brand new engine with all holley sniper approved and MSD ignition thats suppose to be all plug and play with my sniper system and Im having drastic EMI RF issues, this should never be happening, this should of all been tested and fixed before they sold this junk. I was told by holley sniper technician that the MSd super conductor wires are not a good idea to use with the sniper!!! they are 50 oms/ft where Holley recommends 400-500 ohms/ft plug wires!!! I was told by a EFI expert that about 10% of all sniper customers are having EMI RF issues, thats very high percentage actually. buyer beware, look at other brands of EFI systems if you ask me, Im ready to resort to a good ole carb

[@lsx4279]

Reality is Holley needs to do a better job of isolating their ECM and shielding their wiring. Their throttle bodies are way to sensitive. I have installed 7 of these kits now. All but 2 have ben a PIA. And the self tuning is a Joke. Unless your motor is nearly bone stock with really good vacuum, you will end up paying for a custom tune. I can see taking care of the basics with bad plug wires and alternator issues but like on a big block Mopar and Fords where the distributer sits close to the front of the throttle body and Holley tech claim RFI interference due to the distributer location ????? Gimme a break. Get your products more user friendly. And a Delrin carb stud....sucks we are doing the engineering now too. And as an automotive shop where time is money we shops get to eat all the extra time needed to fix Holley's RFI related issues.

[@jakehester9979]

Is it worth slapping one of these bad boys on the old budget build or to many issues?

[@V8TV]

They work very well when properly set up.

[@SwingPlans]

I have a 1969 cadillac with fresh rebuild stock and have installed this sniper efi. still having issues with air /fuel , erratic sudden changes up and down, sometimes stalling. I do know I have a electrical short in the car related to the windows. I am in the process of getting someone to find and correct the electrical short. Could this be the reason my system is having trouble?

[@jasondenbow55]

I have had nothing but trouble with mine and other people told me they had same problems so ill never buy one again mine will be coming out of my truck and into the trash

[@V8TV]

The V8 Speed & Resto Shop can help with your restoration and performance needs - www.v8speedshop.com 314.783.8325

[@Rendezvous70]

I've literally been having this problem with a holley hp system for 6 years . I have called holley multiple times & they never mentioned this but a data log i sent them they said i wasn't getting an rpm signal. , i thought i isolated all the important wireing away from noisy signals , but the rpm signal wire to the ecm was bundled with the msd boxs power wires & close to the alternator wireing. Now i have moved the rpm signal wire outside the engine bay & I'm hoping it will solve my problem 🤞. I did it last night but im scared to start it 🙈🤞

[@capone818figueroa4]

How do i fix the lag on the initial turn key fuel spray ..holley sniper 2300 .when i turn the the key and wait for the pump to stop priming i started and it takes 2 turns of the engine before it starts. So i took off the filter and checked it for the fuel spray and it does not come out until that second turn of the engine . Need help please

[@lancmac]

What is your basic WOT, Idle and Cruise AFR you use???

[@jesusreyes3269]

Thanks for the video, very useful. I just finished the installation of a Sniper on a boat with a Mercruiser engine (a GM V6 4,3L adapted to marine use). Changed all ignition components (coil, distributor cap, spark plug wires and) spark and the alternator, and guess what: I get RFI/EMI interference…. It only happens after cruising for a while and coming to lower RPM. Any ideas?

[@jesusreyes3269]

I think I solved it but had to use aluminum foil over the distributor (brand new one…) and the Sniper itself.

[@jesstaylor3200]

Did you actually solve your issue or are you still driving with aluminum foil???

[@jesusreyes3269]

@@jesstaylor3200 Still using aluminum foil. The truth is that I did not bother to do much more about it.

[@ebrowntaylor1]

I'm having a really pesky EMI issue with my Sniper. I just switched from a streetfire HEI to a more powerful DUI HEI. The IAC keeps resetting to 0 after 20 minutes or so of driving. I think it being so close to the IAC is causing a lot of the issue. Any suggestions?

[@johannesschroff4097]

Increasing Spark Energy and current increases EM sources. My advice ist Run ignition systems and plug-wires from 80s-90s GM Ford inj cted v8s with lower Energy and much higher Wire and Plug resistance.

[@GJJC13]

Great info! Quick question: is this system better than the ATOMIC MSD EFI (also now owned by Holley)? The Atomic seems to have an easier install, but the Sniper seems to be more popular. Which do you feel is better and why? Thanks!

[@armygreenfj3924]

I like the old version of the msd atomic efi. You can install the ECU module inside the cab away from heat.

[@REVNUMANEWBERN]

What we ALL want to know is WHICH Mfg unit gives the LEAST issues?? What about FiTech and HOWELL ???

[@V8TV]

They will all give you far less issues if you keep the RFI interference down, for sure.

[@BUILTFORDTOUGH79]

I’m personally having a no start issue. I just installed and got nothing. Super frustrated

[@aaronanderson9446]

TY! TY! TY! I have been dealing with these kind of gremlins with my 93 Chevy 5.7 bone stock. Been using the " Parts Canon" for months, when I even brought up the possibility of EMI or RF I would get joked out of the garage told to go get my "tin foil" hat refitted. I know what my project will be this weekend thanks for the video

[@V8TV]

We hope it helps! EMI is a real thing for sure.

[@30YearOldBunta]

noticing the car acting weird when I have higher electrical load and now I'm thinking it's RF building up (led lights, fan motor, car charger etc)

[@rrmech11]

👍👍

[@metaxa715]

EMI and RFI i never had issues untill i bought sniper. It is just a excuse in my opinion for issues you will run into. What is causing it to start dumping fuel? EMI RFI or fucked up ECU ? maybe my wbo2 sensor? maybe i used wrong hand to turn key on?my garbage sniper is so random that i lost my hope for it ,carb is coming back and it is no near holley brand. will never buy holley shit ever ,even for free i don't want to have anything to do with them . many users might be sucessfully using snipers but i don 't feel like one for sure

[@BrushBeatersOffroadMedia]

Man you sound just like nik cage if you look away lol good info btw

[@V8TV]

We hear Nick Cage and Nick Offerman... two famous Nicks!

[@michaelwoods3850]

Upgrade?? I went back to carburetor

[@mikehaslett3738]

Presenter sounds like nick offerman

[@tunnelportterror]

the Holley Sniper is vulnerable to WIFI from wireless internet connections, microwave EFI from cell phones, and EFI from power transmission/am/fm/short wave/cb radio. the unit needs to be SHIELDED BETTER as sold by Holley, it's not the fault of anything under the hood on the old car. The ECM belongs in a separate shielded box inside the car on firewall, not under the hood. all the wiring to the TBI unit should be heavily shielded from HOLLEY already. it's probably not. sorry but this is BUCK PASSING by the video host, why go about shielding checking everything else UNDER the hood, when you can just shield the TBI UNIT and ECM at the FACTORY ?? !!

[@V8TV]

The point of the video is to help those who have already purchased a Sniper and are having problems getting it to work properly. We agree an isolated ECM is best, and also the style we prefer to install these days. However, we've accumulated some tips to help those who choose to run Snipers and we thought we'd share.

[@tunnelportterror]

@@V8TV what you'll find is usually people in more remote areas should have less problems, the metal detector hobby industry went through same problem, efi/rfi/microwave/wifi/g5 disabled most first gen digital detectors. yet the last gen analog detectors 1980-2006 still work today. I use those instead. so...the answer is, run a carburetor ! 😏😉

[@JasonSmith-fu6oi]

keep it carb or go LS. these things are junk

[@ckrtwpn]

In other words the system is a piece of shit