[spinestein]

I got about a 30,000 volt jolt while twisting the distributer on my car that had high performance coil on it and survived quite nicely, although the shock is very un-fun. The current is low enough that it's relatively harmless, but I did have fun conning my friend into "helping" me tune my car after I discovered this trick.

"Come here and grab a hold of this while I start the car."

He jumped halfway across the garage.

[HiTech RedNeck]

oh lol, i knew a guy who yanked the lead off the spark plug of a magneto ignition dirtbike he was working on, because it was revving up too fast and he could not find the killswitch. It had a silicone insulated boot on it, but the spark snapped around it and knocked him instantly on his can.

[flying Elvis]

When I was six, my neighbor used me as his spark testing assistant on a lawn mower he was working on. I have respected plug wires ever since. My first car was a 72 Cutlass and I discovered the joys of adjusting points. The screw driver flew across the yard accompanied by unrepeatable oaths. Went to the junkyard the next day and got an electronic setup to replace it.

[Professional Engineer]

I got about a 30,000 volt jolt while twisting the distributer on my car that had high performance coil on it and survived quite nicely, although the shock is very un-fun.

The high energy ignition systems since the late '70's have that nasty habbit. I got zapped occasionally while checking the transmission oil level on my vehicle, since the dipstick is very close to the coil. Un-fun is right.