Spark Wires

[mdelorie]

Alright, I've heard a couple different opinions on the Spark Plug wire issue: I've heard: "They're the originals on the car, from 91, with 230 000 kms on them... replace them, damnit" I've heard: If the resistance measures out still, you're fine, don't worry about it." I've heard: "Park your car somewhere dark, spray some lukewarm salt water on them with the engine idling and look for coronas, if there's any, replace the wires, I had to do it on my 99 cavalier" Who do I believe?????

[JS91Z34]

replace them anyways

[Robby1870]

Replace them. Then check the resistance on the old ones compared to the new ones, you'll be surprised, at how bad your old ones were

 

Robby

[mdelorie]

And that brings me to my next question. What ought I replace them with. I've had AC Delco's recommended because they're low noise. Are other ones really that bad for noise?

[Robby1870]

I would say go with stock Delco's. Thats what came with the car. Or you could go with a hi-performance wire, like 8mm. But, regular replacements will work just fine

 

Robby

[grandprix104]

question, how the heck do spark plug WIRES make noise????

[JS91Z34]

The noise is being referred to as radio interference noise.

[gimp19]

Wow I never new that, I must have crappy wires cause if I'm on a radio station with bad reception I can here my engine rev through my speakers.

 

Does that mean my wires are bad or are they just a bad brand. I have no idea what kind are on it right now but I do know the plugs were changed 16,000 miles ago (before I owned the car), so the wires should have been too.

 

Should wires last as long as the plugs? Cause my car runs alittle funny when it gets really wet out side and the wires might be to blame.

[grandprix104]

if you can hear your engine rev through your peakers you shuld check for badly insulated speaker wires and buy some noise filters.

 

Thats interesting about the plug wires though, i didnt know that.

[Slade901]

When you get a used car, replace the plugs and wires and just don't take their word for it.

 

Replace it yourself. Use a compressor like small air compressor to blow debris around the plug before removing the plug.

 

Don't use salt in your car

 

DON'T use anti-seizing compound on a spark plug because it will throw off your torque. Ex. manufacturer's recommended torque is 11 lb. ft and you use anti-seizing compound and then you torque it with a torque wrench at 11 lb ft., you basically will get past the 11 lb ft and could strip the spark plug hole because of that anti-seizing compound making it easier to turn.

 

Aside from the failing spark plug wires causing interference, the alternator could also cause an interference. When in doubt, replace the spark plug and spark plug wires.

 

If you decide to bring it to a mechanic, find someone who has a good reputation and guarantee their work. There are very few good, honest mechanic and it's hard to find them. My mother-in-law's mechanic always fixes her car every month and I was beginning to become suspiscious and that is when I decided to take over and I tried to fix the whole problem instead of just one problem at a time.

[grandprix104]

I hate bad mechanics. My mom used to go to this one that did a little "tweaking" on each visit so that we'd be back in a couple weeks. She just about murdered him when she found out though

[JS91Z34]

If you look on any good plug wire set, it'll say "radio supression". Bad wires will affect anything electronic. Including the ECM. It's like small electro-magnetic pulses. All cars were built with a radio supression plug wire on them because of a statute induced by the government to eliminate noise pollution in cities.

[gimp19]

When you get a used car, replace the plugs and wires and just don't take their word for it.

 

Last year when I had my A/C converted at a GM dealership I had them check my plugs cause my car idles funny when its hot out (still havn't figured out why).

 

The dealership I took it to is the same one the previous owner used. She was an old lady and she had all the work done there so they have a bunch of records on my car. They told me my plugs were changed at 90,000. I'm only the second owner of the car so I know it was well taken care of and not driven very hard.

[Robby1870]

sometimes an idle relearn will fix odd idling conditions.

 

Robby

[mdelorie]

Please, do tell me about this Idle re-learn! Ever since I cleaned my throttle body with some cleaner last year it'll idle funny once in a while. Kind of surge from 600 to 1150 RPMs.... quite annoying when you're in gear and it keeps pulling you forward *ponders* mind you, it hasn't done that in a while... but it used to quite regularly.

[Robby1870]

to do an idle relearn, disconnect the battery for say 10 minutes. Then reconnect it, start the car, put it in drive and hold it there with your foot on the brake. Do that for about 3 to 5 minutes. Then turn it off, restart the car and you should be good to go, if not do the process again, until idle smoothes out.

 

Robby

[mdelorie]

Ahhh, yes... alright. That would explain why the problem was noticeably diminished after I put my car away for the winter. Thanks.