subaru

PostHeaderIcon Check Those Spark Plug Wires

With the durability of today’s cars we can become pretty complacent about preventative maintenance.  Do you remember when you needed to have your spark plugs changed on a regular basis during your tune up?  I can recall shelling out a serious stream of money to stay on top of the auto makers recommended maintenance.

These days I get regular oil change every 3,000 miles and that’s about it.  My used Ford is very reliable.  I had even forgotten that spark plugs existed, but a friend’s rough experience reminded me that I need to stay on top of the preventative routine.

As components go, spark plug wires are pretty tough. Because their function doesn’t involve movement they tend to last a long time.  You should, however, conduct a regular inspection of the plugs to circumvent problems.

The main malfunction of a spark plug is a crack in the insulation around the wire.  This protective rubber coating is what keeps the electricity contained so the spark remains inside the engine and not flying around under the hood.  With a break or crack there is the possibility that a spark will jump off the plug and arc onto something made of metal. An arcing plug will leave your engine operation with a weak spark to the cylinder.  When this happens you can expect your vehicle to run roughly and you will experience reduced fuel efficiency.  There is also the possibility of unburned gas moving into the exhaust system resulting in damage to the catalytic converter.  This could mean a fire under the hood faster than you can say 9-1-1. Makes sure the car is turned off and you are working on a cold engine.  Start at the end of the wire near the distributor cap and work your way to the other end of the plug.  What you need to check for is a surface texture that is not supple.  Carefully flex the wires to make sure there are no apparent cracks.  At the plug end of the wire, working on one wire at a time, pull it out of the plug and inspect for cracks or small holes.  The wire should also be free of any dark discoloration similar to a burn mark.

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What's the best brand of spark plug wire?

I had some Nology wires on my civic but I've had so many problems with them i would never buy Nology again. What do you think the best brand wires are.

Also, feel free to hate on Nology with me : )


I recommend OEM wires, or if you're looking for something "high performance" MSD makes good products.

Testing Spark Plug Wires

A quick simple test to tell if your wires are going bad. Also if they read over 11K that's border line for replacement.

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