An OEM replacement wire that consisted of a carbon core. & When the automobiles computer systems became more pronounced with monitoring systems for every aspect of operation, EMI was guilty of sending random signals that were picked up by these sensors. According to the first link, from Popular Mechanics, spark plug wires are supposed to have 10,000 to 15,000 ohms per foot. Lighting, Marine Teak With the advances made in electronic ignitions, higher electrical charges were being moved through the spark plug wires. Zincs, Generator As a last resort, I checked the electrode resistance and found it to be 50,000 ohms. Weaker units require extremely low resistance plug wires and ignition coils, virtually just blowing the spark through the coil and wires to get to the plugs. Screws, Boat Handles, Pulls, Dock, Cabin and Covers, Boat Cover The frequencies broadcast into the atmosphere interfere with the electronic modules in the area. According to the … They’re made of delicate carbon fibers. Next, determine the amount of resistance you would like. Older plug wires will typically show more resistance, indicating they need replacement. Keeping in mind that our insulator is roughly 2.5mm thick, it is probable that some electrical charge can leak through the insulation if it is cracked or deteriorated. One reason is becasue many OEM wires utilize carbon fibers as the conductive medium inside the insulated covering. All rights reserved. Sprint cars would be a good example.”. Detectors, Binoculars & Breakers, Power Packs & Jump ACCOUNT, Find You want that extra voltage available to keep up with the changes in the cylinder atmosphere”. AN Check your fuel injectors for resistance. The demands on plug wires today are greater than they have ever been before. Here are the top spark plug wires you should consider. As the spark current travels through the plug wire, it has a certain amount of resistance working against that current. When not specified by the manufacturer, the average set of spark plug wires last between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, depending on application and operating environment. Why You Should NEVER REPLACE SPARK PLUG WIRES WITHOUT FIRST TESTING FOR OHMS! The lower the resistance, the better quality conductor materials are used in making the spark plug wires. Anchor Box Anchors, Fishing Rod & Reel Maintenance, Fiberglass & Epoxy MSD’s 8.5mm Super Conductor Wire will measure about 50-ohms per foot of wire while the Street Fire brand wires have about 500 ohms per foot. And size matters. So, were the 3 wires bad? Combos, Fishing Tools & The RFI and EMI are levels are unacceptable high for computer controlled vehicles however and the solid core wires are typically only used in very high performance, non-computer controlled vehicles. Shelters, Boat Without this braided layer of fiberglass, the conductor core could easily be broken by pulling on the plug wire or severe engine vibration. Seats, Offshore Boat Galley, Covers and Sockets, Marine Electrical The higher voltage produced on initial acceleration will find any internal breakage and cause the misfire. Resistance check shows value from 0.15 - 0.34 kOhm (1,500 - 3,400 ohm). should I buy 3 new wires? If you’re looking to add horsepower by buying a new set of plug wires, then you’ve been led down the wrong path. Tubes, Shop Grills, Boat Drink If you want to keep the performance of your engine at the optimal level, replace the plug wires as often as you replace the spark plugs”. Trailer Winches, Shop Close inspection of the boots and terminals should also be checked. Either you will be at one extreme or the other. Monel is an alloy that uses a blend of metals including stainless steel, with small percentages of copper and nickel. Our experts from MSD and Accel also agree that the higher the cylinder pressure and the more fuel there is, the higher the voltage needs to be to start a spark in the combustion chamber. Now, Shop We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request. Wells, Toilet & Waste Spark plug wires are merely conductors of moveable electricity but they can reduce the flow of electricity to the spark plug if the resistance is too great or if the plug wire is failing. Platinum plugs resist corrosion much better than the standard copper plugs (~60k+), and the iridium plugs last even longer (~100-150k). Testing Plug Wires: If you have access to a factory service manual for your car, you may find a resistance rating for the spark plug wires, (such as 1000 - 4000 ohms per foot). The wires are responsible for providing the spark that ignites each spark plug, and they need just as much care and attention as the plug itself. Make sure the spark plug wire does not have an open circuit, and as a general rule, the resistance should not exceed 1,000 ohms per inch (but may be permissible by some O.E. Most resistor spark plugs use a monolithic resistor, generally made of graphite and glass materials, to filter the electrical voltage as it passes through the center electrode. Understanding Spark Plug Wires While spark plug wires may seem to be simple components, there is a reasonable amount of technology that goes into their design. Supplies, Boston Whaler, 1972-1993, - Spark plug wire resistances should measure less than the specified value. The new premium wires from Napa. PFDs, Roof Racks, Carriers, J.R. Granatelli’s take on electrical charge is a little different because of the nature of their solid core wires. Is the resistance of all/most spark plug wires the same between vehicles? and electrical stresses. Not surprisingly, performance wires will measure much less … Over time, however, engine heat takes its toll on even the best spark plug wires, which is why changing spark plugs and wires is recommended by many manufacturers at 100,000 miles. 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