For the domestic wire a good reading is no greater than 12,000 ohms per foot. Leave the door partly open and the vehicle's exhaust pipe pointing outside. Keep the spark plug wires clean to reduce conduction drain. Refer to the repair manual for import plug wire specifications. Try to remove the spark plugs by hand the ensure the plugs are properly seated. It carries the high voltage (30k to 50k volts) produced by the ignition coil to the spark plug. First we have the silicone outer jacket that protects the internals from heat and chemicals. At its basic level, the spark plug wire exists solely to transmit electricity from the coil or distributor to the spark plug. Remove and reinstall the spark plug wires. What would the resistance be on 2 feet in ohms? You can measure the resistance of the spark plug wires with a digital multimeter to see if they are working properly. Park your vehicle in a semi-dark location such as a garage. Tech B says that spark plugs come pre-gapped and you should never have to check spark plug gap. Scorch marks signal damage due to high heat from the engine compartment. For copper core wires, the resistance will be 1 to 6500 ohms, inductive wires the resistance will be 2200 to 8000 ohms per 1 meter or 650 to 2500 ohms per foot and carbon wires, the resistance is 10000 to 23000 ohms per 1 meter or 3000 to 7000 ohms per foot. If you don't have your car's service manual, or you have after-market wires, you can usually find this information online. This article has been viewed 410,688 times. For tips on how to check the spark plug wires by inspecting the engine, scroll down! You will need four spark plugs – view the Yamaha F115 Maintence Chart to select the correct plugs. The insulation (rubber coating outside the wire) may break and cause arcing. Step 2. Remove the spark plug wire. If carbon tracking is present, the spark plug and the wire should be replaced. Spark Plug Wire Pricing. ; Step 3: Clean light deposits from the plug with a wire brush and spray-on plug cleaner.Get full cleaning instructions below. Mike Parra is a Master Mechanic in Arizona. Overheated – insulator of the spark plug is pure white, and top of the spark plug is degraded. Each foot of a wire should have a resistance of 10,000 to 15,000 ohms. These will be a line of wires coming out of the cylinder head and attached at the other end to the distributor or ignition coils. Thank you.". An ignition spark tester like OEM 25069 takes the place of a spark plug – is grounded to the engine and can easily show you whether a particular wire or coil is providing spark. While this is below the generic range, these are a higher quality wire so the resistance is less, so as mentioned before, check your vehicle’s specifications or the spark plug wire manufacturer specifications. This article was co-authored by Mike Parra. Today, let’s dive into spark plug wires and the developments in technology that these simple conductors have experienced over the years. Since you're replacing those old, worn-out spark plugs, it's a good idea to replace … Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 410,688 times. With the engine running, spray the spark plug wires with water. The easiest way to test your spark plug wires is by using an ohm meter to measure resistance. Building Giant Articulated Hands (carved From Wood for Social Distancing). Do I need to change the wires when I change the plugs? "I'm no mechanic, but I have tools and try to learn as much as I can. To verify whether the coil is to blame, you’ll want to swap the coil to another cylinder and repeat the power balance test. Look in the owner's manual to find the appropriate resistance for the wires. Inspect the plugs. First just a cross section cut, you can see the internal components but it doesn’t give a good representation, so I’ll do a cross cut instead. Usually, these wires run from the distributor cap to each of the spark plugs individually. A higher resistance indicates bad wiring. Did you make this project? X Damage to the vehicle and severe injury may result. Attach the spark tester to the distributor end of the coil wire. [1] My car is misfiring and the hold light is flashing in my 2005 Chevy Aveo. It is important to use a well-insulated screwdriver for this test. Step 4. 1. This article was co-authored by Mike Parra. Damaged clips may allow the wires to slip and not hold their proper position. Make sure it matches the resistance in the manual. Remove one spark plug wire from its plug. Test the wire from end to end with the leads of the meter. 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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. I would. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Touch the test probes together to determine the existing resistance in the test leads, then hold one test probe on one terminal, the other probe on the other terminal, this wire show’s 10,000 ohms, which by generic specs is good. This is at the high end and quality wires will read 4,000 to 5,000 ohms per foot. And finally the carbon impregnated fibreglass core, where the electricity flows. This article has been viewed 410,688 times. Any electrical hiccup under the hood can cause one of … Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you have a manual for your vehicle, check there for the answer. What the name of the manufacturer of your blue spark plugs cable, please. Look for physical damage to the wires or boots, such as cuts and scorch marks. Spark plugs are the smallest component of your car that has the biggest effect on how well your engine will run. Step 2- Remove the spark plug using a spark plug socket. The insulation stopping any voltage leaks. About: Car enthusiast YouTuber creating helpful tutorial videos on both repairs and customizations. Connect one end of a jumper wire to a screwdriver metal shank. Bend the wires gently to visually check that no cracks appear. It’s not expensive and it ensures that that part of the car is good to go. Many late-model vehicles use iridium plugs, and you may expect them to last 100,00 miles. Then, pull the boot off of the spark plug and unscrew one of the wires at the end. Step 1. The simple way I always check spark plug wires is to take a screwdriver with a good plastic handle and put an aligator clip lead on it with the other end of the wire grounded. Some manufacturers do this to cancel out magnetic fields. 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