Why replace spark plug wires

Its possible for spark plug wires to be damaged. Changing spark plugs could be a good idea when 1.

If there is damage to the protective shield encasing the spark plug wires then you need to replace the spark plug wires.

Why replace spark plug wires. When to change spark plug wires and how to test them. People often ask me why they should change spark plug wires. Its a simple answer.

They carry the firing voltage to the spark plugs and if theyre not performing up-to-par neither are your spark plugs. You can spend top dollar buying the more expensive iridium spark plugs but if you reinstall your old worn out spark plug wires youll never get the performance you expected. This can cause arcing or short circuiting of the wire with the engine or other metal components.

Another possibility is increased resistance in the wires. Both situations will cause decreased engine performance reduced fuel mileage and eventually lead to skipping or rough operation of the engine. Its possible for spark plug wires to be damaged.

If the insulation is compromised or theres an internal break youll need to replace your wires even if its not yet time. High performance doesnt always mean a long lifespan and some types of high performing spark plug wires may need relatively frequent replacement every 30000 to 40000 miles. After all changing spark plugs is a regular maintenance item.

Even if you spend extra cash on the best iridium spark plugs and install them expertly if you dont replace the spark plug wires at the same time youre probably wasting both time and money. If the wires dont perform well engine performance and gas mileage suffer. The following situations call for immediate replacement of spark plug wires.

Vibration damage Constant wear and tear caused by engine vibration can loosen the electrical connection at the spark plug. This causes an increase in the voltage required to fire the spark plug which could damage the ignition coil as well as the spark plug wires. Changing spark plugs could be a good idea when 1.

Your check engine light comes on. Worn spark plugs or spark plug wires can trigger your check engine light to come on. Your car has trouble starting.

Your spark plugs have one of the most important jobs in your vehicle which is to. You should change your spark plugs every 30000 miles or if you notice indications that the wires need to be replaced earlier such as cracks or nicks in your spark plugs wire insulation andor oil-soaked areas. You can also check under the hood at night with your engine running for sparks visible along the wires length.

Any arcing sparks would indicate a defective wire in need of replacement. Owners of older vehicles with spark plug wires may need to replace them because they become brittle and tend to crack. At that point they are no longer providing the proper amount of electrical.

But weve got three great reasons why you shouldnt put off replacing your old spark plugs. New spark plugs help keep your engine at its peak performance and efficiency levels. Of course every vehicle on the road will misfire from time to time.

But as those misfires get more and more frequent they also get more troublesome. Spark plugs provide the electricity necessary for combustion to happen by igniting atomized fuel in an engines cylinders. However they need a constant supply of electricity to do that.

If you let that condition go on too long the wires can start to leak voltage to nearby engine parts causing arcing severe performance problems and even ignition component failures. Thats why it pays to replace your spark plug wires before they wear out. By Matthew Skwarczek on September 19 2020.

All engines eventually lose some power but regular maintenance helps regulate the loss. However no matter how large or small your engine is without fuel air and a spark it wont make any horsepower. Clogged fuel injectors and air filters cause problems for trucks cars and motorcyclesand so can broken spark plugs.

With the increase in resistance in the wires there is a decrease in the amount of electricity arriving through the spark plugs which results in the incomplete combustion of gases inside the cylinder. If there is damage to the protective shield encasing the spark plug wires then you need to replace the spark plug wires. It produces electricity to create a spark by which the engine can start.

So we can understand its importance. But what happens as the car age passes the ignition coil becomes weak and stops functioning properly. Now in this case replacement of the ignition coil is the only left solution.

Changing spark plugs takes about an hour for a four-cylinder engine and will save you at least a hundred bucks in labor if you do it yourself. In most cases its a simple job that will help to maintain peak performance and the highest possible gas mileage. Replacing spark plug wires Spark plug wires also known as ignition cables are a key part of the ignition system.

Car engines that have a distributor or remote coil pack have spark plug wires that transfer the spark from the coil to the spark plug. And without the necessary fire to properly burn the air-fuel mixture engine starting and performance problems begin to show up including bad idle misfires and high fuel consumption which can cause even more damage. Thats why most vehicle manufacturers recommend replacing the spark plug wires every 30000 miles.