Cleaning RED spark plug wires .. ? | FerrariChat
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Cleaning RED spark plug wires .. ?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Jaimediego, Jul 3, 2012.

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  1. Jaimediego

    Jaimediego Karting

    Sep 9, 2011
    116
    Fresno, CA
    Full Name:
    Jim
    #1 Jaimediego, Jul 3, 2012
    Does anyone know what might be good to clean my RED spark plug wires.. so I don't make them look worse.. OR make them even more predisposed to collecting dirt (oil) ? Or God Forbid.. make them malfunction!

    Thanks for any info .. Jim :D
     
  2. Sledge4.2

    Sledge4.2 F1 Rookie

    Oct 19, 2007
    4,784
    Marin
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    Geno
    #2 Sledge4.2, Jul 3, 2012
    I just use simple green
     
  3. thedoc

    thedoc Formula 3

    May 27, 2009
    2,159
    #3 thedoc, Jul 3, 2012
    Spray nine would work also
     
  4. ago car nut

    ago car nut F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 29, 2008
    5,468
    Madison Ohio
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    David A.
    #4 ago car nut, Jul 4, 2012
    Go-Jo waterless hand cleaner works great.



    Ago
     
  5. stevel48

    stevel48 Formula 3

    Jan 4, 2005
    1,998
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    Steve (85 308 Owner)
    #5 stevel48, Jul 4, 2012
  6. alberto

    alberto Formula 3

    Aug 25, 2001
    2,404
    San Diego
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    Alberto
    #6 alberto, Jul 4, 2012
    Try WD-40.
     
  7. hank sound

    hank sound F1 Veteran

    Jan 31, 2004
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    Burbank, CA
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    Hank Garfield
    #7 hank sound, Jul 4, 2012
    "Awesome" (the product) :)
     
  8. Jaimediego

    Jaimediego Karting

    Sep 9, 2011
    116
    Fresno, CA
    Full Name:
    Jim
    #8 Jaimediego, Jul 5, 2012
    Say.. How do you know if your spark wires are good .. or NOT?

    Check resistance?

    How about age? Is there a rule of thumb age-wise? Mine are about 10-12 years old.. but only about 8K miles .. ??

    Thanks, Jim :D
     
  9. Iain

    Iain F1 Rookie

    Jan 21, 2005
    3,302
    UK
    #9 Iain, Jul 5, 2012
    Continuity is the most important thing . The leads have a fine spiral wire inside them & so they will work with a break inside them (because the spark will jump the gap) but over time performance deteriorates as the gap gets bigger - until they begin to cause a misfire.

    You can also measure resistance which will vary with the length of the leads from about 650 ohms to around 1100 ohms. I tracked this about 3 times on the last set of leads I had & I found that over time the resistance really didn't change until the last time I checked them when suddenly 3 or 4 of them were broken with no continuity.

    So I think the bottom line is all you really need to check is continuity. I think the leads on my car were the originals with about 35K miles on them
     
  10. Jaimediego

    Jaimediego Karting

    Sep 9, 2011
    116
    Fresno, CA
    Full Name:
    Jim
    #10 Jaimediego, Jul 10, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Well.. I checked continuity.. 5 of 8 had none.

    We got an 8mm Red ACCELL wire kit at Autozone (Don't tell Enzo) .. .
    We started thinking maybe the 90 degree connectors would work best .. . ?
    So, we cut off all but one of the straight connectors.. have to use a straight one for cylinder # 3 cuz of space limitations around the bracket.. BUT, after trying one or two on the Plugs/Extenders, the 90 degree plug wires end up about 1/4 inch from the valve cover.

    Does the proximity of the wires to the valve covers make it better to use the straight connector conformation.. or does it matter.. ??

    Whaddayathink.. ? I can still change em back to the OEM straight conformation.. ??

    Thanks, Jim :D

    P.S. I ground the end of the wires slightly that enters the caps.. lubed with dielectric.. seems to fit fine (I know ours are 7mm, but 8mm should be sturdier.. . )
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