Testing spark plug wires?
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: WA, USA
Testing spark plug wires?
Did a search but couldn't find anything relating to this question.
How would you go about testing spark plug wires? I'm guessing using a voltage meter of some sort, but how would I tell if the wires are bad?
My guess is, if the numbers come out even or very close to each other, the wires are probably good but if ones really low or something, then that one is probably bad.
But since I've never tested spark plug wires before, I wouldn't know.
Reason I need to know is because I'm experiencing bogging problems with my car and new spark plug wires seems to have fixed bogging for some people. I would just buy new ones of they were the original wires that came with the car but these are NGK Blue's (came with the car), which seem to be pretty good wires from what I hear.
Thanks.
How would you go about testing spark plug wires? I'm guessing using a voltage meter of some sort, but how would I tell if the wires are bad?
My guess is, if the numbers come out even or very close to each other, the wires are probably good but if ones really low or something, then that one is probably bad.
But since I've never tested spark plug wires before, I wouldn't know.
Reason I need to know is because I'm experiencing bogging problems with my car and new spark plug wires seems to have fixed bogging for some people. I would just buy new ones of they were the original wires that came with the car but these are NGK Blue's (came with the car), which seem to be pretty good wires from what I hear.
Thanks.
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 781
Likes: 1
From: Southern, California
Re: Testing spark plug wires? (Eluzion)
Test spark plug wires with a ohmmeter and you measure the resistance. If the wires resistance exceeds 25k, replace it. This is for b series engines, i dunno about other series.
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 182
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From: Orlando, FL, USA
Re: Testing spark plug wires? (Ditdogs)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ditdogs »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">pull 1 spark wire, put a screw driver in it, if it sparks its good. 
(ghetto but effective way)</TD></TR></TABLE>
(ghetto but effective way)</TD></TR></TABLE>
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,115
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From: Ottawa, Canada
Re: Testing spark plug wires? (Ditdogs)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ditdogs »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">pull 1 spark wire, put a screw driver in it, if it sparks its good. (ghetto but effective way)</TD></TR></TABLE>
Ghetto and does not tell you if the resistance is too high, only if the wire has an open or not.
Measure the resistance, over 25k Ohms, replace (you will usually see 7-10k Ohms) A cheap multimeter is cheaper than a new set of wires replaced needlessly. Then with engine running, mist wires with water and watch for arcing. This will tell you if the insulation is cracked. If you see arcing, replace all the wires. I have never seen a set of wires go bad with less than 200K on the odometer.
(ghetto but effective way)</TD></TR></TABLE>Ghetto and does not tell you if the resistance is too high, only if the wire has an open or not.
Measure the resistance, over 25k Ohms, replace (you will usually see 7-10k Ohms) A cheap multimeter is cheaper than a new set of wires replaced needlessly. Then with engine running, mist wires with water and watch for arcing. This will tell you if the insulation is cracked. If you see arcing, replace all the wires. I have never seen a set of wires go bad with less than 200K on the odometer.
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