Can you cut spark plug wires? The good news is that you can always cut and crimp your wires to the length you need. It’s important to do this carefully. If done incorrectly it may cause a space to occur between the spark plug wire conductor and its terminal. This space reduces continuity, or the flow of electricity in the circuit.

Can you break a spark plug wire? The spark plug ceramic becomes dry and brittle after long use and it will break, so let’s not go there. Twist and pull by hand. There is a spark plug wire puller that can be bought at the auto parts store.

Are all spark plug wires the same? Does size matter? For overall spark transfer, not necessarily. However, thicker wires, like these Moroso Super Max II 11mm wires, can provide added RFI suppression and insulation. That’s why it’s important to select a good quality set of spark plug ignition wires to deliver juice to your spark plugs.

How do I know if my spark plug wires are bad? Common signs of failing spark plug wires include a decrease in power, acceleration, and fuel efficiency. In addition, the engine light coming on or visible damange to the cables can be signs of a failing wire.

Can you cut spark plug wires? – Related Questions

What happens if spark plug wires are touching?

As long as the spark plugs and wires are good not a problem for the wires to touch. They don’t fire at the same time and the distance between wires is always more than the spark plug gap.

What happens when you cross spark plug wires?

Every engine manufacturer provides a service manual detailing the correct firing order of their cylinders. When one or more spark plug wires are crossed, the engine may not run, or runs roughly as the timing of fuel/air compression does not align with the delivery of the spark.

Can touching spark plug wires cause misfire?

Damaged or Failing Spark Plug Wires: If your car has spark plug wires (not coil packs), then the wires may be the source of a misfire. If the insulating coating on the wire has been compromised, it’s possible that the bare wire is touching a metal component in the engine and shorting out. This will cause a misfire.

Can spark plug wires add horsepower?

In short, yes, in some situations spark plugs can increase horsepower. The theory behind spark plugs increasing horsepower is that by providing more spark to the firing tip of the spark plug, it will (and does) combust more fuel.

How can you tell if you have solid core spark plug wires?

There’s more to a plug wire than the color of its skin. The only way to accurately tell one type of wire from another is to go beneath its skin to reveal its core construction. Basically, there are three main types of ignition wire: solid-core, carbon-suppression, and spiral-wound.

How long can spark plug wires last?

A quality set of spark plug wires can generally last around 60,000 to 70,000 miles. Again, it is a good idea to replace these parts prior to a failure, like a misfire. A vehicle that is running rough or misfiring can cause catalytic converter damage.

What is the recommended spark plug gap?

For most racing applications, you usually want the plug gap to be between 0.020 and 0.040 of an inch. Most engine builders seem to settle around 0.035 of an inch. Factors such as the type of ignition you run, cylinder heads, fuel and even timing can affect how much gap will work best for you.

What can faulty spark plug wires cause?

If there is any issue with the spark plug wires the engine spark can be disturbed, which can result in engine performance issues such as misfires, a reduction in power and acceleration, as well as a reduction in fuel efficiency. In severe cases bad cables may even result in engine stalling.

Will bad spark plug wires throw a code?

Bad spark plugs can cause your engine to misfire. The engine’s computer uses sensors to detect these misfires and will create a code that turns on the check engine light.

Can spark plug wires touch metal?

Efn,it’s actually best that they do Not touch the Vc’s,but if they do it’s not the end of the world! The high tension wires simply work better when there is no possibility to leak any high current to a metallic and grounding surface like a valve cover.

What voltage is a spark plug?

Spark plugs usually require voltage of 12,000–25,000 volts or more to ‘fire’ properly, although it can go up to 45,000 volts. They supply higher current during the discharge process resulting in a hotter and longer-duration spark.

Does changing spark plugs matter firing order?

Q. Will a Car Run With the Wrong Firing Order? When the firing order is wrong, the vehicle may run, but it will not run properly. The wrong firing order makes the spark be delivered to the cylinder either when there is no air and fuel mixture or when the mixture is not properly compressed.

What happens if you install a spark plug wrong?

Incorrectly removing or installing spark plugs can cause damage to your engine. Also, the engine must be cool before removing the spark plugs or thread damage may result. , if dirt or debris gets into the spark plug well, it can get into the engine, causing damage, as well.

Will wrong firing order damage engine?

When the firing order is wrong or delayed, the engine does not run properly. The spark may be delivered to the cylinder when there is no fuel/air mixture or before it is properly compressed. Turning the ignition does not start the engine.

Do spark plug wires go bad with age?

Can plug wires deteriorate just from age? Yeah, ESPECIALLY if they are moved around.

Do expensive spark plug wires make a difference?

Benefits of Spark Plug Wires

Stronger and more durable cables hold the spark until it finds its way to the spark plug to boost the performance of your vehicle. Improve gas mileage. High-quality wires will allow the spark plugs to start faster and keep your engine running more effectively.

Do thicker spark plug wires make a difference?

There isn’t any performance to be gained from spark plug wires, just better build quality, which gives you not a better spark, but rather maintains an appropriate spark for more miles/years before their performance degrades to the point of needing replacement.

Are Taylor spark plug wires good?

I have used Taylor plug wires for years and you can not go wrong with the reliability and durability of Taylor wires. Definitely recommend!

Are Accel spark plug wires good?

They’ll get the job done, nice high quality wires but they’re a bit short for certain engines. Also they tend to slide off the spark plugs, so I have to push them back to reseat them every so often, but that might just be because the wires a little short.

Can I change spark plugs without changing wires?

It is not necessary to change the wires but it’s a good idea. Here’s the reason. If your spark plugs have been in the engine too long the component at the end of the plug get’s oxidized over time from having such high voltage run across it to jump a gap and create a spark.

What happens if a spark plug gap is too big?

One of the key factors that makes a spark plug work well, or not, is the size of the gap between the electrodes. However, if the spark plug gap is too large, the spark is unlikely to consistently “jump” across the long distance between electrodes, thus leading to a rough-running engine or one that doesn’t run at all.