If a spark jumps from a plug wire to the test light at any point, this is an indication that the insulation has broken down, and the spark plug wire should be replaced. Check the fuel system and/or stark timing. Not changing the gap is fine if they are consistent however I found that perhaps due to shipping that the gaps were all over the place. Ok How about replacment plugs for the coil pack ignition systems that a lot of us have, for a hotter spark, better fuel burn, better MPG, more power, easyer start-up. It should help with figuring out the spark plug wire being used on your engine. When we had the engine on the Dyno, because of the longer lead lengths needed to fit the engine and computer harness onto the Dyno, our team had used some old leads from one of our big block Hummer Engines. 
With the engine running, move the test light along the length of each spark plug wire. If, you dont know how to identify the type of wire on the engine. The motor sounded awesome, our crew was excited and we all thought Job Done, lets get it bolted into the race truck! This EMI can create confusion with electronics and ultimately damage them. There should be a regular spark as you crank.
Ignition Wiring - Rod & Custom Magazine.
Crack the engine and check for a good spark at the spark tester. Those who know about ohmsplease share your th. It obviously is physically possible and it is also possible to disobey instructions. Be sure to first check spark plug wires for visual damage. The failures took several weeks after a new module to fail. I have a Pertronix in my car so I have its install instructions (somewhere!) and electrical stresses. The failure is NOT in the wires, it is in the Pertronix itself. TurboWerx Exa Oil Pump Review - Should you buy one? Ive used both resistor plugs and non resistor plugs, all without issue. When driven at slow speeds, or when running at idle for a few minutes, the motor would start to backfire and run badly (Very Badly). Given that you did have a failure, I suggest you check the distributor cap contacts for continuity (ie from inside of cap to outside with ohm meter. Now, you may want to be careful you do not have too much resistance since you have your wire resistance and possibly your spark plug end resistance. Captains log: Still alive, Sept 2015.If anyone needs me, send me an email to. Well if it is a true DIS then the best/longest lasting plug would be a dual tip platinum.Because the arc jumps both ways and DIS fire twice as often.A true dual tip Iridium would be even better as it is a more durable metal and has a lower resistance than Platinum but it would be pretty expensive if they ever made such a beast.I`m pretty sure AC and Autolite make a reasonably priced dual tip with the extended electrode design that the 4.0l likes.Dr is right the computer is looking for missfires so if thats a problem it should show up.I honestly doubt you would see a substantial improvement in performance you just wouldnt have to change them as often.Kind of like extended service synthetic oil,though you might see some increases due to the decrease in frictional losses.The MSD 6AL I feel would help the ignition system burn every drop of fuel more completly if it can be used in the Ruby.I have done emission testing on non catted vehicels and they have always read less HC/CO/NOX with the MSD`s, More resistance = More amps or at least it should. She was the most likeable pedant I ever met. Problem with nonshielded type wires and low resistance plugs is they create higher EMF `s(electromagnetic fields) and while modern ignition systems are mildly shielded they can cause havoc with the computers reading millivolt and milliamp signals and can produce "dirty" power throughout the electrics.
I hope this has been useful to someone in race car land and prevents the hours of frustration we went through to find the cause of our problem. But one customer started to have repeated failures.
I have since purchased a 20 Metre length of the MSD 8.5mm wire and the MSD plug lead crimps and I keep them all on my race trailer just in case!! Heres a articular written by our friends at Hot Rod Network showing pictures of the different wires. Keep in mind PerTronix ignitions need carbon-suppression, or spiral-wound wire:
So tight in fact, that there is over 40 feet of conductor wrapped into a single foot of plug wire. I understand Pertronix wants resistance in the wires. Lowest is best. Keep in mind that all of this happens in a few milli-seconds. Then you add plugs, wires, caps, and a lead to the coil from the distributor, all with resistance and wonder why you have poor ignition performance. I changed the plugs one more time and when we took the truck for another test session.
Will low resistance spark plug wires and a high output coil make, F54 :: Clubman Stock Problems/Issues (2015+). More current, more heat and induced noise in the rest of the electrical system. The issue in the post was a narrow one - why did his ignition fail? Note the failures were not immediate. RFI is inportant to me due to the fast that I compete in DBdrag racing and in usac(SQ). Whilst I appreciate that Kevin is a very smart business person, a race engine builder he is NOT, so I initially shrugged off his Silly idea suggesting to Kevin that all four front cylinders are playing up and the chances of me having Four Dead leads in a single batch were pretty low because the plug leads were brand new only 3 months ago. Most wires should have 650-700 Ohms per Foot if they are in good condition. The car ran for a season, but I ended up broken down while on a Sunday drive. Even with the fouled spark plug, the dead cylinder that was fitted with the MSD Lead fitted came back to life and the exhaust temp of that cylinder came back tonormal.
The following situations call for immediate replacement of spark plug wires: Use the digital multimeter, set to Ohms .
If you do not understand it, here is a link to a discussion a while back:
Modifications specific to the MINI Cooper (R50). Why use them? As it unravelled it revealed a stiff inner core that felt very different to the rubber feeling core that I found in my questionable plug lead. Being an electronics engineer, I understand that a low resistance lead will result in greater spark at the plug, but I thought how the hell is electricity ever supposed to travel down this black rubber stuff? Heat damage Engine heat can burn wire insulation and boots.
This has been more than adequately proven by the failures on this forum alone, let alone countless others. I wish they would manufacture them with out the resistor as they are convenient to use, but as of a few years ago they didnt. 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. To accomplish this, we use a copper alloy conductor due to its great voltage carrying capabilities. The meter said no continuity. Did anybody know that till I told them? When our new small block Chev engine was screaming between 5000 and 8000 RPM on the engine Dyno our new race engine showed absolutely no signs of poor spark or poor performance. Which Is Better? So if the only "problem" your spark plug wires have is being OEM, it ain't gonna help to replace them. What are your Spark Plug Lead Conductors made of?
Let no one misunderstandthis discussion is about WITH the Pertronix. its not likely caused by his choice of solid wire. I also have many brake components that came with warnings of the dangers of DOT5 - which I also ignored. This choke, or suppression capability, keeps the EMI inside the wire where it cannot interfere with other electronics on your vehicle. Moparchat - Home of MOPAR enthusiasts worldwide! The brand new leads I was running on the Small Block were indeed new, but a Brand and Type I had never used before. Attach the spark tester to the distributor end of the coil wire.
Measure. {{lede.date | date:'dd-MMM-yyyy'}}{{lede.tags.length > 0 && lede.date ? ' A proprietary blend of silicone and synthetic material produce a sleeve that is highly resistant to high heat as well as abrasion and tears. An aerial is often made from a length of wire. Cookie Policy - Ahhhthanks for the link. Any guidance would be appreciated. When the resistance is in the spark plug end, all cylinders have the same resistance. Even with the fouled plugs, the engine ran fine. It returns to the coil through the points or in this case the Pertronix module. I investigated further and pulled at the tiny wire strands. (We are all told at school that rubber is after all an insulator right?). I gather you have the distributor cap with the screw on connectors. DO NOT USE WITH SOLID CORE SPARK PLUG WIRES. Solid Core Wires: You cannot run Solid Core Spark Plug Wires with an MSD Ignition Control. Whether you do a complete tune-up or only change the spark plugs, spark plug wires (also known as ignition cables) should always be checked first.
Spark plug wires most definitely will affect the primary circuit. Spark plug ends, rotors, distributor caps and yes buttons, etc. I would have NEVER believed that a set of plug leads could have caused so much frustration and so many headaches to my team.
Plug Wires, Taylor,accel,magnecor,and Msd Wires. type ignition as in three coil fireing the six plugs.He said it is a coil on plug type setup so in theroy there should be 6 coils in that rail. Has anyone ever heard of this trick. What is the purpose or application of solid wires? I had a few arguments with one race shop owner who kept asking me Why do you specifically want an MSD leads when my Brand XXX Super Duper Race Lead are even better? He wanted to show me chart after chart to explain to me that the resistance per foot of his Brand XXX leads were lower than the Resistance Per Foot if the MSD leads I had asked for. Are you on the proper meter scale? I then concluded that whilst the leads I had purchased previously were indeed low resistance (I even tested them with a multimeter), the inner core that provided the low resistance on paper, looked like rubber, felt like rubber and performed like crap at sending a 40,000 Volt spark to my plugs. Therefore I suggest to take the spark plug lead from the coil, leave it connected to the coil, unplug it from the distributor cap, put the end about 1/4 inch from a ground, like against the cam cover, and crank engine. In summary, dont get fooled by Brand XXX race lead with Super Low ohms per foot or silly comparison charts showing how great one lead is compared to the other. 100 ohms is a very very very small resistanceit will be there. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. However, some OEMs have recommended different maximum resistances.
I removed the Champion end and tested for continuity from the screw to the spark plug connection and did not get a reading there either.
Simply attach or hold a meter probe on each end of the cable and read the total resistance on the meter. My question is, is that right?
The VAST majority of electronic ignitions will be damaged by use of solid core, non-resistance wires.
Differences in resistance wire-to-wire do not matter one bit. Quality of the wires should a prime consideration.
Weak sparks are orange or red and may be hard to see in daylight.
Common signs of failing spark plug wires include a decrease in power, acceleration, and fuel efficiency. The following errors occurred with your submission. Fact/Fiction, secondary circuit - E-Type - Jag-lovers Forums I believe Robert gives a description, and there is a poorly drawn diagram. I stood my ground went somewhere else and purchased a set of MSD 8.5mm Super Conductor Leads and fitted them to the engine. Ohm specs for MSD and Taylor wires. I noticed I have solid wires in my boat. Its important to keep an eye on your spark plug wires to avoid subsequent engine issues. He would replace the module, then about a month later, the module would fail.
And why would they, as the Pertronix Ignitor is not connected to the ignition wires, it just triggers the coil to work. In a single 12 inch length of Super Conductor Wire there is only 40 - 50 ohms of resistance! My favourite is the sign at the foot of the escalators on the London Underground:- Dogs must be carried. Whats y'all take--04 rubi stock. But in reality, it does not matter. In addition, the engine light coming on or visible damange to the cables can be signs of a failing wire. Having solid wires means there is more likely to be a high-voltage oscillation jammed back into the Pertronix module. Wire insulation thats damaged by head can allow voltage to jump to the ground rather than jumping the gap at the bottom of the spark plug. So I was checking voltage and currents at the coil with a meter. I spoke with a tech (Frank) at Pertronix, who informed me that the Pertronix ignitor is not compatible with solid core spark plug wires. Consult a tune-up manual for exact specifications.. Solid metal (copper, tin-plated copper and/or stainless steel) conductor wires are still used in racing on carbureted engines, but can cause all sorts of running problems if used on vehicles with electronic ignition, fuel injection and engine management systems, particularly if vehicle is driven on the street and damage to some original equipment and aftermarket electronic ignition and engine management systems can occur. Show me why that is so if it is. A good friend of mine Kevin happened to be visiting our race shop whilst I was again busy changing my spark plugs (for the 6th time in a few short months) and asked me if the problem could be a spark plug lead.
Anybody that knows me will understand my absolute passion to get to the bottom of something and I just had to know what was wrong with this questionable lead (And the other three leads that were are causing the my spark plugs to foul up with carbon. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Anti-Human Trafficking | Warranty .Doctor D has said that the Jeep is a non D.I.S.
Best advise about them is not to use them, and particularly if you are not entering JCNA concours with the car. The ignition coil builds voltage until the gap is ionized (jumped across). Solid core wires have a copper or stainless steel conductor and generate excessive Electromagnetic Interference (EMI). Proper wires solved the problem there too. Do contact me via Private Message if you want to discuss more. Now onto the high tension wires We encourage you to consult with a certified technician or mechanic if you have specific questions or concerns relating to any of the topics covered herein.Under no circumstances will we be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any content. The suppression wires do an excellent job of controlling the EMI with no degradation to the ignition performance. They have some there that are 500 ohms per foot. My boat uses the old style points and condenser system.
Perhaps the resistance of the Champion plug connectors saved me. Same with the coil I suppose. Look for any signs of melting or cracking.
None.
Attach the test light to a good engine ground.
Ray I dont dispute that you need suppression particularly in a modern car, but Im just answering the writers question on failure of his ignition system - its not likely caused by his choice of solid wire. If you are running original type points distrubutor you want as close to zero resistance as possible.
I feel obliged to take the stairs, And why would they, as the Pertronix Ignitor is not connected to the ignition wires, it just triggers the coil to work, Yes but, the load on the ignition coil reflects back through the coil to the the primary winding (think transformer) to the Pertronics igniter. We immediately noticed a dramatic increase in throttle response, much more low-end power & torque and the engine absolutely screamed at high revs. ULTIMATE IFS WHEEL TRAVEL - THE SEARCH IS OVER, SOME THREAD LOCKERS CAN AFFECT BOLT TORQUE - BE CAREFUL. If I am understanding how you are measuring, yes you should have resistance, often about 1000 ohms per foot, but it does depend on your wire. If you have lower resistance wires then you will have higher current flow through the wires.
The content contained in this article is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be used in lieu of seeking professional advice from a certified technician or mechanic.
This is necessary due to the aging of the spark plug wires from exposure to extreme temperatures (hot and cold), engine chemicals (oil, grease, coolant, etc.) So, in this case, high series resistance is a good thing, high voltage is a good thing, and less current is a good thing. We checked the ECU parameters, Air Fuel Ratio, Computer Settings, we changed coils, checked our ignition wiring, checked our fuel pressures, checked compression we checked everything and found nothing. There just has to be enough resistance somewhere in the system. Suppressed wires are valuable to suppress radio interference when necessary, but as Ive been saying if you use them you should not have resistance elsewhere, or at least resistance that exceeds 5000 - 6000 ohms.
Typically measuring 5000 ohms when new many quickly deteriorate to infinity, but surprisingly they often continue to work. Getting too low with resistance is a problem because the wires are then easily conductive of EMF/RFI through the insulation. A damaged boot can impede proper spark plug wire seating and performance. Some other voltages were on the wire the meter was not picking up. After a restless nights sleep (ask my wife) tossing and turning thinking I have solved one of the worlds greatest mysteries, at the crack of dawn I jumped in the car and headed straight to the nearest speed shop to grab a set of MSD Spark Plug Leads to confirm my findings and get the engine to idle without fouling plugs once and for all.
I suppose I got into the copper core preference from using them on my Triumphs as the distributor cap connections are the pointy-screw variety and do not work well the the silicone/carbon variety of wires.
Lower resistance plugs will result in LOWER firing voltage and lessened spark energy.
The high resistance of the wires keeps the actual current flow very low but still presents 1000's of volts of voltage potential to the spark plug gap.
If you are running original type points distrubutor you want as close to zero resistance as possible. As to your copper wires. Chances are your copper wires were fine, as chances are your Champion spark plug ends had enough resistance in them. Turns out, solid core wires were indeed installed, so I purchased a set of Flame-Thrower low resistance wires from Pertronix. JavaScript is disabled. Pertronix says no solid core wire, but they dont tell you why.
High voltage output transistors are expensive, they dont put one in their output circuit thats more expensive than absolutely necessary. I don't know if this is "normal".
Higher resistance in series means less current for a given voltage magnitude - ohms law, so Bradlybob is correct. But, IMO, it does not matter whether the resistance is in the wire or the spark plug end. ng Demon coil and low resistance spark plug wires.
I was super excited and Kevin was feeling a bit smug knowing it was he that had suggested the lead or leads in the first place. Terry, follow the secondary circuit after it goes through the spark plug and to the engine ground. Purchase a brand of ignition components that you know and trust (Not some new brand that comes from china in a shiny box with a comparison chart). The hot plasma of the spark ignites the compressed fuel/air mixture that is just waiting for any excuse to explode. When in the wire, it varies with the length. You want the LEAST resistance possibleso you can have more electric spark energy.
THEY CAN AND WILL FRY THE COIL DRIVER ELECTRONICS.
Something about EMF. Imagine the electrical system you would need to have to if you were using more current and less voltage to generate a spark. Champion offers a wide variety of products for all your automotive needs.Check them out! Every time we put in a new set of plugs, the engine was FINE when driven hard, but when driven at low speeds, moving the truck back and forth to car shows and events, and around our property, the front four spark plugs would simply foul up after 10-20 minutes of low speed driving. Before you do anything, I suggest you track down WHERE the spark failure you had has come from. I also have copper wires on my S1 with Pertronix for years. '03 Rubi with a few mods and under the knife again Well if it is a true DIS then the best/longest lasting plug would be a dual tip platinum.Because the arc jumps both ways and DIS fire twice as often.A true dual tip Iridium would be even better as it is a more durable metal and has a lower resistance than Platinum but it would be pretty expensive if they ever made such a beast. cap is probably about 5000 ohms. Note: Try to avoid direct contact with metal parts of the vehicle when checking for shorts., Remove a spark plug wire from any plug.
As others have stated, including you, there are sources of resistance in the secondary system. The instructions for mine - admittedly its older, dont say anything about the wires. Our problems started after our new engine was bolted in our truck and the engine was run at idle a few times to manoeuvre our race truck inside our race shop or when the beast was loaded on or off our race car transporter. But for best spark, have some resistance. The resistance should ALWAYS be measurable, so there is definitely a problem somewhere in the new wires, Champion ends, or the distributor-side wire ends.
Ray I couldnt agree more that you should run resistance in your system - it works better, but it doesnt need to come from the wires.
To prepare the new wires, I cut them to length and stripped about 3/8 to 1/2" of the insulation to leave the carbon core exposed.
(Dont you hate it when one of your mates pops around and solves your 3-month problem in a few seconds)? Resistance should be zero or close to (ie less than 1 ohm there is oxidation that will raise resistance a bit). It would be an idea to check resistance before you assemble wires to the distributor. Scott Bryce - Owner Proformance Motorsport. Here I was sitting at my bench with a super duper brand XXX Plug lead with nothing inside it but what appeared to be a black rubber band and an old MSD lead with multiple layers of insulation, heat proof fibreglass, large conductor core and some sort of tiny copper wire wound tightly around the core. But my guess is the same as @EtypeLvr the range on the ohmmeter needs to be adjusted. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! 4wd trophy truck proformance transfer case, coast drive side ring gear dana 80 ifs dana 60 ifs, ifs irs diff oil cooler oil viscosity ultra 4 rock, narrow ifs differential dana 80 dana 60 ifs profor, turbowerx mini exa oil flow rates failure. At the distributor end of the high tension wire, the stripped core goes through the little copper washer (no soldering) and when you tighten the screw on connector, the brass washer crimps the wire core against the brass piece in the cap. As the electromagnetic field collapses in the coil the voltage at the plug gap rapidly increases to the point where a spark will jump across the gap, sort of like getting the crap shocked out of you after walking across the carpet and touching the door knob (high voltage, low current).
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