After my 88 V6 rebuild it had a hesitation under hard acceleration around 3000 rpm, than one day the motor cutout and I had to restart it while coasting down the road, this happed twice early this spring. When cleaning my pretty red Taylor plug wires before a car show I noticed a burn in the one going to the ignition coil where it was crossing over a plug wire, both had a small burn holes in them. Uncrossing them stop the motor from cutting out. I latter than noticed where ever a plug wire crossed another more burn holes and when I rearranged them so they no longer touched the hesitation problem stopped completely.
It now runs like it is on steroids. Maybe after all these years my brain has deteriorated to the point that I did not know better, but I don’t remember plug wires insulation being so weak.
Now that the wires have carbon arch burn traces in them should they be replaced? If so what is a good band of spark plug wires that you guys would suggest of course they have to be red!
With the insulating qualities breached, you may have problems with arching during humid conditions. The wires shouldn't have broken down like that, sounding like it's across the board on all of them. I always try to run my wires parallel to one another, in part for appearance, but sometimes you can't avoid crossing them. I've never had the problem you've described.
Since the Fiero Store is having a 10% off everything sale today I think I will order their set of STI Ignition Wires. Has anyone used these? Maybe Taylor wires are not that good.
I would replace them. If they have arc/ burn marks, you will probably have the issue again soon. I have had great luckk with Summit racing wires. They come in red, and seem to be a good quality wire. The header gaskets blew out on my s10 small block Chevy swap. I thought they were toast. Cleaned them up, inspected and no issues. They are a build your own set. They are around $40 and a great quality wire. Hope this helps Brian
Cross wires, wire near the metal, etc, are not your problem. "Old" or contaminated wires are. Old depends on brand etc. Some last for 10+ years w/ no problem. Other cheap wires "wear out" in a few years, like maybe 1-3y. Good wires can go bad, some very fast, if you spill/spray oil coolant or solvents on the wires.
Replace them. Wet weather and bad wires will cause problems.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
Cross wires, wire near the metal, etc, are not your problem.
The Taylor wires gave me problems from the day I started the engine with the brand new plug wires and it was caused by the wires touching each other. Since I didn't think they were the problem it was over a year before I found they were. I guess I should write Taylor and give them an earful.
I've had el cheapo parts store plug wires go bad and start leaking current after a couple months. Ironically, I resolved that problem by switching to Taylor plug wires.
That said, even the best spark plug wires can go bad if they're rubbing on something. That includes rubbing on each other. So if you have two or more spark plug wires in close proximity, "immobilize" them with plug wire separators, or zip ties, etc.
[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 09-16-2015).]
I guess plug wires can't touch each other at all because they caused problems the first time I drove it after they were installed and it was not caused by them rubbing. I am now trying to figure out ho not let them touch any metal objects in the engine bay at all because that may cause problems too.
Taylor makes pretty high quality wires - not "the best" but certainly better than most. Sounds like you got a bad set - I would call them and ask them for a replacement.
I would not buy STI wires. They are not the worst, but no better than various parts store brands at a higher price.
I've had the STI wires from The Fiero Store on my 84 for around ten years. Even though I have an MSD GM Blaster coil and 6A box they still work just fine. I have a couple of other sets ready to replace them, but I can't see changing them out for no reason.
[This message has been edited by johnt671 (edited 09-16-2015).]
to the point that I did not know better, but I don’t remember plug wires insulation being so weak.
