3rd plug wire set in 2 years

[SeanMc]

What would cause wires to keep going out? It's not brand specific, I've had Motorcraft, Taylor, and what's on there now, Federal Mogul. Why?

 

[Toolman]

What makes you think they are 'going out'? I have 60k miles (lots of heat abuse with the turbo car) on my Magnecores. They are getting retired today and replaced, but they lasted and lasted for years.

 

[SeanMc]

After doing a cylinder balance test, which showed a problem with 1 and 6, I looked under the hood, and there was a light show.

 

[zak]

Slightly leaky plug well seals, leaking enough oil to cause an arc or short.
Using too tall of a plug, allowing water or grime to get into the plug well.
COuple of thoughts for you - zak

 

[SeanMc]

Bone dry in the plug wells. The arcing is up near the cam lumps in on the valve covers for the front head, and I could only see flashes coming from the rear.

 

[dantheman68]

do you play jumprope with your wires before you put them in?


do you take them on and off alot? like do you check the condtition of your plugs? maybe repeated removing of the wires ruins them mine broke when i tried to take one of the back ones off (dude before me shoulda used dielectric) but this was all in the well, not the actual wire... sounds kinda like tough luck

 

[SeanMc]

Nope, I don't.

 

[SHORANGERBIRD]

-aftermkt brands i could understand, you get what you pay for, but i use and have seen at least 10-15 sets of ford wires and NEVER seen a comeback for them unless they were like 20 years old....got me.

 

[SeanMc]

And sometimes you pay just as much for aftermarket as you do for Motorcraft. I guess I'll just go with the originals.

 

[CerberuS]

accels?

 

[SeanMc]

Necroposting in my own thread

Well, guess what? 25k, and less than 2 years (I don't drive much), and my plug wires are arcing again. I kept hearing a hollow knocking noise in the rear, so I opened my hood at about 10pm last night, and it looked like the electric light parade. When the knock would happen, is when I would see flashes of light. I know my valve cover bolt seals are leaking, so I'm wondering if this would this cause premature wear on the wires? Wires are Taylor 8.2s.

 

[AREA 91]

Well, guess what? 25k, and less than 2 years (I don't drive much), and my plug wires are arcing again. I kept hearing a hollow knocking noise in the rear, so I opened my hood at about 10pm last night, and it looked like the electric light parade. When the knock would happen, is when I would see flashes of light. I know my valve cover bolt seals are leaking, so I'm wondering if this would this cause premature wear on the wires? Wires are Taylor 8.2s.

Strange. I'd start wrapping the wire's where they are arching.

 

[luigisho]

That's very strange to go through that many wire sets. Maybe there is something else faulty in the ignition system? Too much voltage somehow?

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Checked the plugs yet?

 

[SeanMc]

Not Yet, But When It's Not Knocking, There Isn't Any Light Show.

 

[89 black SHO mtx]

Do you still have the wire holders on there? Sounds like they are moving around and wearing down maybe? Definately check your plugs out. Loosing spark to them like that will cause problems.

 

[SeanMc]

Do you still have the wire holders on there? Sounds like they are moving around and wearing down maybe? Definately check your plugs out. Loosing spark to them like that will cause problems.

I do. The arching seemed to stop yesterday as the weather warmed up (it was in the 90s). Drove over 150 miles yesterday, and got incredible gas mileage. Just seems to happen when there is a bit of moisture in the air. Think I'll wrap them like Brian suggested. Now, where do they sell this wrap?