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Old 01-14-2004, 04:55 PM   #1
soccer_freak_m@hotma
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Question Spark plugs and wires

So here I am. I need a new ignition coil, wires, and I might as well change the plugs while I'm in there.

I am getting the coil from the dealer under warranty, so they are putting that in.

I am getting new wires because they are not covered. What brands are good and is silicone better than stock (copper I am assuming)?

As to plugs I bought NGK Irid.s and it says not to gap them. So who do I believe? Book or NGK?

I looked around and couldn't find anything on this subject so help would be great. PLease?
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Old 01-14-2004, 06:03 PM   #2
Subie Gal
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i run OE as my engine/internals are not modified.

why spend extra $$ on something that is not going to help your car... (bling factor?!?) when you can get a set of OE wires MADE SPECIFICALLY for your Subaru for about $30??

i use OE coil/plugs and wires as it makes sense to do so.

spend the $ saved on other 'better' mods.

cheers
Jamie
www.subiegal.com
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Old 01-14-2004, 06:11 PM   #3
soccer_freak_m@hotma
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One problem there Gal...

Up here in the great white north it costs 120 bucks for the OE wires. I know the exchange is bad... but not THAT bad. I can get a set of lite something or other (basicly bosch) for 95 or I can get specially made ones for about 110. Other than that I'm stuck ordering from the US, and that will cost anywhere from 90-300 bucks anyway. 300 bucks being for from a site I wouldn't trust anyway.
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Old 01-14-2004, 06:19 PM   #4
DrBoy01
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I really would stick with the stock wires if at all possible. Aftermarket wires like the Magnacores have a long history of problems with the 2.5 RS and there are very few enthusiasts that I know of who have them and have not had at least infrequent trouble with them popping off, causing misfires, etc.

I would stick to what NGK says about the spark plugs, after all, they make them. Let's say that you buy a set of the Iridiums for the 2.5 RS-- they should come pre-gapped and should work right out of the box and you should not have to gap them again. However, it wouldn't hurt to double check what NGK says the gap is to make sure that it fits the stock specs.
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Old 01-14-2004, 06:22 PM   #5
soccer_freak_m@hotma
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I know they have that sort of history. If I stuck with the same brand as my plugs, shouldn't it work properly. I'd assume so since I'd assume that they'd test it on their own products and not the stock products. I may get them custom made and that would save me 10$. I don't have a lot of money, and therefor need cheaper alternatives.


Quote:
Originally posted by DrBoy01
I really would stick with the stock wires if at all possible. Aftermarket wires like the Magnacores have a long history of problems with the 2.5 RS and there are very few enthusiasts that I know of who have them and have not had at least infrequent trouble with them popping off, causing misfires, etc.

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Old 01-14-2004, 07:11 PM   #6
Subie Gal
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Quote:
Originally posted by soccer_freak_m@hotma
One problem there Gal...

Up here in the great white north it costs 120 bucks for the OE wires.
i dunno what the "problem is when you can buy them on line from nearly any vendor on this site? and most ship to canada no worries...

OE wire sets here for example



....better than $110 for some aftermarket junk that you'll be replacing in a few months as they keep popping off your coil pack


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Old 01-14-2004, 08:34 PM   #7
Penphoe
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Ah, but being from Canada, we have to deal with the exchange rate (which isn't that bad right now), then shipping, and then duty, and then our lovely taxes on top of that!!!

Sometimes what's a steal in the states, becomes a nightmare when it gets shipped up to Canada.

LaterZ!
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Old 01-15-2004, 01:43 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally posted by Penphoe
Ah, but being from Canada, we have to deal with the exchange rate (which isn't that bad right now), then shipping, and then duty, and then our lovely taxes on top of that!!!

Sometimes what's a steal in the states, becomes a nightmare when it gets shipped up to Canada.

LaterZ!
Darren!!
I COMPLETELY agree! How do you know what you're getting. I like to see and feel what I'm getting. Don't get me wrong I will order from he US and have done so several times, but I feel more secure knowing that what I'm buying is what I'm seeing. Who knows if an online company will ship you the right part.

On that note - Any thoughts on Silicone wires? Worth it or not?
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Old 01-15-2004, 07:05 AM   #9
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For plugs & NGK wires, Canada has its own and very best clubplug.net.
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Old 01-15-2004, 07:12 AM   #10
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You could get some MSD wire and do what someone did on Scooby Mods by making your own wires. I forget the total cost though.


Bosch makes a decent wire, so does AC DELCO (the orange ones) and of course the OEMs are nice as well.
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Old 01-15-2004, 07:38 AM   #11
GQ
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"On that note - Any thoughts on Silicone wires? Worth it or not?"

The OE wires for the Subaru are silicon.
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Old 01-15-2004, 10:41 AM   #12
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I think you can trust Jamie. Not like you can't find a place to bitch at her if something goes wrong, and not like she won't make it right.

As for seeing what you're getting, if you get stock replacement stuff, look at the ones you have. Imagine them without dirt on them and, voila, you see what you get!
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Old 01-15-2004, 11:33 AM   #13
Subie Gal
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Quote:
Originally posted by C-daleRidr
I think you can trust Jamie. Not like you can't find a place to bitch at her if something goes wrong, and not like she won't make it right.


so true.....

Jamie
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Old 01-15-2004, 12:28 PM   #14
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Well after all this talk, I'm wondering...

Just because the dealer says they need to be replaced, do they????

The mechanic only looked at the posts on the coil. I'm assuming that he assumed that the wires are bad too. Is there an easy check if the wires need to be replaced?

Also, lately I've noticed that if I let my revs get even close to 3500 the cockpit starts stinking like somethings burning. I did smell fuel the other day too. I don't have a CEL at all, and the car seems to work fine other than gas mileage being off. Quarter tank for about 60miles (100KMs) seems a little off. I'm pretty sure it should be more than that. I'm not driving it hard other than the ocassional burst when some moron is tailgating. I have a CAI and I know my O2 sensor is good cuz I made him check it when I had it in to look at the coil. Any thoughts people? I am changing my plugs after I get the car back from the coil swap.
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Old 01-15-2004, 12:55 PM   #15
C-daleRidr
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You can test the wires. Procedure's in the service manuals. Don't have it handy, though.
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Old 01-15-2004, 12:55 PM   #16
Subie Gal
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it's always a good idea to replace the wires
when you replace coil/plugs

not a NECESSITY per se...
but it sure is the smart thing to do...

example?
#3 coil was looking pretty corroded
i cleaned (wire brushed) it thoroughly,
replaced wire #3...
and the issue has not resurfaced.

just a good idea to keep it all on an even par

if you replace one, why not replace the others as well?

cheers
Jamie
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Old 01-15-2004, 12:58 PM   #17
C-daleRidr
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Hey Jamie, you have a PM on the way. SImilar topic to this.
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Old 01-15-2004, 03:15 PM   #18
soccer_freak_m@hotma
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Quote:
Originally posted by Subie Gal
it's always a good idea to replace the wires
when you replace coil/plugs

not a NECESSITY per se...
but it sure is the smart thing to do...

example?
#3 coil was looking pretty corroded
i cleaned (wire brushed) it thoroughly,
replaced wire #3...
and the issue has not resurfaced.

just a good idea to keep it all on an even par

if you replace one, why not replace the others as well?

cheers
Jamie
www.subiegal.com
Now we're on the same page. That's why I bought plugs and that's why I'd like to get my hands on some good wires.

So with that being said... I'm told that the stock wires ARE silicone. Aren't silicone good for life? I think I read that somewhere in the forum. Someone said that they've had the same wires on their car for 3 1/2 years. Is that right? If so, I shouldn't NEED to change the wires. I want to becuase I would like brand new nice shiny blue ones but if I don't need to fork the cash... then why?

Basicly I'd like the wires but I don't wanna fork over $100+ that doesn't need to be changed.

Last edited by soccer_freak_m@hotma; 01-16-2004 at 11:28 AM.
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Old 01-16-2004, 03:13 PM   #19
soccer_freak_m@hotma
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Angry

GREAT! (I'm adding this a couple days later) NOW the stupid dealer is telling me that the warranty is NOT going to cover my ignition coil. Total BS if you ask me. I need somewhere to get a coil for under 300$ Canadian. Any helpers?

Also I checked the wires and Number 2 (if I remember correctly) is bad. So it looks like I will have to change them anyway.
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Old 01-16-2004, 03:34 PM   #20
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hello again

we can get you your coil for $128.50 USD
(99 RS) - which is about??? $170 Canadian?

wires are $29 for the set of 4

and we can ship via US Postal to save customs/shipping fees

just contact me to order as the coil pack
is not in our on line store at this time.

cheers
Jamie
www.allsubaru.com || www.subiegal.com
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Old 01-16-2004, 03:47 PM   #21
soccer_freak_m@hotma
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I'm assuming that the coil is OEM? MSD? I dont' know. Honestly I'm so confused right now. I have someone telling me MSD is same as OEM and then I have another guy saying that MSD is better than OEM. I don't know. This is honestly my first car and I haven't even had it for 3 months yet.

The wires are Prestolites? Bosch?

I'll probably end up buying at least the coil from you.
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Old 01-16-2004, 04:05 PM   #22
C-daleRidr
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It just keeps getting more confusing as you go!
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Old 01-17-2004, 06:21 AM   #23
moogoob
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Quote:
Originally posted by DrBoy01
I really would stick with the stock wires if at all possible. Aftermarket wires like the Magnacores have a long history of problems with the 2.5 RS and there are very few enthusiasts that I know of who have them and have not had at least infrequent trouble with them popping off, causing misfires, etc.
never had any trouble with my magnacors.
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Old 01-17-2004, 03:03 PM   #24
Patrick Olsen
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Soccer_freak, I don't know of any manufacturer that makes a replacement coil pack for Subarus. MSD makes a replacement distributor-less ignition (the MSD DIS-2 I think it's called), but that's not what you want or need - it's way more expensive, and it's way overkill for a stock engine. The general consensus here seems to be that the stock ignition system is pretty stout, so just using OEM components is fine.

I'm sure the parts Subie Gal is offering you are OEM.

Now, what's the story with the dealer? Why did they originally tell you the coil pack would be covered under warranty and then change their mind? One thing you need to learn about cars is Don't let the dealer screw with you!

Pat Olsen
'97 Legacy 2.5GT sedan
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Old 01-17-2004, 03:13 PM   #25
soccer_freak_m@hotma
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Have a Nice Day?

well I guess I should update what's going on.

I told them to change the plugs to the new ones I bought and told them to leave everything else.

I found a place here that I could get some OEM wires for 77 bucks in stock(Canadian of course). I installed those and when I pulled off the old wires the dealer had actually gone ahead and cleaned and put the silicone on the posts of the ignition coil. When I pulled out the number 2 wire the metal piece inside the boot actually stayed ON the plug. Problem??? I THINK SO! So I replaced all the wires and fired her up. She's running completely perfect and I think the dealer was just messing with me on the coil thing.

Can't trust a mechanic's word sometimes I guess.
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