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Old 05-13-2002, 03:10 PM   #1
Rusty the Scoob
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Default When to change spark plug wires?

Quick question... how do you know when to change your spark plug wires? Is there a certain resistance measurement on an Ohmmeter? Something physical I should look for?

Also, tonight I'm doing as much routine maintance as I can on my exwifey's 94 impreza L (130K Mi) before she moves with it to NYC where repairs will cost an arm and a leg. I'm planning to do spark plugs, brake pads, oil change, fuel filter, rotate tires, etc. Anything else anybody can suggest I should do?

Thanks!
RTS
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Old 05-13-2002, 11:07 PM   #2
BryonMorton
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Default in response

i replace my plug wires every 5000 miles every time i get my tires balenced and roteted replace the air filter as well.
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Old 05-13-2002, 11:12 PM   #3
newbie sewbie
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damn.......evey 5k? you either got lots of cash or just luv ur car way too much..............but anyway, as for the resistance you should be getting...........i believe it should be 500 ohm per foot. or you could just go w/the manual recommendation.......as for other maintaince......go to a dealer and pick up a schedule maintance........it'll list everything you need to do
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Old 05-13-2002, 11:21 PM   #4
Jademonkey
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?!?! You're wasting money changing your wires that often. Maybe you meant plugs? Filter too after 5k? Get a K&N...those last forever and flow more air too. The ohms are a bit higher than 500/ft. I'd go ahead and change them every 30k miles afterwards. That's what I have done on every car I've owned.
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Old 05-13-2002, 11:24 PM   #5
BryonMorton
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Default they only cost

they only cost 24 dollars for a set of wires and i just want to keep it running for as long as i can.
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Old 05-14-2002, 01:06 AM   #6
Jademonkey
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I would bet there is absoluetely no difference between wires you swap out at 5000 miles and the wires you put in your car. $24 extra per oil change...that's a waste of money. Spend that extra money and get some good oil, like amsoil or redline, and a k&n filter. That would do so much more for you car than changing plug wires every 5000 miles. Or buy a set of magnecor's.
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Old 05-14-2002, 10:06 AM   #7
Jon [in CT]
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The info below is applicable to a 2002 2.5L engine, not a 1995 2.2L. But it still might be useful.
Attached Images
File Type: gif sparkplugcord.gif (13.9 KB, 276 views)
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Old 05-14-2002, 10:58 PM   #8
erice1984
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hey man where did u find that pic? that is cool...

-ERIC
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Old 05-15-2002, 09:38 AM   #9
Bimmer
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Default Re: in response

Quote:
Originally posted by BryonMorton
i replace my plug wires every 5000 miles every time i get my tires balenced and roteted replace the air filter as well.
A fool and his money are lucky to get together in the first place...

Really, this might still be cheaper than a hooker every 5,000 miles, but don't pretend like this maintenance fetish is doing your car any good... If you have an irresistable urge to do this, then keep two sets of plug wires and two air filters and just swap them in and out them every 5,000 miles... LOL.

Ben
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Old 05-15-2002, 05:38 PM   #10
Siper2
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jademonkey
Or buy a set of magnecor's.
Well... that's a subjective matter, too. Going theory is that "upgraded" wires won't do a lick of good (at least on most cars... maybe super-high performance situations matter).

Same argument as Monster Cable for a car. It's a huge ripoff, they have the market cornered. Just good advertising and scare tactics. Truth be told, blind sound tests show no improvement between bought-from-the-spool, cheap Home Depot/Radio Shack speaker wire and something like Monster/Kimber Kable/ etc.

So long as you have the proper GAUGE (thickness), the rest is irrelevant.

While all the principles surely don't apply to cars and sparkplug wires, it's still just wiring, still just electrical connectivity, so ... I can see why the argument's out there.

Up to the buyer.

-S2-
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Old 05-15-2002, 06:28 PM   #11
Jademonkey
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I have a set, and the only reason I got them, wasn't for performance, but it was so I wouldn't ever have to buy another set of wires. I know any performance gains (if any) are very slight. The only tests I did for myself, was test resistance of the wire when brought up to engine temps. The resist of the stock wires almost tripled, and the magnecores stayed the same...only going up a few hundres ohms.
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Old 05-17-2002, 04:15 PM   #12
linsavy
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Replacing wires that are not obviously deteriorated is a waste. I had the original skinny wires on my 11 year Toyota with 0 ignition trouble. Started like a dream, no RF noise and performed great.
Maybe replace them at 5 years, but no way with oil changes.
Magnacores are good. They do not claim any performance improvement. They just state that they are high quality and will not be problem like some bargain wires. You can find them on-line for $60. For some cars it may give 1 or 2 hp. Supposedly Subaru wire and ignition is high quality and you will get no performance gain from just wires.
As for the '94, if they look ok and are still flexible, just leave them until they do break. Save your money for the next real repair like the brakes, rad or a/c.

PS Spend the wire money on changing the tranny, diff and rad fluid instead.
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