How to Change Spark Plug Wires
Spark plug wires, after miles of faithful service, wear out, burn and break. This can cause the voltage to leak before reaching the spark plugs. Without adequate fire to burn the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, engine performance suffers and starting problems begin to show up. However, you can learn how to change spark plug wires using a minimum of tools and a few minutes of your time.1. Removing the spark plug wireFirst, choose a spark plug wire on the engine and grab the wire’s boot with your hand. If it is difficult to reach, use a set of spark-plug wire pliers. Twist the boot back and forth as you disconnect if from the plug. Then, trace the wire towards the other end, unhooking the wire from its clips.When you reach the wire boot on the other end, disconnect it from the distributor or coil pack. If your car uses a distributor, you might need to remove the cap by pressing a latch mechanism on the cap or by unscrewing a couple of mounting bolts with a Phillips-head screwdriver. If your car has adistributorless ignition system(DIS), you can press the retaining clips located on the wire boot to disconnect it from the coil pack tower.Now, with the wire completely removed from the engine, compare its length to the new set until you find one of the same or approximate length. This is the wire you are going to install in its place.2. Installing the new spark plug wiresToinstall the new wire, connect the end of the wire that goes over the distributor or ignition coil, depending on your particular vehicle model. Once you secure that end of the wire, route it around the engine and hold it in place with its corresponding clips. These clips keep the wire away from other electrical wires, moving components, and hot surfaces. Press fit the boot on over the spark plug fitting until it snaps in place. Next, follow the above procedure to replace the rest of the spark plug wires.Always replace these wires one at a time to prevent installing them over the wrong spark plugs. Now that you know how to change spark plug wires, you can help your engine run at optimal performance. Replace your worn out and bad spark plug wires as a car-maintenance project on a Saturday morning in under an hour. You will notice the difference the next time you take your car back on the road.
