Plug Wire Question

[Nick S]

I'm putting on new plug wires and the wire for the 8th plug won't snap tightly onto the plug. So, being tired and stupid, I squeezed the boot with pliers to try and make the metal connection fit more snugly on the plug. Well, in doing this, I made a slight cut in the boot. It doesn't go all the way through the boot. Should I put it on the car still, or is it compromised now and I should put on the old wire?

Thank you for your opinion.

Nick

 

[NT Vettman]

Try it. If the cut isn't fully thru then there is still good insulation. Even if it did you wouldn't see a problem unless it was real damp and wet or if the cut was very close to a shield or the manifold.

 

[Moonunit 451]

Open the hood and run it in the dark, you'll have your answer. Even if it doesn't arc now it may be prone to failure earlier than the other wires.

 

[I_R_DA_ONE]

Don't forget to unhook the hood lamps at night so you can see the sparks if there is any..
Mike R

 

[Nick S]

Well, I put it on and just started the car. Everything seems to be ok. I looked at it in the dark and I could not see any arcing. You know, it is easy to change the plugs on the car, but the plug wires are a pain in the neck. I ended up leaving the original plug wires on the driver side and changed the ones on the passenger side. I mean, who designed this engine ... Satan? Who puts a distributor behind pulleys and under a water pump? At least on the passenger side I could get a hold of the plug wires and get them off the distributor easily. I tried for a while on the driver side but heck, I could not even see what I was pulling on. Oh well, enough venting. Now I have to go clean up. By the way, 58,000 miles and original plugs and wires were on the car. I just bought the car in December.