Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 09:33:50 -0800
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@HOME.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@HOME.COM>
Subject: Re: Is the length of a Spark Plug wire critical?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
No. Resistance will increase with length but your fix is
insignificant. The metal spark plug connectors provide the necessary
resistance for this ignition system, not the length of the wire.
Pulling off these connections is pretty common, especially if there is
any corrosion in the cap. I've also ruined these wires pulling them off
the plugs and ripping the rubber insert when it glues itself to the
plug. I now coat the plugs with a little silicone grease.
"Joe L." wrote:
>
> Spent $50+ on a set of Bosch spark Plug wires a few years ago. Last week
> the distributor side metal connector came off when I was removing it.
> Looking through the "Lifetime Warranty" I found that the first requirement
> was that I spend another $50+ on a new set then send the old set to Bosch
> and wait with fingers crossed while they decide whether or not to give me a
> refund. Deciding to fix it myself (as Bosch likely intended I decide) I
> snipped off the mangled portion of the wire (about an inch) and crimped the
> old connector back on. I plugged it back in and it seems to be working fine.
> BUT....
> I have done some fooling around with things electronic and I know that
> there are some applications where (for wierd electronic reasons) the length
> of a wire is critical in the sense that the length of a radio antenna is
> critical (EXACTLY "X" length for "this" frequency, EXACTLY "Y" length for
> "that" frequency. No more and no less.). "Wrong" lengths will work but not
> as well as correct lengths because the voltage phase is out of synch with
> the current phase and feedback from the gizmo will fubar the Benzer which in
> turn will cause the resonance of .........
> I have no idea if any of this applies to spark plug wires and things do
> seem to be working fine but I just thought I would ask the Gurus out there.
--
Stuart MacMillan
Seattle
'84 Vanagon Westfalia w/2.1
'65 MGB (Daily driver since 1969)
'74 MGB GT (Restoring sloooowly)
Assisting on Restoration (and spending OPM):
'72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
'64 MGB (Son's)
Stripped and gone but their parts live on:
'68 MGB, '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT
