Ignition Wire Replacement

My 1991 Civic's OEM ignition wires are now five years and
66k miles old. The 1991 owner's manual replacement interval
is four years/60k miles. Tegger says he does his on his 1991
Integra at five years, period, though he lives in a northern
climate in Canada (and I like what he says about ignition
components). I live "out west" where in summer it's kinda
hot, and for nine months of the year it's pretty darn warm.
I would think the higher heat where I live would argue for
more frequent replacement than Tegger's schedule.

The following has been on my mind:

I check the wires' resistances once a year. The resistances
haven't moved since purchase. I wash the wires off with
water about twice a year. They do get pretty dusty. My 1991
Honda continues to get great fuel mileage, continuing to
average about 40 mpg around town even in winter. Last summer
on a 1000 mile highway trip, the car got 45 mpg.

Is there anything undetectable, so to speak, that could be
going on with my Honda's ignition wires that would warrant
replacing them a.s.a.p.? Or could I go another year without
replacing them?

I also remember reading here that ignition wires made today
(or thereabouts) last a lot longer than those made in 1991.
Comments?

 

=====================================

My oldest Honda is a '97, and I think handling them more than necessary
is a bad thing since it's the copper connectors that get pulled apart
from the wire, or loose their 'grip' from being yanked about. As long as
they are OEM wires I'd think you can go almost forever on them. Wiping
them down with some silicone might not be a bad idea just to keep them
supple and clean, but other than that, do (newer) Honda wires ever go
'bad' ? ?

'Curly'

 

=====================================

My oldest Honda is a '97, and I think handling them more than necessary
is a bad thing since it's the copper connectors that get pulled apart
from the wire, or loose their 'grip' from being yanked about. As long as
they are OEM wires I'd think you can go almost forever on them. Wiping
them down with some silicone might not be a bad idea just to keep them
supple and clean, but other than that, do (newer) Honda wires ever go
'bad' ? ?

'Curly'

 

resistance is no indication of h.v. leakage. just like a coil can test
"ok" for resistance, but spark internally to earth at high voltage.

if they're working for you, i see no reason not to continue using them,
but personally, i'd replace them.

that may be the case, but i can't say i know that to be fact. i use
coiled core leads on both my civic and crx - they're noticeably better
in both cases across all conditions. i wouldn't go back to traditional
oem polymer core leads.

 

resistance is no indication of h.v. leakage. just like a coil can test
"ok" for resistance, but spark internally to earth at high voltage.

if they're working for you, i see no reason not to continue using them,
but personally, i'd replace them.

that may be the case, but i can't say i know that to be fact. i use
coiled core leads on both my civic and crx - they're noticeably better
in both cases across all conditions. i wouldn't go back to traditional
oem polymer core leads.

 

Best to leave sleeping dogs alone. You'll get symptoms when the wires
need replacing...

JT

(Don't spend more than you hafta...)

 

Best to leave sleeping dogs alone. You'll get symptoms when the wires
need replacing...

JT

(Don't spend more than you hafta...)

 

plug leads don't have copper conductors any more. most use a conductive
elastomer core, the so-called "high resistance" leads. higher quality
leads use a coiled [stainless] wire core.

 

plug leads don't have copper conductors any more. most use a conductive
elastomer core, the so-called "high resistance" leads. higher quality
leads use a coiled [stainless] wire core.

 

I would think insulation breakdown would be the primary failure mode(for
age),followed by broken connections at either of the ends where they plug
into/onto something,and people pull on them.

 

if it works, don't fix it

 

if it works, don't fix it

 

Using Honda OEM wires, this shop recommends a replacement interval of
120,000 miles or 10 years.

http://www.high-road.com/maintenance/maintenance.htm

Eric

 

Maybe not. Other than from unusual physical trauma, OEM ignition wires fail
primarily due to insulation breakdown. This is impossible to measure with a
multimeter.

If your area experiences very high summer heat, I suppose that may
contribute to insulation breakdown.

Could be. I'd be willing to guess the insulating polymers are probably more
robust than those available 16 years ago.

If you get a good strong spark at the plugs, and you never have signs of
weaker starting when the weather is very wet and the car is cold, your
wires are almost certainly just fine.

I've personally found that wires tend to start leaking current once they
get past seven years of age. You can tell leakage easily: Engine running,
wires soaking wet, grab a wire with your hand. No shock? It's fine. Get a
tickle? It's failing. Get a jolt? It's gone.

 

Maybe not. Other than from unusual physical trauma, OEM ignition wires fail
primarily due to insulation breakdown. This is impossible to measure with a
multimeter.

If your area experiences very high summer heat, I suppose that may
contribute to insulation breakdown.

Could be. I'd be willing to guess the insulating polymers are probably more
robust than those available 16 years ago.

If you get a good strong spark at the plugs, and you never have signs of
weaker starting when the weather is very wet and the car is cold, your
wires are almost certainly just fine.

I've personally found that wires tend to start leaking current once they
get past seven years of age. You can tell leakage easily: Engine running,
wires soaking wet, grab a wire with your hand. No shock? It's fine. Get a
tickle? It's failing. Get a jolt? It's gone.

 

I think I'd rather brush a knuckle against the wire than grab it.
Then if you get zapped,you inherently pull away instead of latching on to
the wire.

It's Good SOP for any electrical work.(one-hand rule)

 

Just to add... If you look under hood when the engine is cold and
it's dark, can you see any sparks coming off the surface of the wires
with the engine just started?
They will be pretty faint and difficult to see but will indicate that the
insulation
is failing. It's less painful than John's method above but not as
definitive.
Otherwise I'd continue to use them.

 

Just to add... If you look under hood when the engine is cold and
it's dark, can you see any sparks coming off the surface of the wires
with the engine just started?
They will be pretty faint and difficult to see but will indicate that the
insulation
is failing. It's less painful than John's method above but not as
definitive.
Otherwise I'd continue to use them.

 

Thanks for sharing your experiences, Curly, JBeam, JT (=
Grumpy AC), AZ Nomad, Eric, Tegger, and JYanik. I am going
to hold off. I will continue to also use the checks Tegger
describes, and on which some others of you touch, regarding
looking for leakage when the engine is running.

Eric, I read the background of the Honda/Toyota garage whose
site you linked and studied its maintenance matrix.
Interesting indeed. I am not wild abou the oil change
interval (but let's leave that out of this thread,
controversial as this subject always is!). Everything else
looks pretty consistent with my own feelings and/or
conventional wisdom here. I have bookmarked the site.

I am going to hold off on replacing the wires for at least
another year or until I see some symptoms, as you all
suggest. At about $40 (online OEM sites) per set, and with
the life of the car maybe not "five years more(!)" anyway, I
think it pays to wait. I hear you, JT!

As always, wonderful group, with great community service by
all the regulars here in particular.

 

Thanks for sharing your experiences, Curly, JBeam, JT (=
Grumpy AC), AZ Nomad, Eric, Tegger, and JYanik. I am going
to hold off. I will continue to also use the checks Tegger
describes, and on which some others of you touch, regarding
looking for leakage when the engine is running.

Eric, I read the background of the Honda/Toyota garage whose
site you linked and studied its maintenance matrix.
Interesting indeed. I am not wild abou the oil change
interval (but let's leave that out of this thread,
controversial as this subject always is!). Everything else
looks pretty consistent with my own feelings and/or
conventional wisdom here. I have bookmarked the site.

I am going to hold off on replacing the wires for at least
another year or until I see some symptoms, as you all
suggest. At about $40 (online OEM sites) per set, and with
the life of the car maybe not "five years more(!)" anyway, I
think it pays to wait. I hear you, JT!

As always, wonderful group, with great community service by
all the regulars here in particular.