One bad plug wire, replace them all?
07-16-2014, 12:49 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
One bad plug wire, replace them all?
I popped my head under the hood the other night. I can see arcing from the #2 plug wire near the distributor cap. The PO's notes show that the wires and cap were replaced in '10. The connectors at the distributor are Beru, but I haven't seen (or really looked for) any other marks to know what the rest of the system is.
Where does 4 years stand in the usual lifespan for plug wires? Replace them all, or just replace the known bad one? The car doesn't seem to be running rough, other than hard warm starts (but I've also got shot intake runner boots..) but I've had it for such a short time that I don't really know whether it could be running better or not.
Oh, I also managed to crack the connector when pulling it off the cap. PET shows the part as 928.602.557.00. 928 Int'l doesn't have that, but rather 928.602.557.01. How do Porsche part numbers work? Does that just mean that it's a revised part with backward compatibility?
And last question, does the pipe organ have to come off to change the plugs and wires? It looks like it does, but I wanted to make sure that it was absolutely needed, since I don't think my plenums are going back on without replacing all the boots now. They're currently being held together with 2 lengths of timing belt clamped to the front and back.... Gotta love those previous owners!
Where does 4 years stand in the usual lifespan for plug wires? Replace them all, or just replace the known bad one? The car doesn't seem to be running rough, other than hard warm starts (but I've also got shot intake runner boots..) but I've had it for such a short time that I don't really know whether it could be running better or not.
Oh, I also managed to crack the connector when pulling it off the cap. PET shows the part as 928.602.557.00. 928 Int'l doesn't have that, but rather 928.602.557.01. How do Porsche part numbers work? Does that just mean that it's a revised part with backward compatibility?
And last question, does the pipe organ have to come off to change the plugs and wires? It looks like it does, but I wanted to make sure that it was absolutely needed, since I don't think my plenums are going back on without replacing all the boots now. They're currently being held together with 2 lengths of timing belt clamped to the front and back.... Gotta love those previous owners!
07-16-2014, 01:44 PM
#2
Nordschleife Master
Jeremy,
I'm an S4 guy, and don't know your cars system very well, so can't advise on your questions.
I will say that arcing from one on a set that is 4 years would lead me to recommend changing the set out at minimum for the investigation.
I'm an S4 guy, and don't know your cars system very well, so can't advise on your questions.
I will say that arcing from one on a set that is 4 years would lead me to recommend changing the set out at minimum for the investigation.
07-16-2014, 04:10 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
A new set should last much longer than 4 years depending on how the car is stored/used, if a car is used on a regular basis the heat from the engine will keep moisture from wicking in.
On the other hand if stored outside and put away wet and not used, moisture tends to speed up corrosion from what I have seen.
Yes the Plenum's (outer intake boxes) need to be removed if you want to gain access to the ignition wires and spark plugs on an 85/86.
Dave K
On the other hand if stored outside and put away wet and not used, moisture tends to speed up corrosion from what I have seen.
Yes the Plenum's (outer intake boxes) need to be removed if you want to gain access to the ignition wires and spark plugs on an 85/86.
Dave K