Plug Wires touching

95stang50 · 07-20-2002, 04:28 PM

My car started running really rough and the guy at the shop i brought it to said it was because it was miss firing. He also said it was because some of the wires could have been touching eachother. But when i went to seperate them i found the #3 plug wire was burnt from my header. Does it really matter if the wires touch one another?

PKRWUD · 07-20-2002, 04:36 PM

YES!!!

That is one of Fords biggest mistakes. The firing orders available for their V8 engines both have sequentially fired cylinders that are next to each other on the same bank, which means they are more likely to have a misfire if the wires are touching. Specifically, wires #5 & #6 on the HO engines and the 351's, and wires #7 & #8 on the non-HO engines.

Take care,
-Chris

SCOTTLT79 · 07-20-2002, 04:45 PM

What about the 9mm wires? I've heard that they have a little more protection around them so its not as big of a deal if they are touching.

PKRWUD · 07-20-2002, 04:48 PM

How hard is it to install a $3 set of separators?

I don't care if they are 20mm wires. Separate them. Besides, it looks SO MUCH BETTER anyway.

But hey, it's your engine.

Take care,
-Chris

RdRunnr · 07-20-2002, 10:45 PM

#3 is the most typical to burn, especially with MAC equals. If it burnt once, it will probably burn again. I suggest you get yourself some spark plug boot protectors. These should protect them from burning again.

95stang50 · 07-20-2002, 11:05 PM

I have seperators and 9mm wires but there are still places where two wires can come in contact. Thanks for everyones help.

HotRoddin · 07-20-2002, 11:26 PM

Its not so much that they touch, its when they run parallel with each other for a long distance .... when they do, high voltage flowing through one can induce current flow in the one running along side it, if theyare close enough together for a long enough distance ... like pkrwud says if that occurs with two cylinders that fire close together you can have problems. Put a seperator on them and keep them apart. I put the # 7 wire on one side of the seperator and the # 8 on the opposite side to keep them as far apart as i can.
Some basic electronics in a nutshell ... if you run wires, especially high voltage wires side by side, close together for a long distance, current flow in one will cause current flow in the other, insulated or not.

95mustanggt · 07-21-2002, 07:01 AM

I had trouble separating mine at first too. But then I just took them all off and installed them one at a time, planning where my separator was going to be most effective and how I could run each wire so it didn't touch. Now it looks good and I don't have to worry about it as a source of detonation and they look better!

07-20-2002, 04:28 PM	#1
95stang50 Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Wellesley Ma Posts: 23	Plug Wires touching My car started running really rough and the guy at the shop i brought it to said it was because it was miss firing. He also said it was because some of the wires could have been touching eachother. But when i went to seperate them i found the #3 plug wire was burnt from my header. Does it really matter if the wires touch one another?

07-20-2002, 04:36 PM	#2
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	YES!!! That is one of Fords biggest mistakes. The firing orders available for their V8 engines both have sequentially fired cylinders that are next to each other on the same bank, which means they are more likely to have a misfire if the wires are touching. Specifically, wires #5 & #6 on the HO engines and the 351's, and wires #7 & #8 on the non-HO engines. Take care, -Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

07-20-2002, 04:48 PM	#4
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	How hard is it to install a $3 set of separators? I don't care if they are 20mm wires. Separate them. Besides, it looks SO MUCH BETTER anyway. But hey, it's your engine. Take care, -Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

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07-20-2002, 04:45 PM	#3
SCOTTLT79 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Raynham, Ma, USA Posts: 189	What about the 9mm wires? I've heard that they have a little more protection around them so its not as big of a deal if they are touching. __________________ 95 Red Mustang GT Pro 5.0, MAC fenderwall cold air induction kit, BBK Off-Road H-pipe with Magnaflow cat-back system Mostly stock(looking to modify) Rice Haters Club Member #63

07-20-2002, 10:45 PM	#5
RdRunnr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Newark,DE Posts: 98	#3 is the most typical to burn, especially with MAC equals. If it burnt once, it will probably burn again. I suggest you get yourself some spark plug boot protectors. These should protect them from burning again. __________________ Eric 1990 Mustang GT 10.46 @130.97 ClickClickracing Forums

07-20-2002, 11:05 PM	#6
95stang50 Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Wellesley Ma Posts: 23	I have seperators and 9mm wires but there are still places where two wires can come in contact. Thanks for everyones help.

07-20-2002, 11:26 PM	#7
HotRoddin cranky old man Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Longview Texas Posts: 683	Its not so much that they touch, its when they run parallel with each other for a long distance .... when they do, high voltage flowing through one can induce current flow in the one running along side it, if theyare close enough together for a long enough distance ... like pkrwud says if that occurs with two cylinders that fire close together you can have problems. Put a seperator on them and keep them apart. I put the # 7 wire on one side of the seperator and the # 8 on the opposite side to keep them as far apart as i can. Some basic electronics in a nutshell ... if you run wires, especially high voltage wires side by side, close together for a long distance, current flow in one will cause current flow in the other, insulated or not.

07-21-2002, 07:01 AM	#8
95mustanggt Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Kamloops, BC Posts: 2,875	I had trouble separating mine at first too. But then I just took them all off and installed them one at a time, planning where my separator was going to be most effective and how I could run each wire so it didn't touch. Now it looks good and I don't have to worry about it as a source of detonation and they look better! __________________ 1995 Mustang GT 20016 F150 Lariat Super Crew