C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

89 - cooked wires

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Old Aug 19, 2006 | 08:17 PM
  #1  
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Default 89 - cooked wires

Lately she just seems to run like crap sometimes.

Im pretty sure its the wires. They get cooked down unitil they short on the exhaust, wherever they may be touching it.

Any ideas?

I need new, better wires that wont go up in smoke and maybe some heat protection / sleeves for the wires to keep them from melting again.

Thanks in advance...
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Old Aug 19, 2006 | 11:18 PM
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you seem to have asked and answered your own question...

I would suggest either Taylor or MSD. Taylor does sell a fibreglass heat sock for the plug ends. They will work with most any brand of wire.

I assume you have headers?
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Old Aug 19, 2006 | 11:35 PM
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I have headers and i'm using the factory looms and wires. No problems here.
Whats your story
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Old Aug 19, 2006 | 11:44 PM
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No headers. Car is completely stock. Not even an intake.

I have Taylor 8mm red wires. I'm on my second pair in a year. If the wire touches the exhaust anyplace though, it burns right through the red outer wire coat, and through the white inner "filler"

Plug ends seem to be ok. They aren't touching anything.

Think I got an exhaust leak on one side thats roasting stuff?
Seems to be worse on one side then the other, but it could be just that the passenger side is so congested.
Cars been fine for 16 years, something must have changed.
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Old Aug 20, 2006 | 02:55 AM
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you could have a clogged pre-cat.... overheating the manifold. or it could be running a bit fat on that side...
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Old Aug 20, 2006 | 09:53 AM
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cats clogged several years ago.
I dont think it has them any more.
Just one cat in the middle.

What would cause it to run fat on one side? Bad injectors?
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Old Aug 20, 2006 | 10:08 AM
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Try some zip ties or the original plug wire holders that mount to the valve covers. My 86 has 8mm AC Delco wires and stock exhaust manifolds and no problems. My plug wire holders broke, so I just used zip ties to hold them in a certain position...for now.

Injectors stuck open, bad spark plugs, faulty O2 sensor (left exhaust), ECM fuel command too high for various reasons. '89 is batch fire with 8 distrubitor refrence pulses.
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Old Aug 20, 2006 | 10:56 AM
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To check if the wires are the problem use a spray bottle with water in it and spay a light mist on the wires and load the engine up a little but not for to long and see if you see any sparks.
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Old Aug 20, 2006 | 12:17 PM
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Thankjs guys, sounds like I have a host of things to check...
I't will take me three weeks to look at all that with my schedule

The wires a definatley crap, I have to find the underlying reason why they are suddenly cooking.

I'll start with the hit list you folks gave me...and buy some new wires and heat sleeves.

Thanks!
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Old Aug 20, 2006 | 01:21 PM
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Wires touching exhaust? Yup that aint gonna work. I posted some pics of my 1990 below, just to give you an idea how the wires should be routed. Notice there is factory wire loom on those passenger side wires. My sparkplug wire holders got brittle and broke off also, so I just used tiewraps until I get some new ones.





Last edited by purplewindworm; Aug 20, 2006 at 01:24 PM.
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Old Aug 21, 2006 | 07:57 AM
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Purple,

Those tubes right in front of the wires seems to be where I'm getting the most damage. You have routed yours behind them.

I'll try that. Thanks for the photo's!
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