Solid core spark plug wires whining sound
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 53
Likes: 2
From: Alexandria VA
Solid core spark plug wires whining sound
I'm looking into buying a C5 and a few days ago I test drove one at a dealership. Whenever I was putting pressure on the gas pedal, there was a high-pitched whining sound coming from the air vents. I stopped at a light, put it in neutral, and revved, and the sound came through then as well. The dealership checked it out and called me back saying the car has solid core spark plug wires. I'm curious to see if this is normal or if it is something that will cause problems.
Thanks for the help!
Thanks for the help!
Pro
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 2
From: Columbia South Carolina
Solid core will pick up sounds from the engine, transmission, give AM radio static. Solid core is just that , no resistance, You could take a chance and buy the car then change out the wires or ask the dealer if they will change out the wires to see if the noise disappears ........................Use to be an advantage if you wanted to deal with the disadvantages. Now with modern cars, not much of an advantage.
OOPS MY BAD, any sounds from solid core wires will come through the speakers, NOT the air vents, sounds like something else going on......................Like the dealer................................
OOPS MY BAD, any sounds from solid core wires will come through the speakers, NOT the air vents, sounds like something else going on......................Like the dealer................................
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I am a little confused here, How can the plug wires have anything to do with a sound out of the vents? Red Flag to me.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
That is a different one for the Corvettes as far as I have heard - Solid Core Wires! 
Put it this way - get the wires off the Vette, our Computer controlled Vette's should not use them, they cause too much interference, not only in the radio sound but can cause issues with the PCM -
Can the dealer get you thew make of the wires so we can cross reference them and also the plug number?
It is possible too that the plugs are not the correct ones and perhaps, just perhaps the original owner did this and really did not know any better!
If for some reason or another they are standard wires, MSD, GM Hot Wires etc. and the plugs are normal and check out fine - then there will be another issue to look into!
Get the part number for the wires and plugs that are currently on there - or have them cahnge them out and then do another test drive
Let us know as son as possible too 
Thanks,Matt
Put it this way - get the wires off the Vette, our Computer controlled Vette's should not use them, they cause too much interference, not only in the radio sound but can cause issues with the PCM -
Can the dealer get you thew make of the wires so we can cross reference them and also the plug number?
It is possible too that the plugs are not the correct ones and perhaps, just perhaps the original owner did this and really did not know any better!
If for some reason or another they are standard wires, MSD, GM Hot Wires etc. and the plugs are normal and check out fine - then there will be another issue to look into!
Get the part number for the wires and plugs that are currently on there - or have them cahnge them out and then do another test drive
Let us know as son as possible too Thanks,Matt
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
That is a different one for the Corvettes as far as I have heard - Solid Core Wires!
Put it this way - get the wires off the Vette, our Computer controlled Vette's should not use them, they cause too much interference, not only in the radio sound but can cause issues with the PCM -
Can the dealer get you thew make of the wires so we can cross reference them and also the plug number?
It is possible too that the plugs are not the correct ones and perhaps, just perhaps the original owner did this and really did not know any better!
If for some reason or another they are standard wires, MSD, GM Hot Wires etc. and the plugs are normal and check out fine - then there will be another issue to look into!
Get the part number for the wires and plugs that are currently on there - or have them cahnge them out and then do another test drive Let us know as son as possible too
Thanks,Matt
Put it this way - get the wires off the Vette, our Computer controlled Vette's should not use them, they cause too much interference, not only in the radio sound but can cause issues with the PCM -
Can the dealer get you thew make of the wires so we can cross reference them and also the plug number?
It is possible too that the plugs are not the correct ones and perhaps, just perhaps the original owner did this and really did not know any better!
If for some reason or another they are standard wires, MSD, GM Hot Wires etc. and the plugs are normal and check out fine - then there will be another issue to look into!
Get the part number for the wires and plugs that are currently on there - or have them cahnge them out and then do another test drive
Let us know as son as possible too Thanks,Matt
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 764
Likes: 19
From: odessa FL
I'm throwing the BS flag on this. First, solid core wires don't cause that type of sound, much less the air vents. Second, I would think solid cores would produce so much RFI the car would run like crap if at all with all the electronics. Back in the day you could get away with solid cores [at the cost of jamming every AM radio within 100 yds] back before magnetic supression wires came out. I dont think anyone uses them anymore.
Shocking truth...Dealers Lie!
Shocking truth...Dealers Lie!
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
I'm throwing the BS flag on this. First, solid core wires don't cause that type of sound, much less the air vents. Second, I would think solid cores would produce so much RFI the car would run like crap if at all with all the electronics. Back in the day you could get away with solid cores [at the cost of jamming every AM radio within 100 yds] back before magnetic supression wires came out. I dont think anyone uses them anymore.
Shocking truth...Dealers Lie!
Shocking truth...Dealers Lie!
typo for him 
Solid core wires will cause interference as well as plugs that are not supressed - I also have not seen solid core wires on our street Vettes - but "IF" memory serves me correctly there are some for race versions out there!
and this can be for the LS motors that have gone with a Carb set-up and a distributor
But todays spiral core wires are just as good as solid and do not have any interference with ekectronics!
Thanks,Matt
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 53
Likes: 2
From: Alexandria VA
Whoops! Forgot to add when the dealer called me back, the sound was coming from the speakers; on the test drive it sounded like the speakers. Still, I think I'm gonna hold off on this particular Vette and keep searching around...this one didn't give me the warm fuzzy feelings.
Thanks again for all the advice fellas!
Thanks again for all the advice fellas!
