As title says, what should my plug wires be at? I have a problem with my car hesitating whenever (N, 1-6, R). It jerks fairly good and boggs down a good bit whenever reved. I can hear it right from the start. It seems to get worse when it is heated. I feel some back pressure on the pedal and I also can feel it in the exhuast somewhat. It's a '97. I was hoping it might have been a bad plug so I replaced them all last night and it didn't work for me.

I measured the wires and all but one read 310-350. The one that was off was 170 ohms. Is this horrible? Could it be my problem? I'm not too excited about spending $60 on wires if this is definatly NOT my problem. My belt started squeeking a week before this problem occured, but a belt wouldn't cause this violence? The engine 'seems' to be running ok, I really don't hear any abnormalities from it. Just the exhuast is 'bumpier' than normal.

Any help, advice is appricated!!!

Thanks,
-Dan

 

Have you checked the air intake system for leaks? Leaks of air after the MAF will cause such symptoms?

 

I think your stock wires are fine; mine ohmed at around 350 to 400 each, one at around 170 should be fine, as aftermarket wires are lower resistance, pretty much the major selling point.

I'd start with an intake leak as well. Good luck!

 

Ok, thanks guys... where should I start looking for this intake leak becuase I'm a big noob when it comes to engines ?

Thank you
-Dan

 

Dan-
Is your car thowing any codes to the DIC? If they are one of the following it indicates a MAF problem. They are P0101, P0102, and P0103.
Bob

 

Hey Bob, the only code I'm getting (and it's old is P 1571) I have no idea what that code means though.

Thanks,
Dan

 

P-1571 is: ASR Desired Torque CircuitYou PCM is NOT seeing the torque signal from the EBTCM If you need me to provide a few things to check, I can.

Clear it and se if it comes back!

BC

 

the resistance of the plug wires should be around 700 ohms.rule of thumb is 1000 ohms per foot.if you have 1 wire that's 150 ohms,that's low[not good].just my .02

 

While Ohming the wire.. Flex it all over the entire length.. It may have an intermittant break.. ALSO If it is arcing.. YOu will have probs. Look for signs of Arcing (burn marks)

 

DPD

The 1000 ohms per foot rule is based on wires that are NOT spiral wound nickel or copper wire. The wires on some cars C5 included use a spiral wound wire to conduct the voltage to the plug. There is a amarid or nylon inner core that has an outer winding of VERY fine wire that is very tightly wound on the core or outside of the inner core. The resistance of this wire is a lot less. I know for a fact that the C5 wire can be as little as 300 ohms. That was the lowest reading out of the eight that I measured on my 98. I had some wires that were in the 350 ohm range and TWO that measured in the MEHOHM range!! They were BAD! The spiral windings were broken and the current caused the wire to burn back making it basically an open. I replaced those two wires with new ones!

The other method of making SP wires is to impregnet a nylon type of inner core with a conductive coating of a carbon type of material. If you disect a surpressive wire you will find a plastic looking inner wire that is easy to break. You will NOT find any wire! The inner core is NOT a wire as you know it but a conductor. High voltage i.e. 30.000 - 50,000 volts AC does not flow through a wire like 12 Volts AC, 110 AC 250 Volts AC ect. It flows on the outside of the wire/conductor in a skin effect.

The carbon or surpressive conductor aids in the reduction of RFI and EMI radiation making your radio and ALL of the electronic modules in your vette free from RFI and EMI The spirial winding on spirial wound wires does the same thing but has a LOT less resistance.\

The spiral wire is tough but it will break and eventualy burn back enough to cause a miss-fire!! Been there done that!

BC

 

700 ohms is the GM reccomended replace point for a C5. Typical resistance as mentioned by other posters is around 350 ohms. Something is wrong with a wire that is only in the 100+ range.