Replace Spark Plug Wires (Dist. Cap & Rotor)
After 60,000 miles it is highly recommended that spark plug wires, distributor cap, and rotor be replaced; on ignitions without a distributor only spark plug wires are required. The reason is that under the hood of vehicle the electrical components over time are exposed to moisture, oil, grease, and temperature up to 550 to 700 degrees. As a result the insulation in the spark plug wires, distributor cap, and rotor breaks down creating an easier or alternative path to ground. Worn spark plugs also cause higher voltage requirements causing the ignition module and coil to produce higher and higher voltages to overcome the resistance. The resulting higher voltage breaks down the spark plug wire’s insulation creating an easier path to ground. This causes the ignition module and coil to produce even more voltage, creating even higher current temperatures within them. Remember, higher resistance correlates to higher current temperatures and electricity always tries to find the easiest path to ground. This higher than normal resistance weakens transistor and electrical insulation within the module, coils, and computers resulting in intermittent and premature failure. As a result you may experience a variety of drive-ability problems. These problems are sometimes hard to diagnose due to the intermittent nature of electrical components as a result of temperature, heat, and moisture; resulting in expensive diagnostic time. If you have already experienced an ignition module or computer failure after 60,000 miles and haven’t replaced your spark plug wires, distributor cap, and a rotor you most likely will experience the same problem again.
Most ignition modules range in price from $200 to $450 plus labor! The same is also true for vehicle computers.
