Chevrolet Tahoe Ignition Wires
One often overlooked part of regular engine maintenance is the ignition system, including the spark plugs and ignition wires. No matter how well maintained the other engine parts of your Chevrolet Tahoe may be, without good spark plugs and wires, your SUV will not start. Understanding the role of spark plug wires, what the signs of failure are, and how to change spark plug wires will keep your Tahoe ready to hit the road.
What kind of materials are used for ignition wires?These wires are built not from standard copper wiring but are instead constructed from carbon fibers bound together. A good set of spark plug wires conducts electricity with low resistance, making sure the electric charge reaches the spark plug where it can spark and ignite the mixture of fuel and air for combustion.
As the fibers of carbon in ignition wires begin to degrade, break down, and separate, the resistance in the wiring increases. This can lead to misfiring, lower gas mileage, and even failure of the engine to start.
As the surrounding insulation around the wires ages and begins to suffer wear and tear, additional electrical issues may result since the electric charge that should move through the insulated wires will now have the ability to escape and cause electrical issues in other engine components.
What are some different types of spark plug wires?As with many automotive engine components, spark plug wires come in different configurations for different purposes. These include the following:
- Distributed-resistance wires: Found on automobiles manufactured before 1980, including several classic or collectible cars, these fiberglass wires have a carbon core and offer high resistance which helps to reduce radio-frequency interference. Cars manufactured with this system must use the same system as a replacement. This type is still favored among automakers.
- Magnetic-resistance wires: Used by many Asian auto manufacturers, these wires feature a nickel and copper alloy that is tightly wound into a screw or spiral shaped core. This shape reduces radio-frequency interference and offers low resistance.
- Fixed-resistance wires: Found on many European auto manufacturers makes and models, this configuration uses a resistor along with wires made of copper or steel.
Because spark plug wires create the spark that ignites the fuel and air combination required for combustion, failure of your spark plug wires can lead to several different symptoms when operating your vehicle, including the following:
- Misfiring engine
- Decreased fuel economy
- Roughness or stuttering when idling
- Slowed or stalled acceleration