Testing: Sparkco ignition wire set.

[enry]

I had a Sparkco ignition wire set installed in my MP3. Ignition wire sets improve throttle response, especially when combined with platinum plugs.

The wires are pretty neat, look very sharp, fit perfectly and come in many colors. With the mp3 valve cover on you don't seem them though. Kits for P5/MP3/ES any year will be available online soon. The kit costs approximately 30$.

I will post pics of my car and information as I get them from Sparkco.

Below is an example kit (civic).

 

[WhiteZoomZoom]

thats a big motherf@cking picture........haha....anyway....You didnt mention if they are any good.......How is it ?? Did you really increase your throttle response ??

 

[pr5owner]

does it give you 50 more HP? no? okay it sucks then, haha j/k

 

[20ESGUY]

what mm are the wires, i can't make it out in the pic, and do they replace the boots under the coils or do those stay stock??

 

[enry]

The wires are 9.2mm, triple core.

For the mp3 / p5 and other new protege's it is a two wire kit; the "boot" beneath the coils remain as is.

Older proteges need a four wire kit. An upgrade to high performance ignition wires and platinum plugs in 4-wire cars produces a noticeable throttle response improvement.

From the brochure, it says the wires:
- improve performance at any rpm
- increase low end torque
- deliver more mpg
- improve exhaust emissions
- 20 times the ignition power of oe wires
- 110ohm/ft resistance without rfi & emi interference
- improves throttle response
- limited lifetime warranty
- more than 250 applications
- available il 7 colors: black, white, red, yellow, blue, green, purple

 

[70]

My question was going to be, is it a four wire set and if so how did you replace the coils on the number two and three cylinders...

But you answered that...It is only a two wire kit, which is probably just about useless on the the newer Proteges.

 

[enry]

You should know that it is priced in accordance (ie: 2 wire kit is very affordable).

I will admit a wire kit is not the most performance-boosting mod, but why do you say it is that useless?

 

[DooMer_MP3]

So by saying it is a 2-wire kit, are you saying you only replace the wires on 2 of the 4 plugs? I'm new to the whole coil thing. Do the wires go to the coils which go to the plugs or do the wires go directly to the plugs? Thanks

Chris

 

[cjstringer]

So by saying it is a 2-wire kit, are you saying you only replace the wires on 2 of the 4 plugs? I'm new to the whole coil thing. Do the wires go to the coils which go to the plugs or do the wires go directly to the plugs? Thanks

Chris

I don't know this either. Please help.
Also, you say you use platinum plugs with these. Is there a reason? I thought platinum plugs weren't as good as the standard. (Haven't we had this discussion before?) Just wondering if the wire/plug combo is the whole deal, or if standard plugs will do the trick.

 

[Kooldino]

Platinum plugs are THE DEVIL.

 

[enry]

Platinum plugs are THE DEVIL.

I'm not sure if platinum are "good" or "bad". I just heard that upgrading to better plugs while upgrading the wire set improved performance. Someone who is expert in this, please advise.

As for the 2 vs 4 wire issue:

If you have a P5/MP3 or latest generation Protege (I am not sure as of what year they went 2-wire), pop the hood and you should see TWO ignition "coils", each with one black flexible wire connected to it (mp3 owners, remove the valve cover--the one with the mp3 emblem).
There are only two wires because the two coils have a boot beneath them that connects directly to the spark plug. So each coil has a spark plug connected directly, and a spark plug connected via the ignition wire.

In a four-wire car, you will actually see a wire going to each of the spark plugs. On older cars these connected to the distributor cap. On newer cars I assume the function of the "distributor cap" is achieved by a solid state system.
Historically the cap is typically connected to the motorshaft directly through some gear (which could break or get threaded at times, leaving you stranded, happened twice to me). Inside the cap there are metal spades that mechanically rotate and "distribute" the spark to the correct spark plugs depending the positions of the cylinders. Anyhow, mechanical solutions are prone to wear and tear, and with computer chips, there hardly is a need for them anymore.

The point is, on a four wire kit upgrade you are more likely to have an improvement, since the wires are longer, and the longer the wire, the more likely you get reduced ignition.

Essentially this upgrade is akin to replacing the mp3 trunk-mounted subwoofer power supply wires with bigger gauge wires for reduced resistance and better supply to the sub.

Please correct me if I have said anything stupid or totally incorrect.

 

[njaremka]

check this link for an explanation on upgrading the plug wires on a two wire set-up like the newer proteges:

racing beat: miata wires

the link is for the wires from racing beat for a 2001+ miata that has the same set-up. it explains why it is still beneficial.

 

[70]

You should know that it is priced in accordance (ie: 2 wire kit is very affordable).

I will admit a wire kit is not the most performance-boosting mod, but why do you say it is that useless?

Changing out the wires can be helpful, but I just think that if you are going to change them, change all four.

On the newer proteges you cannot, so why change just two. You'll be getting more juice to two cylinders. I don't think there is enough of gain to warrant the purchase of two plug wires, therfore, in my mind, it is useless.

Until someone can come up with a full wire set for the newer Proteges, I'll wait.

 

[Antoine]

Has anyone used Magnecor Wires? I doubt you would really notice any improvement on a stock engine...esp with these modern ignition systems...I think its more an issue of getting the full potential out of your ignition system at all times...upgraded wires might be more vital when the engine power has been increased significantly (aka F/I!)...

Think...what is spoolin using? And what about the upcoming MS?

At the least, you should have increased ignition reliability with a set of performance wires.

 

[CanMP5]

What I've learned in my automotive courses as well as materials courses, is that using platinum is not really a performance enhancer.

They're used in order to have a longer lasting spark plug. Platinum is a good conductor of electricity like a standard electrode but does not corrode as easily when high current is passed through it or even during high pressure and heat.

That's why in the mid-90's Ford Contour commercials advertised 160000km servicing interval. But read the fine print, they mention that it only applies to the platinum plug replacement interval. You'll also find luxury cars have them to limit servicing.

If you want performance, replace the coils with higher current ones, then you'll really need those wires to deliver all the current.
Especially in F/I engines.

If you use the wires now, they'll help to keep resistance low due to the jacketing and the type of wire, but that's about it. Any performance gains would have to be measured in the hundredths or thousandths (very negligible).

But hey red looks cool anyway
Remember its FOR GO and FOR SHOW!!!

 

[enry]

Changing out the wires can be helpful, but I just think that if you are going to change them, change all four.

On the newer proteges you cannot, so why change just two. You'll be getting more juice to two cylinders. I don't think there is enough of gain to warrant the purchase of two plug wires, therfore, in my mind, it is useless.

Until someone can come up with a full wire set for the newer Proteges, I'll wait.

I'm not sure there will never be a four wire kit for our proteges, because there aren't four wires, just two wires and two boots.
I will talk to the Sparkco guy and see what he says or better yet I'll get him to sign up to the board.