HT leads & plug extensions
Discussion
A day or so ago, I noticed that the engine was beginning to run increasingly roughly, being prone to idling poorly and shuddering when pulling away. I wondered if I was a cynlinder down, but couldn't be sure. I was very close to joining the london end of the M11 at the time, and thought it might just go away when given a bit more gas going north.
A pitstop at the Stanstead services soon proved that it was still at it, so I copped a bit of a feel in the dark. Plug extender number 8 was flapping in the breeze, so I'd been running on seven cylinders for quite some time it turns out.
A closer look in the daylight reveals that the end of the HT lead had broken down, and it looks to have been arcing to the exhaust manifold anyway, so I don't know if that plug would have been firing well, whether or not the plug extender was firmly on the plug. Oh, the plug itself was also loose, not 2000 miles after an engine rebuild. Hmmm.
All the HT leads were in a pretty motley state, so I thought I'd replace the lot as I absolutely had to replace at least one, not being too bothered about the cost. So, at the moment, I've got Lemark leads on it, being what Halfords had to fit Land Rover/Range Rover applications. Try finding anything non-generic on a Sunday...
So, opinion/recommendation time.
Should these be OK to stick with - they certainly seem OK. Or am I better off getting a new set of standard landie HT leads, or should I bite the bullet and get some fancy Magnecor things?
Where do I get a new set of plug extenders from? Are they just standard Land Rover parts? Most of mine seem held on by luck rather than judgement, and one of them (the recent offender) is a bit suspect, even now, having been cajoled lovingly back into place.
And are my cats ever going to forgive me for spewing unburnt super unleaded down them?
And will this post get any longer...?
A pitstop at the Stanstead services soon proved that it was still at it, so I copped a bit of a feel in the dark. Plug extender number 8 was flapping in the breeze, so I'd been running on seven cylinders for quite some time it turns out.
A closer look in the daylight reveals that the end of the HT lead had broken down, and it looks to have been arcing to the exhaust manifold anyway, so I don't know if that plug would have been firing well, whether or not the plug extender was firmly on the plug. Oh, the plug itself was also loose, not 2000 miles after an engine rebuild. Hmmm.
All the HT leads were in a pretty motley state, so I thought I'd replace the lot as I absolutely had to replace at least one, not being too bothered about the cost. So, at the moment, I've got Lemark leads on it, being what Halfords had to fit Land Rover/Range Rover applications. Try finding anything non-generic on a Sunday...
So, opinion/recommendation time.
Should these be OK to stick with - they certainly seem OK. Or am I better off getting a new set of standard landie HT leads, or should I bite the bullet and get some fancy Magnecor things?
Where do I get a new set of plug extenders from? Are they just standard Land Rover parts? Most of mine seem held on by luck rather than judgement, and one of them (the recent offender) is a bit suspect, even now, having been cajoled lovingly back into place.
And are my cats ever going to forgive me for spewing unburnt super unleaded down them?
And will this post get any longer...?
marshy, I'd be interested on this too, I've heard the magnecor jobbers are good but will cost £160! pretty convinced my lumpiness is due to a similar issue. As far as I know the cats make little difference to your emmissions so the sooner they go the better...grabs shovel. Come Jan gonna treat her to some TLC courtesy of Mark Adams
www.actproducts.co.uk has leads plus extensions for 99.50+VAT for the normal ones, and 119+VAT for the competition jobbies. (Yes, I know this partially answers my question about sourcing the extensions, but I wondered if they were a standard landie part I can go and buy locally...)
Pete, would you mind if I tagged along when you go to see Mark?
Edited by Marshy on Sunday 25th November 23:57
Pete, would you mind if I tagged along when you go to see Mark?
Edited by Marshy on Sunday 25th November 23:57
marshy
The plug extensions are from a Mk1 or 2 vauxhall astra.
If you take one to a vauxhall parts dept. they will be able to sort them for you. If I remember they were about £7+vat each, so does mount up a bit.
p.s. Magnecors are well worth the money I found a great improvement and have a very long warrenty, so will last years.
The plug extensions are from a Mk1 or 2 vauxhall astra.
If you take one to a vauxhall parts dept. they will be able to sort them for you. If I remember they were about £7+vat each, so does mount up a bit.
p.s. Magnecors are well worth the money I found a great improvement and have a very long warrenty, so will last years.
The Magnecor 10mm leads do fit the standard cable guides at a pinch (and it is a pinch!), but I intend to get some smart anodised alloy ones to finish off nicely.
The leads do come with some "comb type" guides to clip the leads together in 2,3 and 4 lead combinations, but I didn't bother with them.
KV85 = 8.5mm thick - the 10mm leads are more expensive still! Worth the extra money for a 500 to resist the extra heat in the engine bay, which is what eventually breaks down the silicone insulation.
My car was noticeably smoother with the new leads - which would be the case with any new leads I guess, but the extra cash for these uprated leads should mean that it will stay that way for much longer.
Thicker insulation = longer life = cost benefit in the long run. In theory!
Edited by philshort on Tuesday 27th November 13:25
The leads do come with some "comb type" guides to clip the leads together in 2,3 and 4 lead combinations, but I didn't bother with them.
KV85 = 8.5mm thick - the 10mm leads are more expensive still! Worth the extra money for a 500 to resist the extra heat in the engine bay, which is what eventually breaks down the silicone insulation.
My car was noticeably smoother with the new leads - which would be the case with any new leads I guess, but the extra cash for these uprated leads should mean that it will stay that way for much longer.
Thicker insulation = longer life = cost benefit in the long run. In theory!
Edited by philshort on Tuesday 27th November 13:25
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