Change The Ignition Wires?

Our Windstar is a 2000 with a 3.8L and 142k km. We're original owner.

Last weekend, I replaced the ignition coil. It cured an intermittent misfire. Physically, the coil looked fine. No cracks (hairline or otherwise). I checked for arcing at night, didn't see any. The only this was the resistance was off spec.

I think the engine could be run a little smoother. So I'm thinking it may be time to replace the ignition wires. Physically, they look fine. They are the original wire set.

How do you guys feel about replacing ignition wires. What criteria do you use when deciding it's time to replace them, aside from a physical break?

Thanks.

12 years is long enough, no: ..."too long", for these wires. Now some manufacturers supply more robust spark wires and wires in general than Ford .... but your cables are probably failing you. I would remove the cowling for better access ... and route the new cables with more separation to engine-ground. Ford ran the original cables much closer to ground than was necessary ... but it made the engine box look neat!

Thanks 12Ounce.

Long ago, I used to change them regularly. Then I started seeing arguments on both side saying that they're not wear items and shouldn't need replacing, but then with all the high energy they carry they do wear out. So I never knew which way to go.

Time to change them up.

Thanks.

Ford ran the original cables much closer to ground than was necessary ... but it made the engine box look neat!

Yeah so neat your hand won't fit anywhere in the engine bay :evillol:

As for wiring wear in my experience this is more of an issue in dry climates but then again, 12 years is quite long even in high humidity environments. OP's van doesn't have a lot of mileage for its age though.

Yeah so neat your hand won't fit anywhere in the engine bay :evillol:


The engine bay was designed to be worked on by mechanics with gynecologist hands. :rofl:

All kidding aside. I have another question.

I use OEM spark plugs. Should I be using OEM ignition wires as well? Are there other brand choices?

The van is my wife's grocery getter...lots of short trips.

Thanks.

ps, I live in Toronto Canada....no big name auto parts stores. We have Canadian Tire (but a lot of people refer to them as Crappy Tire or China Tire....you get the drift).

ps, I live in Toronto Canada....no big name auto parts stores. We have Canadian Tire (but a lot of people refer to them as Crappy Tire or China Tire....you get the drift).

You gotta have NAPA and CarQuest as well, plenty of those here in Montreal. But that said I find that local independent auto parts suppliers are often better stocked than big names and practically always cheaper, at least when it comes to domestic vehicles and as we know, in Canada the Winnie is very domestic.

As for CT I consider it a general auto supply store similar to Wal Mart, the kind of place you go for antifreeze, batteries and oil filters... and sometimes tires lol. Unlike even the smallest independent parts dealer CT does not subscribe to manufacturer databases and thus are not able to tell you anything specific about your vehicle and what fits it. Once I inquired there about the diameter of the tail pipe on the Windstar and the kid at the parts counter replied that all Fords have the same pipe size. I had a hard time not laughing.

I sometimes go to Napa. Never been to CarQuest. I'll try them out. Thx.

So, as far as Ignition Wires go, do I have to buy Ford brand, or can I buy other brands? Is the Windstar picky with the ignition parts? I know it sounds like I'm splitting hairs. But I remember reading posts about the Windstar not liking after market spark plugs. Thx.

So, as far as Ignition Wires go, do I have to buy Ford brand, or can I buy other brands? Is the Windstar picky with the ignition parts? I know it sounds like I'm splitting hairs. But I remember reading posts about the Windstar not liking after market spark plugs. Thx.

Honeywell makes both the motorcraft and autolite plugs, so it's possible they make both wire brands as well. I don't think the brand of spark plug matters as much as matching the specs. I used autolite double-platinums in mine and they've been great. I can't even find the motorcraft double-plats anymore (I think they've been discontinued -- feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) so the autolite double-plats are really the only way to have OEM spec parts as far as I could tell.

From what I've read, you just want to avoid the ones with 2 or 4 ground straps like those Bosch+4 plugs you see at walmart. I've never tried one so I can't speak from experience, but they're definitely not OEM spec so I'd avoid them. I've never heard of using an "upgraded" spark plug in a minivan providing better gas mileage.

I use Champion double platinum plugs... and the silicone rubber cable set from AutoZone

Ok thanks. Good to know I don't have to limit my choice to Ford replacement parts. I didn't want to go through the trouble of replacing plugs and wires only to find they don't work well.

Thanks a bunch!

As I am just dealing with an ignition problem, my findings:

in general the quality of the Ford-parts seems to be very good, for the first 13 years everything lasted, even the battery twice as long as usual. That said it is of course a consideration if you pay a much higher price or change more often -> what makes sense with the battery, less if there are problems installing, like on the inner bank.

To begin with the plugs: you should be aware that Ford uses a +/- system, so they must fire on both polarity, otherwise you will have to take care to install different, proper types on each bank. If you want to change cheap copper ones more often than expensive lasting ones is a matter of personal consideration. If you use the old original platinium ones - which should go far beyond 90.000 - Ford says they MUST be installed in the original cylinders (apart from polarity, I dont know why). Because of the short trips you may consider a different range.

As for the ignition wires: I do not think they account for much trouble, still they are relativly cheap so I changed them when rebuilding the engine. Problems (aside from obvious ones as slopply work not using retainment, cutting and so on) I would consider as:
on ones with wire, this could break, reason vibrations. On normal conditions like low rpm-driving, proper fastening (no swinging) they should outlast the car, as metal is not ageing and and should be sturdy.
On other types one may suspect internal breaking, possibly also ageing.
Frankly, I am not sure what different types are on the market for the Windstar and what their weak spots are.

If breaking happens it may be difficult to detect (without proper equipment like an oszilloskop), as all seems normal when "the ends meet", but the moment vibrations start all gets weird (at least for metal).

In this respect you should take care to use siliconcompound for installing (both ends), as Ford requires (and avoid putting load on the cables, needless to say).