New Wires+Old Plugs = Damage?

[Dgrim]

I took my 94 taurus to a local retailer today to have the spark plugs changed on my 3.8 (I also have a 3.0 same year). I just couldnt get to the back ones so I figured this was worth $70 and I provided the plugs (autolite platinum per this forum). I had also purchased a new distributer cap and some Belden wires from NAPA that I planned on installing myself... the easy stuff. Well the guy who installed them installed the WIRES and not the plugs! I was told to come back tommorow as they were closing and the tech that did it was gone, and they would reinstall everything (wires and plugs) for no additional charge. My question is, will this screw up my new wires I paid $50 for? I looked at two plugs in the front and they were greenish-bluish looking from electrical corrosion. I certainly didnt want my new wires on those things. Also, I noticed the wires were not in the original harnesses as before (maybe they didnt fit , I dont know) but just kinda ran right over parts and whatnot and not neatly tucked in and routed like the originals. I understand mistakes happen and I'm fine with that as long as theyre properly corrected, but I put alot of money out there today for a specific reason. I'll leave it to the experts of this forum, who have so kindly helped in the past,what should I do???

[sfontain]

Your wires will be fine until tomorrow.

[mysatilac]

The new wires will not be damaged by using them with your original plugs, You can get some "wire dryer spray" to help clean off any corrosion that was left on them if any, and then use a tiny bit of vaseline on the top of the plug where your wire fits on them to get a complete connection and aid in getting your wires on and off (they sell a similar compound as battery terminal corrosion protector if you don't trust using normal white vaseline-although that is what they'll sell you for about a buck per .1 ounce)
but you will want to look at getting a wire holding clip (harness) to keep them out of the way of all moving parts, although-unless it was a jump to some heavy duty plug wires they should have fit in the original...

Sounds like the guy at the shop was new or having a bad day or something

Good thing you checked your plugs before you left the shop...

You planned on installing them yourself and then changed your mind and gave the shop the wires? and the distributor cap too?

What did they do with your plugs? I assume that they still have them, its unusual for something like this to happen, but shop mechanics are people too, so mistakes can be expected...Although as you mentioned they should be corrected at no charge

[Dgrim]

Thanks for the responses. I had only asked that the plugs be changed and that I would provide them. They never asked for the plugs upfront, I just said that they were on the front seat. Of course, I had the wires and cap there also and apparently the tech assumed they meant to change the plug wires, not the plugs. I had planned to do the wires right there after the plugs were changed, as I'd inspected the old ones and they didnt look too awful bad to be hooked up for a quick drive out of the bay(although one wire was badly cracked on the insulation as the tech did throw the old ones in the box). I noticed the old wires sitting there and thought, "wow, thats cool, they did the wires too", but upon starting the car it was still pretty rough and then i noticed the plug boxes were unopened. Manager said the tech should have asked and clarified what exactly was to be done and didnt give me any hassle about completing the job (although I'll have to sit there reading magazines again tommorow). I didnt want to get verbally po'd either, as I'm trusting these guys with my engine. Hopefully all will be good tommorow; maybe I can get the cap on there also for the inconvience. As far as I can tell with those wires, everything appears factory original, maybe even the plugs as nasty as the ends looked that I could actually see. I bought the car two weeks ago with 68k miles

[mysatilac]

Thats pretty funny he got the wires from next to the plugs and didn't even think about it... Yeah, the wires should fit just as the originals did if they were just replacements.
Unopened plug boxes are a good indication they have not been changed...
A cracked plug wire may have led the tech to think that was your only problem (tryin to save you a buck) or again he may have just been bein lazy/forgetful...

Good luck at the shop, hope they compensate you for your added trouble...

[sfontain]

Heh...somehow I doubt the tech was trying to save him money. But that is a very optimistic outlook.