Testing used spark plug wires to see if they are good....

[mtnmankev]

I will probably end up feeling stupid when i read the responses, but is there an easy way to test the modern silicone spark plug wires to see if they are still usable?
I remember the old days when we had copper core wires and an ohmmeter test would show continuity (we also had horrible static in the radio from them) and when the silicone core wires came out it was a huge improvement.
I am cleaning out my shed getting rid of old truck parts I don't need or if they are junk, and I have a big box of used wires I would like to find out if they should be saved or pitched.
I certainly don't need several hundred plug wires taking up space.
And the space aliens weren't interested in them, guess they have different technology now.

 

[Snoots]

You can still test them. Their guts are made from a graphite-blend.

 

[mtnmankev]

Is there a specific range of ohms/ft I am looking for ?

 

[RecklessWOT]

Honestly, they're cheap enough. If you have some beater project laying around save a few for the hell of it, if you just have the one square save one set just in case you need a spare, but really you do not need hundreds of wires they're useless. Worst case scenario you can toss out the ones you have on your truck for the sake of ruling it out and just a good way to freshen it up. Can't hurt. And what are you gonna lose, $30 or so? Saving money is good, but if the truck runs good leave it be. If you suspect the wires, it can't hurt to change them

 

[mtnmankev]

Cheap enough for some, but when it costs me 50 bucks in gas to get to the parts store and home, then the better part of another 50 dollar bill to buy wires .............nope.

 

[Ricko1966]

I always check wires before I replace them, not because I am too cheap to replace them but because I want to be sure if a wire is/was a problem or do I have another problem,and also want to be sure I throw away any questionable ones. I don't want to store trash. Someone will ask me if they get a used part out of my stash, should we test it? How do we know its good? If it wasn't good it wouldn't be here. I used to use 2000 ohms per foot of wire as my rule of thumb, but anymore I just check them and compare them to one another, any that are far from the average go in the trash.

 

[AuroraGirl]

I always check wires before I replace them, not because I am too cheap to replace them but because I want to be sure if a wire is/was a problem or do I have another problem,and also want to be sure I throw away any questionable ones. I don't want to store trash. Someone will ask me if they get a used part out of my stash, should we test it? How do we know its good? If it wasn't good it wouldn't be here. I used to use 2000 ohms per foot of wire as my rule of thumb, but anymore I just check them and compare them to one another, any that are far from the average go in the trash.

More wires have been taken out of service by me for wires breaking.. usually the end that holds onto the tip of a dist or coil and the one on the plug open up... then no matter what you do, they just don’t hold reliably. ive got ogles of sets for small blocks missing ancouole wires etc. but from now on, I’m keeping good wires that I remove for any reason even if they are missing an end piece, and keeping them cool dry place. Reason why is boots and ends can be had cheap and I paid 25 dollars for an accel crimp tool so I’m gonna use it.

Lots of small engine and off hand things I’ve needed wires for snd having a selection of lengths will be nice. Especially if it’s a fix it for now situation. Main vehicles will get nice premium wires with grease and removal tool so they last foreverrrrrr.
Never know when you could use a wire

 

[HotRodPC]

You test those graphite core wires the same way you did the solid core wires. With an Ohms meter.

Last time I bought plug wires, I bought AC Delco from Rock Auto and they were so damn cheap I bought like 3 sets. They were close out and I want it say it like $9-$10 a set and about $7 shipping since all sets came from the same warehouse. I got a set for big block and 2 sets for small block. And those come to your door, no driving involved. That's been a few years ago now, but worth a look and don't forget, we should have a Rock Auto discount code here in the Preferred Vendors section.

 

[Raider L]

Yeah, I just got rid of a bunch of wires to, but first I went through them all to find which ones were good and which ones weren't. I think I ended up with about two sets that are good, and a set of odd ball every make wires i.e. some Accel, some stock, some MSD, and a couple unknowns, ha, ha.