Recommendations for spark plugs, wires?

[Edwin Sineath]

Does anyone have any horror stories/recommendations for spark plug and
spark plug wire brands? I'm currently thinking of NGK for plugs,
Bougicord for wires. Good? Bad? Thanks!

 

[James Sweet]

Does anyone have any horror stories/recommendations for spark plug and
spark plug wire brands? I'm currently thinking of NGK for plugs,
Bougicord for wires. Good? Bad? Thanks!

For what car? Bougicord is OEM on many Volvo models, there's nothing
wrong with them. I've also used Bosch wires and they were ok too. I had
some really cheap wires once where the connectors ripped out of the
sheath but otherwise I haven't found there to be much difference.

 

[Richard W Langbauer]

Does anyone have any horror stories/recommendations for spark plug and
spark plug wire brands? I'm currently thinking of NGK for plugs,
Bougicord for wires. Good? Bad? Thanks!

this is an odd case where your Volvo dealer might be as cheap or
cheaper than anyone else. freaks me out too! they will hand you Bosch.
ngk's are something of a fetish for Volvo lovers. different plugs do
different things. not by much but it all adds up. Bougicords are good
for @ least ten yrs maybe more. of course Myst (my r) is held together
from time to time w/ duct tape, bubble gum & twigs (translation 200mph
tape, epoxy, & titanium.)

i would need to know the specific car & driving style/purpose to make
a concrete recommendation. Myst has NGK Iridium's (her 2nd set) but
she redlines on a regular basis.

 

[Edwin Sineath]

It's a 1998 V70 T5. Most trips are less than 10 miles. Has 156K miles
so far. Maybe once a month I make a trip that is between 60-75 miles.

 

[Edwin Sineath]

Here's another weird event that I've been living with for about 4 years,
can't find an answer:

I changed the battery in this Volvo, lost the speedometer, tachometer,
miles changed to kilometers. Only instrumentation that still works is
gas gauge and temp gauge.

 

[Richard W Langbauer]

It's a 1998 V70 T5. Most trips are less than 10 miles. Has 156K miles
so far. Maybe once a month I make a trip that is between 60-75 miles.

go w/ the NGK Iridium's. they will last forever (100k+). you don't
have ht ignition cables. so a) there is probably nothing wrong w/ the
signal wires you have now, b) if you have a check engine light then
it's probably a connection or coil. plug an OBDII reader in & give me
the error codes. if your little (~1.700kg) sweetheart just needs a
tune up. well tune ups have changed. it's no longer plugs, points, &
condenser. you will need a torx wench to pop the plastic cap. then
blow out the recesses w/ compressed air. pop the coils w/ the signal &
power wires, one @ a time. r & r the plugs. the old electrodes should
be light gray & less than .4 apart. if they look weird photograph &
post. many here will know if something is wrong. if you need more you
will have to wait. my ME is in Honduras. Myst needs a rebuild & she
misses her uncle Geno. The Only person i will let mill her titanium.

as for driving style i was expecting something like schoolteacher,
daredevil, nun. from the simple mileage i understand that you are
fairly average. the only improvement that i can suggest is open her up
once a week. short hops will kill an engine as surely as overextended
hauls. she's like a horse, let her have her head every now & then.

 

[Richard W Langbauer]

Here's another weird event that I've been living with for about 4 years,
can't find an answer:

I changed the battery in this Volvo, lost the speedometer, tachometer,
miles changed to kilometers. Only instrumentation that still works is
gas gauge and temp gauge.

it sounds like an ECU problem. the mph to kph is particularly telling.
i know that there is a way to fiddle w/ this on your vehicle. i just
can't remember it because i just don't care. i live in the states & we
speak French @ home. so i'm always confused, but well fed. changing
the battery may have caused a power spike. i don't think you have a
UPS before your ECU. Myst does, but i'm paranoid. an obvious way to
solve the problem is to drop a new, well formatted, chip in, but i'm
not very price sensitive. find a good Volvo electrician.

the speedo & the tach are on the same circuit. but if you are telling
me straight, you have lost everything. this is bad news. from your
last thread i can deduce that performance is not optimal. you won't
get a check engine light or an error code. you're f*****!! your little
girl is driving around w/ her brain missing. i'm not sure what is most
cost effective. i would probably park & pull her brain. i have friends
who could take over from there. r & r is always an option, probably
$500+. finally seek help. some people love this sort of repair. it
might be cheap (not a dealer).

 

[James Sweet]

Here's another weird event that I've been living with for about 4 years,
can't find an answer:

I changed the battery in this Volvo, lost the speedometer, tachometer,
miles changed to kilometers. Only instrumentation that still works is
gas gauge and temp gauge.

*FOUR YEARS*?? Take it in to have it serviced, it's illegal to drive
around without a speedometer.

 

[Edwin Sineath]

*FOUR YEARS*?? Take it in to have it serviced, it's illegal to drive
around without a speedometer.

Where is it illegal? I've never been asked by a policeman if I have a
working speedometer, nor does our state inspection check for a working
speedometer. I'm curious as to where/how you got this notion. You must
not live in the United States. I'm not going to spend $1000 to get my
speedometer fixed, especially if it requires taking off the dash.

 

[James Sweet]

Where is it illegal? I've never been asked by a policeman if I have a
working speedometer, nor does our state inspection check for a working
speedometer. I'm curious as to where/how you got this notion. You must
not live in the United States. I'm not going to spend $1000 to get my
speedometer fixed, especially if it requires taking off the dash.

I am in the US, and a working speedometer is required equipment. You
also lighting, windshield wipers, and likely other things but I lack a
full list. I suppose you are not likely to get caught, but it is none
the less illegal, not to mention just plain ghetto. I dunno where you'd
go that it would cost $1K, removing the instrument cluster takes all of
20 minutes, a brand new speedometer would probably cost a few hundred, a
working used one is $20-$100 at a salvage yard. There are companies that
specialize in speedometer repair too, the problem is likely something
very simple.

 

[clay]

I am in the US, and a working speedometer is required equipment. You
also lighting, windshield wipers, and likely other things but I lack a
full list. I suppose you are not likely to get caught, but it is none
the less illegal, not to mention just plain ghetto. I dunno where you'd
go that it would cost $1K, removing the instrument cluster takes all of
20 minutes, a brand new speedometer would probably cost a few hundred, a
working used one is $20-$100 at a salvage yard. There are companies that
specialize in speedometer repair too, the problem is likely something
very simple.

After I saw Edwins post I searched the California vc and the word
'speedometer' appears nowhere.

<http://www.google.com/#num=100&hl=e...&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=ec903f46ceabe964>

Odometer, yes... Along with the other items you mentioned.

<http://www.google.com/#num=100&hl=e...&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=ec903f46ceabe964>

 

[Richard W Langbauer]

After I saw Edwins post I searched the California vc and the word
'speedometer' appears nowhere.

<http://www.google.com/#num=100&hl=e...&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=ec903f46ceabe964>

Odometer, yes... Along with the other items you mentioned.

<http://www.google.com/#num=100&hl=e...&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=ec903f46ceabe964>

the law in CA is that you need to proceed @ a safe & legal speed. a
calibrated speedo makes this easier. in fact my lady refers to the
cruise control as my licence saver.

 

[Boris Mohar]

Does anyone have any horror stories/recommendations for spark plug and
spark plug wire brands? I'm currently thinking of NGK for plugs,
Bougicord for wires. Good? Bad? Thanks!

NGK Iridium for plugs.



Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs (among other things) http://www.viatrack.ca

void _-void-_ in the obvious place

 

[Denny A]

Does anyone have any horror stories/recommendations for spark plug and
spark plug wire brands?  I'm currently thinking of NGK for plugs,
Bougicord for wires.  Good? Bad?  Thanks!

I was told by my Volvo guys to NEVER use NGK plugs on my 240 Volvo.
Although I don't recall the litany of problems caused it does seem
they would foul more quickly. They do recommend NGK for the BMW's but
not the Volvo. Bought a set from the dealer for basically the same
price as the NGK's at Auto Zone.

 

[James Sweet]

I was told by my Volvo guys to NEVER use NGK plugs on my 240 Volvo.
Although I don't recall the litany of problems caused it does seem
they would foul more quickly. They do recommend NGK for the BMW's but
not the Volvo. Bought a set from the dealer for basically the same
price as the NGK's at Auto Zone.

I've been using cheap NGK plugs in lots of Volvos for quite a few years
now, never had any problems with them at all. Honestly the *only* spark
plugs I've ever had problems with in any car were Bosch Platinums. IMHO
the brand doesn't really matter, and fancy expensive spark plugs are
snake oil.

 

[Richard W Langbauer]

I was told by my Volvo guys to NEVER use NGK plugs on my 240 Volvo.
Although I don't recall the litany of problems caused it does seem
they would foul more quickly. They do recommend NGK for the BMW's but
not the Volvo. Bought a set from the dealer for basically the same
price as the NGK's at Auto Zone.

your 240 probably isn't a turbo your BMW probably is. the NGK Iridiums
fire cold, but precise. this only works for an hpt. the T5 like my r
is an hpt. i hope this clarifies. everybody is right, everybody is
wrong -- as always.

 

[Jon Robertson]

I believe your right Mr Sweet snake oil with high cost .NGK are a good plug
Bosch have given me problems at times being hard to remove with out damage
to the thread of the head ..