Despite the increasing popularity of diesel cars, Russians continue to drive petrol cars. These cars have their pros and cons. But the main difference is in the way the combustible mixture is ignited. If in a diesel engine it lights up from compression force, then a whole system is provided for gasoline. It combines spark plugs, ignition distributor and coils. High-voltage wires are also an integral part. How to check armored wires in different ways? We will talk about this in our today's article.
Short description
This item is only available on petrol engines. It is an integral part of the ignition system. The main task of the high-voltage wire in a car engine is to transmit an electrical impulse from the coil to the spark plug.
The number of ignition wires may vary depending on the number of cylinders in the engine. The element itself consists of:
- Metal contact.
- Insulation.
- Conductivestrands.
- Protective cap.
During operation, it is important to keep the wire in good condition. After all, the stability of the motor in all modes depends on it.
Key Features
How can I tell if a high voltage drive has failed? Externally, these factors are accompanied by increased fuel consumption, difficult engine starting and unstable idling.
These signs can be equated to “triple” when one of the cylinders does not work in the engine. In fact, it is - the spark is supplied intermittently to the candle or does not arrive at all. As a result, the piston runs idle, there is an excessive consumption of fuel. Next, we will look at how to check the armored wires with a multimeter with your own hands.
Diagnostics: Method 1
First you need to open the hood and disconnect the wire from the seat (where it contacts the candle on one side and the coil on the other). Set the tester to resistance measurement mode. How to check armored wires with a multimeter at a VAZ? After that, we connect the probes to both terminals. Polarity doesn't matter. Next, look at the readings of the multimeter. Ideally, he should give a figure of 3-10 ohms. If the value is below three or completely zero, then the element has become unusable. Also note that this parameter will differ on different motors. On average, the resistance value will be about 5 ohms. Some manufacturers indicate this parameter directly on the wire. After measuring the readings, install the wirein place and move on to the next one. We write down all the results in a notebook.
Here's how you can check the armored wires with a tester. In addition, we note that all readings should not differ significantly. Permissible error - no more than 4 ohms. Even if there is resistance, the wires change entirely with a large difference in readings. This amounts to a malfunction.
Pay attention
When performing a diagnostic operation, do not pull out all the wires at once. Each of them is responsible for its own cylinder. If they are mixed up in places, the car simply will not start. Therefore, we check each one in turn or sign in advance which cylinder it is responsible for.
Diagnostics: Method 2
How to check armored wires on VAZ and other cars if there is no specialized tester? Elements can be diagnosed visually. But for this we need a complete absence of light. So, start the engine and open the hood. We look at the condition of the wires without a flashlight. If small sparks come from them, then the elements have become unusable. This happens when there is an insulation breakdown. Sparks are usually bluish-white in color and they jump very quickly. In daylight, it is almost impossible to see them with the naked eye.
But at night they can be clearly seen on a running engine. In this case, the engine will not always troit. A similar phenomenon occurs already at a late stage, when the breakdown has finally come. You can alsohear characteristic clicks. This means that the current from the coil does not move to the spark plug, but to nearby metal objects - for example, the exhaust manifold.
Now you know how to test armored wires without a tester. But there is another method that does not require a multimeter. We will consider it further.
How to check the armored wires? Method number 3
Another proven method is to install a known-good wire. The essence of the test is very simple. We take a new package with wires and begin to put each in its own cylinder one at a time. If the tripling is gone, it means that one of the old ones had an insulation breakdown. But do not forget that these wires are not universal. Each is responsible for his own cylinder. How to determine which wire from the new package is responsible for? It's simple - you need to find out their length. It is different for each wire.
Causes of failure
These items may malfunction due to current leakage and electrical circuit breakage. These are the main causes of high-voltage wire failures. An open circuit usually occurs at the point where the metal contact connects to the core. This is due to:
- Inaccurate dismantling of the wire (it is strictly forbidden to pull it by the cord - only by the rubber cap).
- Oxidation or destruction of the core.
- Bad connection to system pins.
Also, spontaneous sparking occurs at the break point, causing excessive heating and, as a result, melting of the wire.
As for the current leakage, itdue to pollution:
- Candle contacts.
- Ignition distributor caps.
- Coils.
Sometimes leakage occurs due to damage to the insulation and rubber caps of the wire. In view of this, their dielectric properties deteriorate.
Another reason is constant vibrations. They can get worse if one of the engine mounts is worn out. With constant vibration, the contact between the cord and the cover of the ignition distributor, as well as the candle, worsens. In winter, the wires become stiff, so their likelihood of damage along with vibrations increases significantly.
Conclusion
So, we figured out how to check the armored wires in different ways with our own hands. If a breakdown is found, do not hesitate to fix it. This may adversely affect the performance of the motor.
