NotLurking Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 Perhaps I don't know the secret password or something.... RE: my new EJ22 which uses 1993 donor heads and peripherals: Today I set out to pull a couple of spark plugs to check condition for clues to an operational issue. Pulling the OEM wire ends free from the plugs resulted in destruction of the wires (new with only 2000 miles). I did NOT yank on the cables, but rather, pulled the bright-red rubbery ends. After some effort, they came free, but in the process, left their metal connectors on the NGK spark plugs... WTH? are OEM wires these one-time use items? Is there a special process to keep them in one piece when removing? In 40 years wrenching, have never seen any OEM part fail this easily. Is this a fluke? Now I'm hesitant to buy another set from Subaru, and the geeks on USMB say "always use oem wires". Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moosens Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 There’s a lot of copy parts out there. They copy the box , label , everything. Just saying. I can’t imagine real genuine Subaru wires doing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moosens Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 Oh sorry , so you actually bought those over the counter at a dealer ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronemus Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 NGK wires are much better than OEM and cost less. Changing out the wires is one of the first things I do, along with light bulbs and tires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotLurking Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share Posted February 20, 2020 Yes moosens, that is correct, they were purchased at the dealer. Along with the new e22 short block and and a truckload of other engine peripheral parts. The problem appears to be with the crimping, which is clearly defective, and would never grip the wire worth beans... And both that I pulled were exactly alike. Perhaps the dealer was sourcing ( inadvertently?) fake wire sets, or the set was made the day a new guy started on the crimper. As for the fake parts you mentioned, are we talking about the guys on ebay??? Are there any other fans of NGK plug wires out there? Where do you purchase your GENUINE NGK wires? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 Yes, NGK wires are my go to. Have been for a long time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rampage Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 2 hours ago, NotLurking said: Are there any other fans of NGK plug wires out there? Where do you purchase your GENUINE NGK wires? A lot of NGK fans out there. RockAuto, partsgeek, carid to name a few. It depends on what else I'm ordering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotLurking Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share Posted February 20, 2020 Rampage, thanks for the tip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbchux Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 I worked at a dealer parts department for a few years. We sold a lot of plug wires, never had a warranty claim, and reused them whenever possible. I wouldn't pay their prices for them, personally. I've had great luck with aftermarket wires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchy Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 I too use NGK wires, though a week or two ago I pulled the wires on the Legacy, and one of the connectors stayed on the distributor, with a piece of lead attached. I fitted them about 6 months ago! They don’t come from the dealer. They were from a local parts supplier. Who knows what’s fake and what is not? I am not forking out 32 euros plus 21% tax for each cable at the dealer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotLurking Posted February 21, 2020 Author Share Posted February 21, 2020 My local EJ22 guru said: "go to pep boys and get some wires". $28 with lifetime warranty against defects (Borg Warner- BWA) looks the same, and is an inch or so more generous on all the lengths. Compared to the OEM wires I removed, Borg Warner's crimping appears to be much more robust. And what does Borg Warner do to help their customers? They box their wires with a small packet of dielectric grease to lube the connection on the spark plug end for easier removal without damage. Ha! re-usable plug wires, what a concept! The moral of the story: Lube your spark plug connectors for best service life. Never needed to do this with my VW stuff, now, minor adjustments to habits must be made now that Subaru 2.2 is manning the engine bay on the Vanagon live and learn. Thanks, everybody for chiming in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchy Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 Lubing the connectors, eh? Makes sense- never thought of it before! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbchux Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 I've always been taught to use a little dielectric grease on plug wires so they don't stick during install or removal and to keep any moisture out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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