Does the "wire" part of spark plug wires ever really wear out. In doing a tune-up the other day, a bunch of black dust fell out of the boot when I removed coil wire from the dist cap. That center terminal on the cap was all burnt up and black. So was the connector on the cable end. I think it was loose and arcing. Anyway, I can buy just the single cable and save money over buying a set. I'd rather not buy the entire set if its unecessary.

 

replace them all. If one's gone down the hole, the others are sure to follow.

 

If that wire is in bad shape, the others could be too. What kind of vehicle are you working on? A set of wires shouldn't be more than $20-30.

 

Buy new wires and be done with it, like the others have said if one is bad the others will soon be also.

 

I have a 92 F150 4x4 I6. The coil wire terminal is all rusted and burnt looking where it connects to the dist cap and the dist cap terminal was all burnt. It wasn't clipped on nice and tight. It slid right off which is why I think it was loose and arcing. All the other plug wire terminals were fine. My question is, does the actual wire (not the insulator) get bad over time? I've seen burnt wires (from leaning on the valve cover) and pinched wires but I have never heard of one failing. And I can't think of why one would. Heck, the wiring in my house is 96 years old and still going strong so why shouldn't a spark plug wire?

 

Buy and replace them all. If the one is showing signs of being bad then the others will need changed also. And to answer your original question, then yes the wire part can become worn out so to speak. It can become cracked, pinched, thin, and start breaking down. So just like plugs and all else they need to be changed at some point and it looks like you reached that point.

 

You can't make that kind of comparison. Apples/Oranges

 

I bet you would save a decent percentage each month on your electrical bill if those wires were all brand new, too. Even if it was replaced with wire equivilent to the original.

My 300's primary wire (Coil-Cap) was just as you explained. Replaced it...same as before. Replaces them all, and it seemed to purr a little smoother...may have just been me. A good full tune up is always nice though.

 

To keep in mind the cheap wires tend to wear out quicker than the good ones. I used xacts on my old probe and after a a couple of weeks I would have a misfire till I exchanged them and then I had the same problem again till I bought some good wires. I used the motorcraft wires in my rig and they work great.