2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Interesting find... I'll show some spark plugs!

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Old Mar 30, 2016 | 12:23 PM
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Interesting find... I'll show some spark plugs!

Actually, I am very intrigued and amazed at my findings. I always thought that the leading coil would be tapped in the center and that both plugs would fire Positive. I changed out my spark plugs last night and came to an amazing find. The Leading coil is NOT center tapped so one leading plug fires Negative and the other fires Positive. See the attached picture!
Attached Thumbnails Interesting find... I'll show some spark plugs!-worn_out_positive_negative.jpg  
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Old Mar 30, 2016 | 12:24 PM
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In the above picture, you can see that the ground electrode on one spark plug is barely worn but the positive side is burned to a crisp, The other spark plug is exactly opposite.

This means you could, in theory, swap your leading plug wires between plug changes and extend the life of your spark plugs.

Last edited by jjwalker; Mar 30, 2016 at 12:27 PM.
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Old Mar 30, 2016 | 11:27 PM
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step away from the Back of the car...you are inhaling toxic fumes.
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Old Apr 1, 2016 | 12:42 PM
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Originally Posted by jjwalker
In the above picture, you can see that the ground electrode on one spark plug is barely worn but the positive side is burned to a crisp, The other spark plug is exactly opposite.

This means you could, in theory, swap your leading plug wires between plug changes and extend the life of your spark plugs.




... honestly I actually have noticed a difference in the front and rear leading plug wear but I never read anything into it...
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Old Apr 1, 2016 | 01:06 PM
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jjwalker is correct.
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Old Apr 1, 2016 | 03:53 PM
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Think TIG welding. Electrode is negative because when it comes to electron flow, more heat/damage happens to the material they flow to, in a much greater degree, than the material they flow from. When TIG welding aluminum, you turn the welder on reverse polarity (electrode positive) to ball the end of the electrode. This is for AC welding of aluminum.
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Old Apr 1, 2016 | 05:58 PM
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Aren't nearly all wasted coils of this design?
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Old Apr 1, 2016 | 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by scathcart
Aren't nearly all wasted coils of this design?
I just did some searching, and google confirms that yes, this is true.

I didn't know until I took my plugs out and looked at them and thought "Hey, wait a second!".
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Old Apr 3, 2016 | 11:23 AM
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I saw this thread when I was at work, but yes. All waste coils are of this design.

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Old Apr 3, 2016 | 06:07 PM
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Interesting observation JJ, I'd have never guessed. Now I'm curious - what are the implications of disconnecting one of the plug wires on the circuit? I suspect the other (connected) plug will fire, but does this stress the coil?
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Old Apr 3, 2016 | 06:47 PM
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Originally Posted by cone_crushr
Interesting observation JJ, I'd have never guessed. Now I'm curious - what are the implications of disconnecting one of the plug wires on the circuit? I suspect the other (connected) plug will fire, but does this stress the coil?
The coil will fire weakly and yes it stresses the coil.
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Old Apr 4, 2016 | 11:14 AM
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should we start rotating are plugs to even the wear? lol
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Old Apr 4, 2016 | 01:22 PM
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Yes, you should.
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Old Apr 4, 2016 | 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by clean87
should we start rotating are plugs to even the wear? lol
I mentioned that in my second post.

You just need to swap the wires, you can leave the plugs in
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Old Apr 4, 2016 | 08:59 PM
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Originally Posted by jjwalker
You just need to swap the wires, you can leave the plugs in
Uhh... I dunno about you, but I'd rather switch the plugs than the wires.
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Old Apr 5, 2016 | 06:05 AM
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Originally Posted by pzr2
Uhh... I dunno about you, but I'd rather switch the plugs than the wires.
Why? Don't both leading plugs fire at the same time all the time?
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Old Apr 5, 2016 | 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by pzr2
Uhh... I dunno about you, but I'd rather switch the plugs than the wires.
So you take the plugs out with the wires still on them? I'd like to see that and, why?
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Old Apr 5, 2016 | 08:12 PM
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rx7

They don't fire at the same time do they?
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Old Apr 5, 2016 | 08:22 PM
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From: █▬█ █▄█ █▬█ █▄██▬█ █▄█ █▬█ █▄█
Originally Posted by yr6
They don't fire at the same time do they?
L1 and L2 fire at the same time. Is it safe to say the trailing wear evenly, considering it's on a toggle?
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Old Apr 5, 2016 | 09:08 PM
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Both leading plugs fire at the same time, swapping the leading wires isn't going to hurt your car. Leave the trailings alone.
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