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Thread: Resistance in spark plug wire

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
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    Default Resistance in spark plug wire

    Hi people.

    Does anybody know what resistance (ohm) it should be in the spark plug wire (the one going from the coil and down onto the sparkplug)??

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by 520John
    Hi people.

    Does anybody know what resistance (ohm) it should be in the spark plug wire (the one going from the coil and down onto the sparkplug)??
    Depending on the accuracy of your meter - really, really close to zero.

    Car Info is HERE

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by shrike071
    Depending on the accuracy of your meter - really, really close to zero.
    I set the ohm meter to 200k and it measured 2,4????

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by 520John
    I set the ohm meter to 200k and it measured 2,4????
    Doesn't this mean resistance is around 400k ohm or am I horribly wrong?
    2008 audi A3 1.9tdi
    (former 1991 520i LPG)

  5. #5
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    If the meter is on the 200k range then it can measure 0k to 200 kOhms. So 2.4 on that range is 2.4k.

    With a 400kOhm resistor on the 200k range, it would show 200k - just as if it had nothing connected. By changing the meter's setting from the 200k range to the 2 MOhm (mega ohm) range, you'd then get a display of 400.

  6. #6
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    The coils and plugs are giving sparks, in other words 2,4 at 200K is ok.

    Now its down to changing the fuelfilter and trying again. If that doesnt work then I'll have to change the pump.
    Do you agree that I have narrowed it down to these two possible faults??

  7. #7
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 520John
    The coils and plugs are giving sparks, in other words 2,4 at 200K is ok.

    Now its down to changing the fuelfilter and trying again. If that doesnt work then I'll have to change the pump.
    Do you agree that I have narrowed it down to these two possible faults??
    Not sure..........

    Maybe I missed a previous post and am missing some background info. From what i gather, your head cover gaskets were bad, the plug wells filled with oil, shorted, and you lost spark. Now you've cleaned things up, changed the gaskets, have a spark, but no ignition. What are the odds that your fuel delivery is hampered just as you solve a spark issue? (Low??)

    Is this the correct scenario?
    Was anything else messed with (sensors etc.)?

    If your spark IS strong enough, your sensors and DME are in working order, then rather than spending $$ on parts you may not need, test the fuel pressure. Regarding the DME, is it not possible that the oil in the plug wells could have damaged the coils, then the DME? Someone may know, based on the fact that you still have spark, whether this is possible.

    Keep us informed, and good luck,

    Dave M

    10/90 Build 525im, 630,000+km, Eibach/Sachs, Engine Rebuild
    *RIP Oskar the DOG *

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by pingu
    If the meter is on the 200k range then it can measure 0k to 200 kOhms.
    With a 400kOhm resistor on the 200k range, it would show 200k - just as if it had nothing connected. By changing the meter's setting from the 200k range to the 2 MOhm (mega ohm) range, you'd then get a display of 400.
    That is strange.
    Changing the range settings on any meter should simply move the decimal point.
    With the setting of 200K you should be able to measure up to 999Kohms.
    A 400kOhm resistor measured on the 200K setting would show 4. on the display.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by RallyD
    That is strange.
    Changing the range settings on any meter should simply move the decimal point.
    With the setting of 200K you should be able to measure up to 999Kohms.
    A 400kOhm resistor measured on the 200K setting would show 4. on the display.
    Nah, a 200k range can't distinguish between 200k and an open circuit (i.e. an infinite resistance). The maximum resistance a 200k range can measure is 200k. That's why it's called a 200k range.

    When you talk about measuring up to 999kOhms you mean a 1MOhm range.

    To avoid an incipient flame war, I'm talking about a Digital Multi-Meter (it is 2007 after all). On an analogue meter the concept of range is rather meaningless as the resolution simply depends on your ability to see a barely perceptible movement of the needle.

  10. #10
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    Spark plug lead resistances are generally very high iirc. Something about noise supression.

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