SPS

So I guess you decided to keep your factory coils. I looked up the wires for OBX and saw that they stop at 1999 model. Either way thanks, JComeskey, would love to hear your thoughts.

sc_incognito wrote:

QUOTE:
I've read that the PCM's on the 96-00's and the 01-02's were made by 2 seperate companies namely Delco and Motorola.

Could be, but I have never heard that. Both Delphi and Motorola are in that market. But as far as I know, Delphi had the contract all the way through 02. That's not really my area of expertise. Mike Kramer or Chris Berube would probably know the answer to that.

sc_incognito wrote:

QUOTE:
I've read that the aftermarket coils on work better on the 01-02 models than my model. Any truth to that?

I'd have to say no. Based on my 12 years of experience selling and supporting aftermarket products to Saturn owners, it seems to me that every 96-02 owner usually had bad luck with aftermarket coils. I think it all comes back to that compression sense ignition feature and the matching resistance curves. You must have gotten lucky and ended up with a pair of coils that were really consistent.


sc_incognito wrote:

QUOTE:
From what I've read the stock coils put out more voltage than the current aftermarket ones by MSD and Accel. Any truth to that?

I have never seen any data about the stock coils. I have no clue what kind of output they produce. I'm certain that MSD and Accel would assure us otherwise.

But nothing would surprise me anymore. We once tried to run an expansion test on a set of Goodridge brake hoses. They leaked before we even got to the stock testing pressure.

sc_incognito wrote:

QUOTE:
In the case of my 2000 I keep reading that should stick to my factory coils and simply upgrade the wires and plugs

That is exactly what I would do if it were me. We've had good luck with the NGK6953 plugs.

In most cases, unless you are using forced induction or really high compression ratios, you probably do not have a shortage of ignition strength anyway. As long a you are generating enough juice to create an arc across the plug gap, then what more do you want?

The one possible advantage to more juice is that it would possibly allow you to use a larger plug gap - which would produce a larger flame front at the point of ignition. I still contend that is why some people really liked the Nology Hotwires and the Beru Silverstone plugs. Those that used a larger gap (0.050 to 0.060) saw an improvement while those that used the stock gap (0.040) saw no difference.

The larger gap is the potential benefit. But you need more juice in order to arc across the larger gap.

sc_incognito wrote:

QUOTE:
I looked up the wires for OBX and saw that they stop at 1999 model.

Not sure why that would be. Didn't all DOHC with the composite cam cover use the same plug wires?

As I recall, the only difference was that the hole in the black composite cover was smaller than the hole in the silver aluminum cover. So the size of the moisture seal in the bottom of the boot was slightly different.

They used that black cover on a handful of 1994 models and then switched to it on all of the 1996 models (DOHC only). So I think that any wire set that fits a 96-99 car should also fit a 00-02 car.

But there is definitely a difference on the 91-95 cars. So it should be broken down as 91-95 and 96-02. And anyone with a 94 that has a black composite cam cover should use a 96-02 style wire.

Have I confused you yet?

Hey John

Thanks for your insight on this. I realize now that I did get lucky with my accel coils as I was able to get about 40K out of them before they died. Odd thing was that the coils went bad after I did my satty's next scheduled tune up and I had to switch to Magnecore 8.5MM wires as SPS no longer had the 8mm wires. Do you think there was a compatibility issue there? It passed emissions when I installed those wires and it took about a month before the coils went bad. When I did that tune up I still went wtih the NGK plugs which I felt performed beautifully with the SPS 8MM wires. Too bad your out of those. Back to Magnecore, do you think its a quality product? I see you no longer have those, is it simply that your sold out or did the manufacturer fail to address any performance issues like MSD and Accel did with you in the past?

sc_incognito wrote:

QUOTE:
I had to switch to Magnecore 8.5MM wires as SPS no longer had the 8mm wires. Do you think there was a compatibility issue there?

I don't think so.

Technically, on the 96-02 cars, Saturn Corp matched the cylinder #1 and #4 wires into matched sets to get matching resistance curves. So they obviously feel that the wires themselves can make a difference.

But as far as I know, we never experienced any problems with any of our wire brands. So I would be hesitant to blame it on the wires.

sc_incognito wrote:

QUOTE:
Back to Magnecore, do you think its a quality product?

Unquestionably yes.

sc_incognito wrote:

QUOTE:
I see you no longer have those, is it simply that your sold out or did the manufacturer fail to address any performance issues like MSD and Accel did with you in the past?

Simply a matter that we sold out. And since I was no longer enjoying the car parts business, I told Jen (my wife and the SPS warehouse manager) to stop ordering more inventory.

I never had any quality problems with Magnecor. In fact, the only reason that we started sourcing our own SPS brand wires was because Magnecor could not keep up with our demand. If they could have kept up with our orders, then I would have been happy to stick with their wires.