Morning all

 

I’ve searched but not coming up with any solid do buy / don’t buy messages for HT lead brands. Plus there’s the complication of armoured or not armoured (didn’t even know that was a thing til very recently).

 

If anyone’s willing to share  experience or opinion, that would be gratefully received. 

Ditto lead removal tools - I have the part number but not every one carrying that looks the same so… 🤔 
 

I’m probably not going to go top of the range (my sporadic other posts tell a tale of an engine that has reached its everything falling off at once phase) but I’d like them to last more than a year, which is what I’m hearing about the cheapest.

 

Thank you 🤩 

Stick with brands you've heard of, Febi, Valeo, Lucas, Bosch, Delphi etc. that way you can buy whatever is cheapest but you'll still be getting decent quality.

 

I replace all the leads as soon as I start to see intermittent misfires logged, if that doesn't fix it you need to do the coil packs as well. They're all consumables along with the spark plugs of course.

Thank you @sepulchrave

 

I thought I’d be familiar with reputable brand names, but other than Lucas and Bosch (and probably Valeo now I think about it) I don’t think I’d recognise the others. So that list is really helpful. 

Was also wondering about the Euro Car Parts ones, just cos it’s a convenient same day opportunity. 

 

1 hour ago, MijIsTired said:

Thank you @sepulchrave

 

I thought I’d be familiar with reputable brand names, but other than Lucas and Bosch (and probably Valeo now I think about it) I don’t think I’d recognise the others. So that list is really helpful. 

Was also wondering about the Euro Car Parts ones, just cos it’s a convenient same day opportunity. 

 

The trouble with ECP unbranded guff is that it's designed to make them money rather than solve your problem.

 

I would order a decent set online and wait a few days for it to turn up, fitting is quick and easy so you don't need the weekend to do it, especially since it doesn't get dark until 2100.

I'm sure TPS sell them separately, so if you have identified the one that's at fault just do the one.

6 minutes ago, Blue8793841 said:

I'm sure TPS sell them separately, so if you have identified the one that's at fault just do the one.

 

If one has failed then the other three are right behind it, replace the lot.

Although it is a good idea to replace all it's not always necessary. For example the one next to the turbo will suffer from a lot more heat exposure than the rest.

I know the old 'replace things in pairs / sets' rule is less adhered to with newer cars, but when it comes to glitchy performance I'm inclined to at least buy a complete set. Then even if I do number 3 on its own first to check that the hesitations / hiccups go, I'll probably fit the lot so at least the service history is easier to keep track of. 

I keep finding parts that I would have assumed had been replaced 000s of miles ago are original (13yr old battery, shocks that had done 155,000). I haven't replaced the leads, and I don't remember them being done at a service, though I'll need to check as my memory is as glitchy as the leads.

Thanks for input folks.