[SpyderWeb]

I know a lot of discussion has taken place on this forum regards spark plug wire sets. I recently purchased a low mileage (69,000 miles)1990 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce that appears to have the original spark plug wire set installed (REINSHAGEN FZL2XG labels on wires, and BOSCH 0356351050 metal cap ends over spark plugs).

I've been looking for a set of replacement wires, and there seems to be a distinction being made by vendors between wire sets for up to year 1989 Spiders, and wire sets for later year Spiders. I've seen a set of plug wires offered by a company called Karlyn Industries (Catalog Number: KARLYN-STI 417) that appears to look like the original wire set I have on my car. When I visited their website, their recommended application for this wire set ends with 1989 model year Spiders. There is no indication of their having a wire set for the 1990-1994 Spiders.

Does anyone know if there's an issue with using this set of plug wires on my 1990 Spider, aside from possible radio signal interference? I see where multiple vendors indicate that this particular set of wires is only for 1982-1989 Normally Aspirated (NA) Spiders? Might there be an issue with the different engine management systems (L-Jetronic versus Motronic) that makes this wire set unacceptable for use with my Motronic EMS?

The price I'm seeing for this specific set of plug wires is $64.22 delivered from a vendor on eBay. I like the look of this plug set, as it replicates the original wire set on my Spider. It just strikes me as odd that vendors are drawing a line at the 1989 model year for this plug wire set.

 

[spiderserie4]

I wouldn't worry.
I do not think there is a difference for jetronic or motronic.... and the original Bosch set can't be bought today.

Main thing is the metal suppression caps are marked 5 K.Ohm rated, and I am pretty sure they will be.
and the leads are 7mm (some fancy leads are 8mm and then won't fit into the lead tidy on the cam cover properly)

Kingsborne also do a set (612A) for 80 some bucks, and they say only to 1970 to 1980;....I have never seen that type on a 1970 alfa!)
IGN 612A Kingsborne Spark Plug Wires Ignition Wire Set

I have used a set from Marelli MSK521 (but doubt you'll find those in USA)
In USA they have used Beck Arnley set 175-6151, but that seems to be out of production now (unless you find new old stock somewhere)

shops over here seem to list them for 86-93
Zündkabelsatz Alfa Spider 115 2,0 Einspritzer Bj.1986-1993 - Autoersatzteile für Alfa Romeo, Fiat und Lancia bei AFL-Ricambi, 38,94 €

 

[SpyderWeb]

I wouldn't worry.
I do not think there is a difference for jetronic or motronic.... and the original Bosch set can't be bought today.

Main thing is the metal suppression caps are marked 5 K.Ohm rated, and I am pretty sure they will be.
and the leads are 7mm (some fancy leads are 8mm and then won't fit into the lead tidy on the cam cover properly)

Kingsborne also do a set (612A) for 80 some bucks, and they say only to 1970 to 1980;....I have never seen that type on a 1970 alfa!)
IGN 612A Kingsborne Spark Plug Wires Ignition Wire Set

I have used a set from Marelli MSK521 (but doubt you'll find those in USA)
In USA they have used Beck Arnley set 175-6151, but that seems to be out of production now (unless you find new old stock somewhere)

shops over here seem to list them for 86-93
Zündkabelsatz Alfa Spider 115 2,0 Einspritzer Bj.1986-1993 - Autoersatzteile für Alfa Romeo, Fiat und Lancia bei AFL-Ricambi, 38,94 €

I wouldn't worry.
I do not think there is a difference for jetronic or motronic.... and the original Bosch set can't be bought today.

Main thing is the metal suppression caps are marked 5 K.Ohm rated, and I am pretty sure they will be.
and the leads are 7mm (some fancy leads are 8mm and then won't fit into the lead tidy on the cam cover properly)

Kingsborne also do a set (612A) for 80 some bucks, and they say only to 1970 to 1980;....I have never seen that type on a 1970 alfa!)
IGN 612A Kingsborne Spark Plug Wires Ignition Wire Set

I have used a set from Marelli MSK521 (but doubt you'll find those in USA)
In USA they have used Beck Arnley set 175-6151, but that seems to be out of production now (unless you find new old stock somewhere)

shops over here seem to list them for 86-93
Zündkabelsatz Alfa Spider 115 2,0 Einspritzer Bj.1986-1993 - Autoersatzteile für Alfa Romeo, Fiat und Lancia bei AFL-Ricambi, 38,94 €

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Dom. I did notice that the Karlyn wire set does show the '5 K Ohm' designation stamped on the metal shroud ends, so I think I'll spring for a set of these and see how they work out. Although they don't come with the distributor end wire connections running through the original rubber cap, I may see if I can work something out where I can re-use the original rubber cap, assuming it doesn't disintegrate when I attempt to remove it from the original wire set.

 

[spiderserie4]

The nice thing about the rubber cap on the distributor end is that that cap fits snugly on top of the splash guard, when that is in place (if you even still have it.... a lot of lazy mechanics just throw it as they can’t be bothered to fiddle about putting it back on😂)

 

[alfaparticle]

The metal covers on the OE wires are for additional EFI shielding. Probably to meet some government regulation.

 

[sloboy89]

I bought a set of the Karlyn plug wires for my '85 from Rock Auto for $47. I have had no problem with them, but again, I don't know whether they would work on the Motronic.

 

[SpyderWeb]

Just strikes me as odd that so many vendors of the Karlyn wire set don't specify that they'll work for the 1990-1994 Spiders, they stop at 1989. There must be a reason. Otherwise, they're missing out on a lot of potential business.

 

[yvesmontreal]

Rockauto still lists the Karlyn set for a decent price, looks like $47US still ($61CDN). Any other wires they list is a regular type without balanced resistors and is wrong.

As to why, there are so many application errors in the aftermarket manufacturers listings that I wouldn't worry too much. Maybe the OE wires for a 90-94 have a slightly different coil wire length or a different distributor boot...

 

[Gubi]

Rockauto still lists the Karlyn set for a decent price, looks like $47US still ($61CDN). Any other wires they list is a regular type without balanced resistors and is wrong.

Resistor wires aren't OEM but they'll work okay, at least on the Nord cars. I used Magnecor KV85 wires on my S4 as a cheaper option at one point (I think Centerline used to sell these?) and they worked fine, they just didn't fit well in the cable organizer. I've since gone back to the OEM-style set that Classic Alfa sells with the metal resistor ends but never noted any running difference between the two.

 

[GV27]

Centerline has decent sets for around $35 and proper (repro I assume) OEM wires for late-model S3s and S4s. Obviously they're not cheap though.

 

[SpyderWeb]

Received the Karlyn-STI 417 spark plug wire set today (two days after I placed my order!). Couldn't be happier! Plug wires look like the original set I'm replacing and the plug ends have the '5 K ohm' rating stamped on the metal shrouds. The plug lengths are correct, and the distributor lead comes with a rubber cap that covers the top of the coil end. They lay perfectly in the wire loom bracket atop the cam housing, and they came with two 3-cable clips to keep everything neat and tidy. Shout out to the VNHM SHOP in Pompano Beach, FL who I purchased this set from on eBay!