Another plug wires question

[Biff Bradley]

I was recently gifted with a set of Beru OEM plug wires for my 89 Carrera to replace my 15 year old wires. I know there are diverse opinions on the subject of which wires are best, but I'm trying to keep everything stock. The existing wires (three of them) are each covered with a rubber sleeve (like a piece of rubber tubing) where they cross over the fan housing. The new wires don't have this. My question is: should I attempt to remove the connectors on my new wires so the tubing can be fit over them? I'm not crazy about doing this - but maybe it's a simple matter of pulling the connectors off and sticking them back on. Alternatively, should the new wires have come with the sleeves installed already? Or, are they just supposed to be left off (seems unlikely).

Thanks for any advice on this.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Sounds like those sleeves are simply anti-wear devices. My Magnacor wires don't have any such sleeves where thye cross the fan housing, and they work just fine...

Stephan

[ChrisL]

I found the same thing when I replaced the wires on my '86. I would have put them in without these sleeves, but the new wires won't fit in the hold-downs on the fan housing by themselves. And, I couldn't get the old ones off the old wires. So I just went to the auto parts store and got some hose that was close in size. I then slit it lengthwise and slipped it around the new wires, with the slit against the fan housing so you couldn't see it. Worked great.

Chris.

[ChrisBennet]

There are 2 "flavors" of Carrera plug wires. The 1984 wires have shorter leads to the 4-6 plugs and don't go over the fan housing. I can't remember for sure, but they probably don't have the protective part either. I would make sure you don't have the wrong year wires.
-Chris