HT Leads

[TRANSPORTER]

Just a quick one, the sensor that is attached to the HT Lead, how exactly is this sensor attached, just asking because if it is possible to remove and refit the sensor onto another set of leads then this is what I want to do, due to the high price of a new set of leads for a six cylinder M20, has anyone attempted this or will I have to stump up a minimum of £75 for a set of new leads, if anyone here knows of a better price please let us all know as I find the price for leads pretty hard to swallow, especially as you can pick up loads of others for a much cheaper price and of the same quality.

[zaust]

You can leave the sensor off fella.

[andyaskew]

What does it do?

[George_Of_The_Jungle]

What sensor?????? i havent really bothered looking at my leads. How much do GSF charge for leads?

[wullie325i]

on one of the leads theres an extra lead that attatches itself to it like a ring around the lead and im sure it goes to the throttle body but cant remember for sure and i think its a pulse sensor or something like that

[wullie325i]

the extra lead is there at the bottom right

[wullie325i]

but like marc said you dont need it though

[George_Of_The_Jungle]

Goes around a lead? sounds like a hall sensor (senses electro-magnetic fields) could it be something to do with the ecu, obc or a check panel. bmw dont seem like the ppl that would put a useless lead on the set just to charge ppl more money. it must do something?

[wullie325i]

it will do something but im not sure what and i know that it dosent make any difference to the running of the car.

most high performance lead sets dont come with them either although you can request them at an extra charge.

[zaust]

Diag back to the ecu...

[wullie325i]

Diag back to the ecu...

what does it do marc i dont get what you mean?

[march109]

Diag back to the ecu...

what does it do marc i dont get what you mean?

Sences electical current in the HT lead and hence plug sparking and sends a signal back to the ECU.

[TRANSPORTER]

ok guys Ive just PM Mr Brianmoooore, to get the diffinitive answer on this subject, I have heard that you can run without it but knowone that I know of has actually done it to my knowledge, if it slides off then i can make up my own leads and slide the sensor back on to the new lead and bobs your uncle 7 new lew leads at a fraction of the cost. fingers crossed, will have the answer on this thread when I hear back from the oracle that is Mr Moooore.

[zaust]

I don't run one on the tech 2. the mummy wagon or my tech 1 touring with later loom. All fine and dandy.

[Brianmoooore]

It's effectively the cam position sensor, and the only way the ECU knows which of the two cylinders that are rising up the bores at any one time is on its compression stroke and which is on its exhaust stroke.
On early versions of motronic, it just connects to the diagnostic socket, but on later versions it feeds the ECU as well.
Engine will run without it, but marginally better with it.
Why are you changing the HT leads anyway? I've NEVER changed an E30 HT lead that wasn't physically damaged. I've tested plenty, and never found any deterioration.
Running on LPG is an excellent detector of inadequate ignition components.

[TRANSPORTER]

Many thanks Mr Mooore for your quick response, I,m changing the HT leads because my number six cylinder lead broke its insulation rubber around the plug, just deterioated over time I suppose the rest seem to be ok, but for pure piece of mind I would like to change all of them to make it a proper job and not a bodge if you know what I mean. I will look under the bonnet today to see where the sensor lead goes to, ie if it runs to the diagnostic plug or into ecu.

[--alpina--]

i haveK1 performanceleads as you can see below in the pic and i didnt notice any difference and also have contemplating to cut that bit of HT lead from one side of the ring end and take off carefully to fit using little silicone glue to hold it in place on to my new lead set but never got around it...


j

[andyaskew]

I just bought some from eurocarparts

HT Leads, Distributor Cap & Rotor arm = £140

[Pyros]

ive just changed my spark plugs and the ht leads seem to have got the tops of the old spark plugs stuck in them any ideas on how to remove them?

[Simon]

ive just changed my spark plugs and the ht leads seem to have got the tops of the old spark plugs stuck in them any ideas on how to remove them?

Remove the heads of the plugs, and they will fit fine.

[e30325itourer]

when you say tops do you mean the bits that screw off the top of the spark plugs if so they should not be fitted on the plugs

[Pyros]

cool thanks guys.

[TRANSPORTER]

You see even £140 quid is steep even for what you bought andy, and I think that you and I alpina have the same idea with the removal of thre sensor and then attempting to put it on to a new lead.

[Brianmoooore]

Get a replacement lead or leads from a scrapper, and the problem will be solved.
Even the few I've replaced have all been replaced by good second hand ones.

[gaszman]

juat paid 74.90 for dizzy cap rotor arm and pluge she runs better than ever now cant beleive i didnt do it sooner .
now when i throttle through to the red line she pulls no hesiation or nothing great