Big Jim
Hard-core CEG'er
Plug wires should last a very long time. 46K miles is very early. My originals were still good when I replaced them at 150,000 miles. I only chnaged them because I wonted red ones. I guess I was lucky with the Ford racing wires too, as they have not been a problem and they have been on the car for 75,000 miles.
Back to the original complaint. An ignition misfire is a very sharp feeling. It comes when the plug doesn't fire. It happens when the voltage required to fire the plug exceeds the voltage available. Required voltage can be higher than normal when the plugs are badly worn. Available voltage can be low when the coil is defective. If the wires have blown through, usually in the boot area, the spark may be diverted to ground when the path of resistance is lower to ground than the plug. Required voltage to fire the plug also rises with cylinder pressure so a marginal ignition system fires fine under low engine load and misses under heavy load.
So if you feel a sharp miss, inspect the ignition system. Replace the questionable parts as needed.
If what you are feeling is not a sharp feeling, it is more likely to be a fuel supply problem.
Back to the original complaint. An ignition misfire is a very sharp feeling. It comes when the plug doesn't fire. It happens when the voltage required to fire the plug exceeds the voltage available. Required voltage can be higher than normal when the plugs are badly worn. Available voltage can be low when the coil is defective. If the wires have blown through, usually in the boot area, the spark may be diverted to ground when the path of resistance is lower to ground than the plug. Required voltage to fire the plug also rises with cylinder pressure so a marginal ignition system fires fine under low engine load and misses under heavy load.
So if you feel a sharp miss, inspect the ignition system. Replace the questionable parts as needed.
If what you are feeling is not a sharp feeling, it is more likely to be a fuel supply problem.