* Material: They'll likely be made of a type of silicone or high-temperature rubber, designed to withstand the heat of the engine. Older wires might be a harder rubber that is more prone to cracking.
* Color: The color can vary; they might be black, red, blue, or even a combination. The color doesn't usually indicate any specific function; it's more for visual identification of the firing order, but this isn't always consistent. Some might be completely unmarked.
* Shape: They'll be individual wires, roughly cylindrical, that are flexible but relatively sturdy. Each will have a connector at one end that fits securely onto the spark plug, and another connector at the other end that attaches to the distributor cap (if it has a distributor) or directly to the ignition coil pack.
* Condition: On a 2005 vehicle, if they're original, they might show some signs of age and wear. Look for cracks, brittle spots, or any signs of melting or damage to the insulation. The connectors should be firm and secure, not loose or corroded.
Important Note: The 2005 Cavalier could have either a distributor system or a coil-on-plug (COP) system. This significantly impacts the wire configuration:
* Distributor System: This uses a single distributor cap with several wires running from the cap to each spark plug. You'd see multiple wires coming from a central point (the distributor cap). This is less common in newer cars.
* Coil-on-Plug (COP) System: Each spark plug has its own ignition coil mounted directly on top of it. In this case, there's a shorter, thicker wire connecting the coil to the spark plug itself. This is more common on later model cars and may mean very short wires or even no visible wires at all (besides the short boot from the coil to the plug).
Without knowing *exactly* which engine is in your 2005 Cavalier (there were several options available), it's difficult to be completely specific about the wire appearance. However, the descriptions above should give you a general idea. If you're unsure, checking online images of 2005 Cavalier engines with the specific engine code will provide the most accurate visual reference.
