Spark plugs are $2.00-$5.00 each depending on brand. Wires are $20.00-$40.00 for a set. It is a fairly easy job to do yourself.$350.00 to me seems like you are getting hosed, I would call around for other quotes if you can not do it youself. Is it a 4 or 6 cyl?
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01:43 PM
shermdizzle Member
Posts: 375 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: Aug 2007
Just do the wires one wire at a time, so you can't screw it up. The quote is probably so hight because they know what a PITA it is to get at those back 3 plugs. Most people here reccommend taking the decklid off to get at them. Now if it was a duke you'd be getting completely hosed, $50 in parts and half an hour's work.
With a wobble extension for the ratchet wrench, getting at the firewall-side spark plugs isn't hard.
That said, the shop is probably charging you about $275-300 for labor, to install about $50-75 worth of parts. Since you've already replaced the distro cap and rotor, basically all you have left is the fuel/air filters, spark plugs, and plug wires. It might be a good idea to check the timing, too. For what the shop wants to charge you, you could buy the parts and all the tools needed to do the work, and still have money left over. This is assuming you're competent enough not to screw anything up.
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05:53 PM
Chicken McNizzle Member
Posts: 1310 From: Valencia, CA Registered: Jan 2004
Plugs Wires Cap Rotor Fuel Filter Oil Oil Filter SES Sytems and Functionality Check Tire Rotation Injector Cleaning with IAC valve and port cleaning TPS Adjustment ( "idle" screws are ALWAYS tampered with on these cars ) Topping off coolant Testing Battery
...thats what I always considered a tune up, off the top of my head
edit: ...duh - forgot about checking the timing
------------------ Recanizin' Flat-Buns Since 2001
Eric Nelson Internet Sales Manager Power Ford Valencia nelsone@autonation.com
[This message has been edited by Chicken McNizzle (edited 11-14-2007).]
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06:02 PM
Lambo nut Member
Posts: 4439 From: Centralia,Missouri. USA Registered: Sep 2003
Plugs Wires Cap Rotor Fuel Filter Oil Oil Filter SES Sytems and Functionality Check Tire Rotation Injector Cleaning with IAC valve and port cleaning TPS Adjustment ( "idle" screws are ALWAYS tampered with on these cars ) Topping off coolant Testing Battery
...thats what I always considered a tune up, off the top of my head
edit: ...duh - forgot about checking the timing
Yep, my cars always run better, after rotating the tires, and checking the battery!!....
Kevin
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08:30 PM
Richjk21 Member
Posts: 2228 From: Central Square NY, USA Registered: Feb 2006
don't forget the piston return springs, relative bearing grease, and halogen fluid
All kidding aside I highly recommend going through the IAC motor and idle passages, then confirm the TPS is reading .45mv at idle - this was among the many services I performed while doing a tune-up
------------------ Recanizin' Flat-Buns Since 2001
Eric Nelson Internet Sales Manager Power Ford Valencia nelsone@autonation.com
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10:32 PM
Nov 15th, 2007
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
its a 6....and i would do it myself, but don't you have to set the plugs to fire at a certain sequence? i don't know how to do that
yes, the firing order. luckily - our V6's have a great firing order: 1-2-3-4-5-6 easy, eh? there is a pic somehwre - posted many times, showing which cyl is #1 and, then, you just need to remember which post is #1 on the distributer.
jump in there - do it. any car over 10 years old is not good if you dont wrench. unless, of course, you gots the $$$ to pay $60+ an hour for someone to do it for ya....
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08:26 AM
Fieroseverywhere Member
Posts: 4242 From: Gresham, Oregon USA Registered: Mar 2006
I do a tuneup on my car once a year. I put the cheapest wires and plugs on that they have in Autozone. Also I put on a new cap and rotor. I've never failed an emission inspection yet (for about 6 years). I usually spend about $40.00 for parts. Auto dealers used to charge about $80.00/hour for labor. It takes me about 3 hours but I'm not a mechanic and I don't do this every day. My car is a 1984 Fiero with a duke. I think $350.00 is a little steep, but then it's got two more cylinders than mine, so the parts might be more and the time for the 2 extra plugs would be higher.
[This message has been edited by William Federle (edited 11-15-2007).]
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10:11 AM
Nov 17th, 2007
ICouldaBeenAV8 Member
Posts: 666 From: Chatsworth, California; Clearwater, Florida, and Milwaukee, Wisc. Registered: Jun 2003
Someday, when I drop my cradle, I'm gonna' find a bonanza of lost sockets and extensions that have fallen into the black hole that exists on the backside of the 2.8. They fall in and don't fall on the ground. Where do they go? $350 almost sounds like a bargain.