how much should a tuneup cost minus a cap and rotor? i just got the cap and rotor replaced, and i just got quoted 350 for just wires and spark plugs

any one know?

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?

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

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.

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1984 Fiero SE

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.

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

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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).]

quote Originally posted by Chicken McNizzle: 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

quote Originally posted by Lambo nut: Yep, my cars always run better, after rotating the tires, and checking the battery!!.... Kevin

Hey .... the butt dyno don't lie

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

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Recanizin' Flat-Buns Since 2001

Eric Nelson
Internet Sales Manager
Power Ford Valencia
nelsone@autonation.com

quote Originally posted by shermdizzle: 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....

PCV valve

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).]

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.