Arsynic

It's time for a spark plug change on the old girl. She's acting like a bitch going up steep climbs and she has over 100,000 miles. So I researched doing the job myself and found out about the asinine design decision Ford made with the two-piece spark plugs. This isn't the first dumb design that Ford has made with my particular vehicle (2006 model). The one piece hub and rotor design also cost me a pretty penny when the stock rotors became warped.

But I digress. I wasn't going to spend money on one tool for one job so I called up my stealership and they gave me a quote for $700 for the job plus $50 per plug if they break. The hell? Should I shop around or is this par for the course as far as dealerships go?

This has been the story of this truck. Reliable and as rock solid as can be but maintenance has turned out to be a major pain in my wallet.

joe mcmillan

Shop around - you can do better than that. Just find a shop with a good reputation. You may want to consider COPS also.

techrep

iTrader: (1)

Find a local shop that has done the 2 peice plugs before...normally they will give you a better rate.

lyricspap

i was quoted 400 from a guy. probally do after new year sometime

Arsynic

A local shop quoted "around $500".

Should I suggest that they put in normal spark plugs when they change them? I'm not giving any money to Ford's dealerships due to this stupid design decision. I think my next car is going to be a foreign luxury sports car because the maintenance basically costs me the same...

rubbinsracin

I called 5 dealerships in the area and most quoted really close to what you were told.

Highest was going to be 800 plus 1/2 hour labor charged for each broken plug.

Lowest, believe it or not, was my local GM dealership that said if I provided the extractor tool ($65ish - they use it and send it home with me) they would do the whole job for $400 no matter if they broke any plugs.

I also had an independent shop quote me $550 for the whole job no matter what.

LiftedsKRew

Why not bite the bullet and buy the Lisle tool, plugs and COPs and do it yourself. Much cheaper than paying to have some shop just change your plugs. Since there are so many of us facing the dilemma that you are right now,I doubt you'll have difficulty selling the tool afterwards.

alfack

They are daring you to do it yourself!!

Arsynic

I'm not a mechanic and I don't even have a proper ratcheting set. I'd just screw something up and end up having to get a tow to the dealership to fix it anyways. LOL.

One shop in the same franchise that I called before, says he won't even take the chance with it. Told me, "Sorry!" Man, Ford really done goofed up!

kieran54

I brought mine to ford and they did it for 380$ i have a 08 and none broke would have done it myself but the truck was getting the cam phasers done under warranty so i got them to that to.