What did you pay to have your spark plugs replaced (V6)?

[pipspeak]

Curious what folks paid for 6 new OEM plugs installed by a shop. I cannot find a stealership that will do it for under about $400, which is a ludicrous price for six spark plugs and what looks like a half hour job.

Sadly I cannot do it myself, but if I can't find anywhere that'll charge a reasonable price I might just buy the tools etc. and borrow a friend's driveway (although torque wrenches are a bit pricey)

 

[gookies]

Why can't you do it yourself? You need a few tools and a torque wrench from Harbor Freight is $10. Everything you need can be bought there if you don't have any tools. It should take you less than an hour to complete.

 

[theoutbackdream]

Sadly I cannot do it myself, but if I can't find anywhere that'll charge a reasonable price I might just buy the tools etc. and borrow a friend's driveway (although torque wrenches are a bit pricey)

To answer your question, $60...

Why can't you do it yourself? SUPER easy. Just don't be that guy and remove all spark plugs/wires all at once. Just do it one at a time.

Tools? All you'll need is a wrench, extension, spark plug socket and a gapping tool(just incase). At most you'll spend $20~25.

 

[Samm25]

I changed all 8 on my ‘05 V8 and it took me 30 minutes tops. Not really a hard job and don’t need a lot of tools at all. Anywhere you look is going to charge you a lot since they consider it a “tune up” on a vehicle

 

[Seymore Butts]

$400 sounds about right at the dealer. An independent shop would probably be closer to $150 around here, but probably more in NYC.

I paid PepBoys about $25 for the six NGK plugs specified in the owners manual and it took me 40-50 minutes, including obsessive cleaning and compressed air blowing to make sure I don't drop dirt down the plug hole. However, I realize that not everyone is comfortable wrenching on their engine, or is physically able to do it.

 

[pipspeak]

Why can't you do it yourself? You need a few tools and a torque wrench from Harbor Freight is $10. Everything you need can be bought there if you don't have any tools. It should take you less than an hour to complete.

I could do it myself, but the tools plus other bits and pieces (antisieze, grease etc.) would probably run me $60+ and then I'd have to drive an hour to the nearest friendly-friend's driveway/garage (I live in a city apartment and park on the street), so if I can get it done for a half-hour's labor (ie about $60) that would be a lot less hassle. Surely there must be some shops that charge a normal amount for a simply job like this?

 

[gookies]

I could do it myself, but the tools plus other bits and pieces (antisieze, grease etc.) would probably run me $60+ and then I'd have to drive an hour to the nearest friendly-friend's driveway/garage (I live in a city apartment and park on the street), so if I can get it done for a half-hour's labor (ie about $60) that would be a lot less hassle. Surely there must be some shops that charge a normal amount for a simply job like this?

You can do it in the Harbor Freight parking lot after you buy the tools. I don't think you'd find a shop that charges that low.

 

[theoutbackdream]

I could do it myself, but the tools plus other bits and pieces (antisieze, grease etc.) would probably run me $60+ and then I'd have to drive an hour to the nearest friendly-friend's driveway/garage (I live in a city apartment and park on the street), so if I can get it done for a half-hour's labor (ie about $60) that would be a lot less hassle. Surely there must be some shops that charge a normal amount for a simply job like this?

$60? Where are you getting your prices from? It'll cost you at most around $25. You can get those little $1 packets of anti-seize, and di-electric grease from O'Rileys at the checkout counter. Gapping tool for $1. $5 for a spark plug socket, maybe $15 on a ratchet, and another $5 for an extension.

I live in a similar situation as you. I still wrench on my truck on the street. Technically not legal... But hey, it's only illegal if I get caught... :rofl: And it'll only take a few minutes...

 

[99Runnr]

As stated, buy the tools, work on the truck in ANY of the parking lots. Autozone, Walmart, ect.

The leg work an thought you've put into this has already surpassed the time it would take to do the job. An do yourself a favor, just spend like $50(?) on a tool SET from Harbor Freight. Get ratchet(s), socket(s), extensions, so you aren't buying individual stuff for one specific job.

 

[pipspeak]

OK, you convinced me... but I'll invest in a decent torque wrench though because I could do with one anyway for other stuff. Off to YouTube I go for research!

 

[RAD4Runner]

As stated, buy the tools, work on the truck in ANY of the parking lots. Autozone, Walmart, ect.
The leg work an thought you've put into this has already surpassed the time it would take to do the job.....

Yup^^^
Spark plug job is a "clean" no-mess job; No one should complain about it.

OK, you convinced me... but I'll invest in a decent torque wrench though because I could do with one anyway for other stuff. Off to YouTube I go for research!

That's the spirit! (I have more peace of mind when I work on my truck myself.)
Torque wrench is surely a good investment. Got a Kobalt one from Lowe's.
With spark plugs, a legit alternative to torquing is to screw in the plug by hand (with socket and extension if needed), feel when crush washer makes contact, then with ratchet this time turn a certain fraction of a turn further. This may even be printed on spark plug package.

 

[RobD]

Yeah, it's pretty much a no-brainer. The passenger side is quick. The driver side...well, you'll see.

 

[pipspeak]

How long an extension do I need? The plugs look pretty deep in the block.

 

[theoutbackdream]

As stated, buy the tools, work on the truck in ANY of the parking lots. Autozone, Walmart, ect.

The leg work an thought you've put into this has already surpassed the time it would take to do the job. An do yourself a favor, just spend like $50(?) on a tool SET from Harbor Freight. Get ratchet(s), socket(s), extensions, so you aren't buying individual stuff for one specific job.

Don't waste your money on a HF tool set.. Home depot and Lowe's occasionally has sales for their tool sets, that are really good deals. They have one right now.

Hell OP could get this: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Stanley-68...c-Mechanic-s-Tool-Set-with-Hard-Case/50435042, AND a spark plug tool for like $35. That tool set will do at least 99% of what you'll need to do.. The other 1% are just specialty tools, that you need once in a blue moon that you can rent out.

 

[Forty6and2Ahead]

Use this extension. Another member recommended it and it made it a lot easier to remove the spark plugs on the driver side. As others mentioned, replacing spark plugs is very easy. I am mechanically impotent but able to do it within an 45 minutes!!

AMPRO T33338 3/8-Inch Drive by 5/8-Inch Extendable Flex Spark Plug Socket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A32UH5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_l3AUAbHG8BH3M




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[nuron]

Just did this the other day and it was super easy. On the driver's side, I removed two hoses and the big vertical bracket. It'll all make sense when you see what things to move out of the way to give you access.