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YOUR RESEARCHCrazy price for plug change!!
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Replace some of the exhaust bolts
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Suggestion
And while your exhaust is off it is a good time to get the mufflers modded (aka Gundo hack) and possibly replace some of the exhaust bolts with stainless.
Leading evidence: 'Replace some of the exhaust bolts' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace some of the exhaust bolts' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Replace some of the exhaust bolts
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Suggestion
And while your exhaust is off it is a good time to get the mufflers modded (aka Gundo hack) and possibly replace some of the exhaust bolts with stainless.
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I have the car in for some work and while in there the dealer mentioned they had no record of a plug change, which they suggest. However, they want $486 to do the job!!
So, is this a crazy price or is there more to this typically simple job than meets the eye?
It's a bit of a pain in the ***, but it's totally doable by even a novice DIY'er. No special tools are needed. There are a few threads about it on here if you do a search.
Plus the plugs themselves will be $60-120 since it's at a dealer. If it is an mk1 model, you might want to ask if that includes the spark plug tubes and/or seals.
No, not really. Just a PITA to get to some of them.
Here's a video and a link to a nice write-up:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...park_Plugs.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvcvscL1uZI
I did mine and I wouldn't even consider myself a novice DIY'er...but I'm learning...
...there's really only one of them that's a PITA...but definitely not worth spending $486 unless you don't have a day to burn.
no, but anything bought through the dealer will be marked up like crazy. (Bosch plug is say $5, dealer will ask $14 for the same plug). Thats why people like indies and diy so much.
So lets call it $80 for the plugs.
Labor rate is probably $130.
3 hours of labor, plugs, tax, shop fees, etc and I can see $486.
I just finished doing the job. It isn't overly complicated but it is a bit time consuming since a few of the plugs are hard to remove due to the exhaust bracket that is mounted to the engine. And while it is much easier when the exhaust is removed, removing the mufflers takes more than a few minutes especially the first time. Still a pretty straightforward DIY but understandable that the dealership would charge ~2 hours.
If the plugs haven't been replaced that means your ignition coils could also be on their way out. Since they have to be removed to get to the plugs I'd recommend to do both at once. Cracked coils can result in a misfire that will could stop you at the side of the road. It did for me on a heavy rain day :-(
As an FYI, ECS Tuning (site sponsor) has a great price on a kit that includes both Bosch coils and plugs.
And while your exhaust is off it is a good time to get the mufflers modded (aka Gundo hack) and possibly replace some of the exhaust bolts with stainless.
Nice video Mike! Thanks for providing that. And thanks to everyone else who provided some insights into this for me.
I decided not tohave the dealership replace the plugs and as soon as my old car is off the lift, this will be a job I will undertake.
Thanks again.....Les.
Les - here's another step-by-step guide for you. Can't hurt to get as much info as possible before you dig in!
996 Spark Plug Replacement
Mark/Pelican Parts
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
