For those of you who did not change your own plugs what did it cost you to have it done and where did you have it done (as in dealership or local shop)? Thanks

 

Your best bet is the dealer, as very few shops seem to know what they are dealing with when it comes to these plugs. They think it is a normal plug change and don't follow the TSB. Even at the dealership, quiz them as to how successful they are. My dealer has had great success and the plugs are pretty much no problem. They rarely break one. I paid $350 less a 10% coupon. I would have been charged about $80 each for any that broke, but none did.

 

I had my mechanic friend do mine with a synthetic oil change and fuel filter for around $240 IIRC, but I get sweet deals like that with him. I gave hime a copy of the TSB and all 8 came out. Between him and 2 of his other guys they have done maybe 8 sets of 5.4 plugs and had 2 or 3 motors where a plug broke (1-2 usually). I got lucky I guess. But had I not known him and trusted him as he had done it before and has the tool for removal, I would check into a dealer doing it. Supposedly the dealer in town likes to take the cab off to get the rear plugs out if they break. I guess it was said you have to sign a form to allow any extra work to get the job done with no cost estimate or some other bull. Like Bluejay said do your research.

 

I have a local guy who has always treated me right and i spoke with him about it and the problems with the plugs not coming out and he seamed to know alot about it so i think ill let him change them. He has always treated me very well. Do you know where i can get the TSB i would like to have it around to show him.

 

Good luck. For what it is worth, the last guy that reported the same thing ended up towing his truck from his long trusted mechanic to a dealer and owed two bills.

 

Off hand I don't know where but there is a link at top to search TSBs I think. I will look around if I get a chance.

 

Funny you posted this today, I just had the Ford dealer here to do mine today. It cost me $486.00 Cnd. with the 13% tax here. I tried to get a quote but they will only give you a rough estimate. They said none of mine broke, but 4 were "tight" and took extra time to get out. My '05 truck has 99000 Km on it and I wanted the plugs changed... I am very handy at doing most of my own work, but with all the horror stories this is one job I did not want to attempt. Do I think this was expensive.....sort of, but the plugs alone were $112 pre tax and they also said there was 4 pcm updates for the truck they did (I have no idea what benifits I can expect from this) so most of the money goes to labour and any service industry bussiness knows how to charge labour.... btw I have 2 dealers in my area, the one I took my truck to seemed to know more about the plug issue (and proper procedures) than the other. Hope I was helpful.

 

13% wow. Well I guess you have to pay for that medical care afterall.

 

I think my quote was about $450 with regular single platinum autolite plugs. My local dealer said they have never had broken plugs in all the ones they have changed, which means the mechanics read the TSB's.

I did it myself last weekend. It took about 6 hours but it is doable. I had two that did the squeeking but followed the TSB, resoaked them, tightened them, waited 15, then tried again. I did not have to remove the fuel rails but did have to remove the coil pack thing on the firewall.

I replaced them with better Champion double platinum enhanced plugs for less money then the OEM Autolite the dealer charges and since the Champions are welded together, there is no longer the possibility of breaking upon removal.

 

I researched about 4 months before I did mine: I have found 3 TSB's on this, or revised TSB's and the last one advised using carburetor cleaner when doing the cold soak. I did my own, from start to finish, including 2 football games, dinner and a couple of beers it took me 8 hours... YES! I did take my time, followed the TSB and a special note!!! 1/4 turn out, 1/8 turn in again and again and etc...

 

lol.....yeah, don't even get me started on that, a few years back it was actually 15%.

 

I changed my plugs today!!!

I'm will be posting how we did them, and a surprisingly simple alternative to the pricey tool.

Success!

 

Isn't it surprising what you can do when you put your mind to it???
Congrats!!!

 

THANKS!

 

I think mine was right at $300 out the door, with one broken plug. My dealer didnt charge extra for broken plugs.