Spark plugs and the "stealership"
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 5
From: Rhode Island
So called my local ford dealership today to get a quote on a plug change. After waiting on hold for awhile I finally got some assistance. The man quoted me for 8 plugs and boots with 5 hours of labor. The total cost : $715.00 including taxes. Is this even logical?
Truck is 04 F150 5.4L 3V
Truck is 04 F150 5.4L 3V
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43,535
Likes: 817
From: Joplin MO
If you do the math, using a 4 year change interval (100k mile plug change) it ends up costing 15.00/month. Factoring in oil changes (say, 20 changes (5 per yr) - every 5k @ 30.00) - 12.50/month. So, plugs are costing more than oil changes per month. Just for plugs and oil per month cost is 27.50/month. Okay, add gas at 25k per year/15 mpg = 1666k gallons x 2.5/gal = 347/month = 374.00/month. Divide by 2 if your doing 12.5k per year and you're at 187.29/month. Add in payment and insurance and you get a cost to own picture. Gets expensive - why did I do the math?
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,275
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From: Soldotna Alaska
$715 is a rip off. My dealer charges $299.
When I took mine in they broke a plug and couldn't get it out. They paid for my rental car for 4 days, pulled the head, changed the coolant and oil and when I went to pay it was only $225. I HATE going to dealership but if I have to again this one gets my vote!
Groove ford, Centennial Colorado
When I took mine in they broke a plug and couldn't get it out. They paid for my rental car for 4 days, pulled the head, changed the coolant and oil and when I went to pay it was only $225. I HATE going to dealership but if I have to again this one gets my vote!
Groove ford, Centennial Colorado
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 5
From: Rhode Island
$715 is a rip off. My dealer charges $299.
When I took mine in they broke a plug and couldn't get it out. They paid for my rental car for 4 days, pulled the head, changed the coolant and oil and when I went to pay it was only $225. I HATE going to dealership but if I have to again this one gets my vote!
Groove ford, Centennial Colorado
When I took mine in they broke a plug and couldn't get it out. They paid for my rental car for 4 days, pulled the head, changed the coolant and oil and when I went to pay it was only $225. I HATE going to dealership but if I have to again this one gets my vote!
Groove ford, Centennial Colorado
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,275
Likes: 0
From: Soldotna Alaska
Yeah I told them that they have my business with any future needs.
I figured the $299 would spent for the most part on new plugs, lisle tool and my time and thats why I took it there instead of doing it myself. No scraped knuckles and I got to drive a lame *** Hyndai for 4 days. The dealerships around the Denver area varoed between $660-$299 and they all had varied policies about broken plugs.
I figured the $299 would spent for the most part on new plugs, lisle tool and my time and thats why I took it there instead of doing it myself. No scraped knuckles and I got to drive a lame *** Hyndai for 4 days. The dealerships around the Denver area varoed between $660-$299 and they all had varied policies about broken plugs.
Last edited by mkinttrim; Jan 12, 2011 at 07:05 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 5
From: Rhode Island
FoMoCo should come out with an Executive Order on how to treat customers with the problem plugs, following your dealersips fine business model!...... They have earned your business! Hey Ford are you Listening???
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 6
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I had 90,000 on my 06 and started looking in to it and got the same feedback. All the dealers were crazy. I decided to buy the lisle tool and try it myself. It's not that difficult. I posted a write up of it a few months ago. Do a search for it. Didn't break any. I think the guys at the dealer are putting there impact wrenches and firing away with no lubricant. I was done in like two hrs. I can't imagine paying 700$ for spark plugs. Good luck
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 9
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From: Gillette, WY
Those prices are crazy. I'm a mechanic and have been one since high school so i will always do my own work on all my vehicles (even warranty sometimes). But in my opinion even if all the plugs broke i feel ford should be eating all that time for a bad design flaw. It's rediculous to charge customers hundreds of extra dollars because they didn't think before they made something.
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Louisiana
Damn! I'd almost drive to Colorado for that kind of deal. I'm in Louisiana btw
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Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Western KY
Well it's going to get done regardless. It has 140,000 miles on her and i bout it with 135,000. No prior knowledge of plug change. Can a dealer tell through the vin if it's been done? I'm gonna call some trustworthy mechanics in the area and get some quotes. Even some other dealerships...