So I've been reading many a previously posted forum on new F150 spark plugs with individual coil packs.... I only learned this yesterday (that there are individual coils for each plug) when #3 & #8 misfired.... and while I've learned a lot from the forum, one question I'm trying to get a clear answer to:

How much should an individual coil cost for an 02 F150 4.6? At the risk of being made fun of, here's what my bill at the mechanic (not dealer) looked like:

2 coils = $139.95/each (I've seen folks post all over the board about coils costing $40 to $140, but don't know if we're talking about the same thing)

2 hrs. of labor = $150

Diagnostic test = $89 (I've since learned Autozone will read your codes for free.... lesson learned)

+ a couple new plugs for a few bucks

Total bill ~$550!!!

And that was only to replace two coils with no guarantee that the other 6 are going to last?!? Am I missing something here? Could the coils have been the only possible thing causing the misfires?

Thanks for any help in advance. Oh, and only 60K miles on my truck. I drove my 98 F150 125,000 miles without ever replacing a coil or plug - ran like a champ.

Someone educate me before I waste any more money on unnecessary or overpriced repairs.
Bosco

 

Yeah, the cost of the coils varies, and if you do a search around here you should be able to come up with some at a reasonable cost. $140.00 apiece is not reasonable but that is what OEM coils do cost through Ford. As far as labor goes, ya got scammed, it probably took the mechanic only about fifteen minutes(if that) to change out those two units. And you answered your own question with the code diagnostics. I changed out eight coils on my wife's V10 one ton van and did the plugs in about four hours total, and there is A LOT LESS room there than on a truck. The reason I changed out eight and not ten is I found eight slightlly used coils on Ebay for $200.00 and I suspected her van had one, maybe two faulty units, and instead of chasing one bad unit around b/c I didn't know which one it was, I just decided to change out a whole whack of them and try my luck, and it worked and runs great today with 135,000 miles on the clock. In other words, the coils are very easy to change.

 

Bosco,

When your dealer charges $89.00 for the diagnostic is that just for reading the code or is it for finding the problem too? If we assume it is just for reading the code then the labour cost was not just for changing the two coils and plugs but for doing the diagnostics to eliminate the injectors and other things as the cause of the misfire. It is easy to throw parts at a problem and if we are lucky we will cure the problem but that is not the proper way to fix something. How many times have you read in these forums about a problem someone was having ahd then reading posts like I hade the same thing and I did this... Then there are posts that are like I tried this and this but I still have my problem.... Following the proper procedure to eliminate possible causes is the only way to fix the problem. Ok, enough lecturing. I feel that the dealer should have at least reimbursed the diagnostic fee.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

Thanks Canuck and JMC. I hear your point JMC and I could give them the benefit of the doubt on that one, but agreed, if they get to do the work, the price for finding the problem would seem like it should be part of the job, not a separate bill.

I'm more bothered by the part price than anything. If I can buy coils at an auto part store for half that price of $140 and bring them to the mechanic to install, I want to be sure I understand that..... especially if I may be replacing 6 more of these things in the next 40-60K miles...