A few weeks ago I stopped by the local FORD dealership to inquire about changing the spark plugs. The service guy said that it will be about $450 because it takes alot of hours," The front 6 are easy, the back 2 take just as long as the front 6 because they are hard to get at." He says it takes about 4+ hours. So I asked him what happens if some should break during removal, is this covered in the $450? He looked at me funny and said he has never heard of such a thing. Then he called in a mechanic and asked him about plugs breaking and the guy said it happens alot. So I asked again if this would be covered in the $450 and he said he could not qoute me a price now"just in case". A friend recommended that I go to the local Lincoln-Mercury garage(same town-2-3 miles apart) and inquire there. So I went today and explained what I was looking for "Spark plug change 04 5.4 with 67500 miles"
He says it takes 1.8 hrs. and with plugs(Motorcraft) and labor I'm looking at $171.00. I told him about going to FORD and how the guy says it takes 4+hours and he said "He is full of *&%@." He said if one or more break then I'm looking at about 1 hour each over the $171.00. Do you think I am being set up here? Is it going to be "well we had 7 plugs break now it is going to be $800 sorry"

 

Not to be on any ones side, but you HAVE to accept the possibility of this happening reguadless of who does it.
As a practical matter, if a plug breaks, there is a certain amount of work to be done over and above the simple plug change.
That's the point everybody want for free. That's not the way it goes.
It's not the mechanics fault the plugs stick.
The better way is to use the reccomended freeing oil in place and let set long enough to try and prevent such a problem happening.
If the plug accumulates carbon below the threads, it's NOT the mechanic's responsibility nor is it fair to ask him or the shop eat the expense for that.
Any shop that does that, will not be there very long to do it for anyone.
It's called 'money'. You have it and you want the service, no matter how it turns out.

 

I guess what I was asking is how long does this job take? Is it only a 2 hour job like he says or is it a 4+ hour job like the FORD dealership says? I totally understand that things can happen and if it does then there will be added costs. Is $171.00 for a plug change without problems the right price, and if so how come FORD says 450.00? I also asked him about the cam phaser knock that I have and he says not to worry about it that there is no long term affects by not having it repaired. He told me that if you have it fixed that it will eventually come back. I thought that was very honest of him, he could of tried pulling the "better fix it NOW or you will explode" scam if he was dishonest.

 

I called three local dealers and they were all around $300 and I have to pay if they break anything or have problems.

 

When I changed my own on an '05 5.4L, it took me about 3.5 hours and I deliberately took my time. I think 4+ hours at a dealer sounds too long. Must be a few donut/coffee breaks built into that charge! If it were me and I were not up to the swap myself, I'd probably go with the Lincoln dealer but also provide them a copy of the TSB so they know that I know what is involved.

DMAC

 

No kidding, most of my time was running back to my dad's to borrow more tools and duplicates, especially extensions and u-joints. It's a crap shoot, I'd go with the 171 buck guy and see what happens. It isn't his fault they break, but most don't so I wouldn't worry.

 

If you have some tools. Do it yourself. It really isn't that hard, and having done it once, I'ld could do it in 2-3 hours, with little trouble. Beware that plug breaks can happen, but are highly unlikely. 67,500 miles is not bad at all. The thing you going to run into that will absolutley suck is that the factory plug boots do not have dielectric grease, and will most likely be stuck to the plugs. Make sure you twist the boots around the plugs as much as possible, in order to break them free of the plug without tearing the plug boot.

Either way 4 hours for service is insane for a any mechanic. I personally think $171.00 for plugs is too high, but to each his own. But, then again parts are close to 1/2 that price. maybe it aint that bad.

 

What you get from a dealer's off hand price is a guess that usually more than covers the cost.
Service writers often are not mechanics.
Next time you go to a dealer, ask what the hourly labor charge is and the cost of the plugs, then add it up.
A smaller shop is almost never as high unless a problem develops in the procedure.
All you have to do is look around at a dealer facility and look around a smaller shop, to answer why the difference in costing!

 

I have been kicking around the thought of doing it myself, I have read all the TSB's, watched the boring video and read the other post's on this forum. But if Lincoln will do it for $171.00 I think that is a good way to do it for the first time. I've only had this truck for about 2000 miles, maybe the previous owner already did them!! After buying the plugs (and I would want to have the extraction tool nearby, either buy it or borrow one?) + my time I think 171.00 will be money well spent. Next time should not be so bad as long as they use never-seize,right? I'll probably set a appointmet for next week or the week after, I'll let you know what the final bill was.

 

This plug thing is crazy.

I replaced my 4.6L V8, (98 4x4 f-150) and it took a long time, several hours, and I have small hands. It was a PITA to be sure.

I just bought a used 03 toyota 4runner, 4.7 v-8 and changed the plugs inside of an hour going slow and what not. Super easy, super safe. And another thing, this engine is SMOOOOOOOOTH and quiet. Way quieter than my F-150. Both are over 100k miles.

I think I've about had it with Ford products to tell you the truth. I buy all my trucks used and I've had ford since 1979 but ..... I'm losing interest.

I'm still keeping my truck, if it wasnt so cheap on the front end when I bought it used at 6 years old....it'd be history.

 

I hate to keep rubbing it in, but the V6 doesn't have *ANY* of the spark plug issues that the Triton V8's have. I wouldn't buy a Ford vehicle with a Triton simply because of this. It may seem like a small thing to the majority of you, but to me it's far from trivial. If I can't change the spark plugs in a vehicle in 30 minutes or less with a standard plug socket, ratchet, an extension or two, and maybe a universal joint, I don't want the thing. I'll accept dielectric grease and anti-seize where required.

 

As much as a wanted a newer truck with a v8 to replace my Ranger--a GM full of electrical issues, the 4L60E, a 10-bolt rear, and their inflated used prices wasn't cutting it--I've seen way too many of my friend's police interceptors have the COP misfire issues...the v6 did just fine on the test drive. Then again, I came from a Ranger that was running on only 3 of its 4 cylinders, so anything was an upgrade at that point! But, I did shed having to change 8 spark plugs from that dual plug head engine.

But, to echo an above sentiment, this may be as new a truck I get for a good while. I struggled just to buy something that's OBD2 to where a paperclip wasn't going to pull codes anymore! Really, that was only because my 95 police interceptor is OBD2 as well. I may well have to do some research into something I don't have to do handstands to work on...if it means a Toyota or Nissan, so be it.