Dealer pricing on spark plug wires and spark plugs.

[KeithR]

I believe my dealer wants to charge me around $125 to put in new spark plugs and spark plug wires. Is this a good price?

[Low Saturn]

On how many Saturns?

$1.74-$2.09 (x4) for spark plugs
$16.99-$27.99 for wires

These are AutoZone prices. So I'd say $125 is a ripoff.

[KeithR]

Just my 95 SL2.

[Low Saturn]

Originally Posted by KeithR

Just my 95 SL2.

Then its about $100 too much. You could do plugs and wires on four to five Saturns for $125.

[S3aturnR]

Originally Posted by KeithR

I believe my dealer wants to charge me around $125 to put in new spark plugs and spark plug wires. Is this a good price?

good God, no!!!

plugs should be less than about $5 each (probably about half that, but i'm feeling generous) and wires should cost about $50 or so for the set. stick with ac delco and you'll be fine.

a total car newb can put these in themselves without much problem at all...


s3aturnr

[MiSaturn]

Originally Posted by KeithR

I believe my dealer wants to charge me around $125 to put in new spark plugs and spark plug wires. Is this a good price?

Assuming an hour of shop labor, that would be about right ($80 labor, $3 a plug and $35 for wires). As the others have pointed out, you can do it yourself for less than half, and do a better job.

If you go that route, it would be a good time to clean the bottom of your coil pack, since you'd be loosening the bolts that hold it on to get your wire keepers off.

[Growser]

Don't forget to use anti-seize on the threads of the spark plugs. Gap to .40. Do a search on spark plugs, in summary NGK is the preferred by many, and avoid platinum for Saturns.

[OldNuc]

+1^^ on antiseize and NGK.

[woonyboi02895]

I can do the tuneup for 50$ lol

[Low Saturn]

Originally Posted by MiSaturn

since you'd be loosening the bolts that hold it on to get your wire keepers off.

95's dont have those. Besides the junction where the bottom of the ignition module meets the transmission case is just for a heatsink. Grounding is done by the only the mounting bolts.

[imamacanac]

Just replaced my plugs and wires up here in the Great White North. NGK V-Power $2.92@ and NGK wires $25.00 a set. From a local auto parts store.

[Tiger]

It is a bargain compared to my dealership. They want $99.00 to just change the plugs. I think they actually have a monkey for that job. Those opposable thumbs come in handy.

If you take your time then no problems and you will save $90 or so. With the money you save you can start getting some tools to do other DYI. I tend to mark wires or just do one at a time. I have the ability to screw wires up. Even then I would change wires and plugs to save the money. When it is a difficult job I see getting more value from my hard earned money doling the work out to an experienced mechanic. Plugs and wires is pretty much a beginner level project.

[madpogue]

Originally Posted by Growser

Gap to .040.

Fixed.

[boilerroom]

just did mine for $20 bux - advanced auto is awesome

[clean93]

Originally Posted by Low Saturn

On how many Saturns?

$1.74-$2.09 (x4) for spark plugs
$16.99-$27.99 for wires

These are AutoZone prices. So I'd say $125 is a ripoff.

Dealer price $4 a plug, $50 for wire set, 3/4 hours of labor. Thats what it would cost. $125 is only a rip off because you can do it your self really easy.

[clean93]

Originally Posted by boilerroom

just did mine for $20 bux - advanced auto is awesome

Advance Auto Parts.com using CCabin promo code and selecting pick up in store is awesome. CCABIN code is good for 10 off 30, 20 off 50, 40 off 100.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by KeithR

I believe my dealer wants to charge me around $125 to put in new spark plugs and spark plug wires. Is this a good price?

Typical for a dealer. About 50% markup on the parts and gouge rate on labor. In fact, out here it would cost even more.

The dipstick dealer here wanted $275 LABOR ONLY to install a top motor mount which is a five minute job. Along with $95 for the mount and $18 each (times three) for the studs which my car didn't even need. That would have been $425 for a new top mount total.

You are always going to be grabbing the ankles any time you go to a dealer.

[2NDSOUT]

Wow.. another 3 year old thread is revived!

But yeah- Spark Plugs and Wires can be changed in a short amount of time for not a lot of money.

[regenoldiii]

Funny... this is an old thread, but I have a '95 and changing plugs in that car are so easy I think I might be able to train a monkey to do it. It's a testament to what made the **original** Saturn such a good and beloved vehicle among its owners.

As an FYI... I always use anti-seize, I always use NGK plugs (only $2 - $3 a piece) and my wires from Advance were AC Delco (Advance actually replaced my old wires for free due to a lifetime warranty). Given Rock Auto's low price on ignition coils (and fact that one of coil terminals was a bit corroded), I swapped out both coils for about $40, as well. So, for about $10 for NGK plugs, $25 for good silicone wires, about $3 - $4 for anti-seize, and $40 - $50 for new coils, you can do the whole job in around an hour to 90 mins (note, I do actually use a torque wrench on my plugs) for less than $100.

[ehunter]

Now a days what your paying for is $75/hr plus parts.

No business wants you to waste their time for jobs that take less than an hour so there is an one hour MINIMUM. Plus, the cost of parts, procurement, and overhead to help keep the shop lights on and pay the janitor for the toilet you helped clogged earlier, $50.

There is your $125.

Or you could always hire a day laborer. Those guys are asking just about $20/hr. Let him figure cold turkey where to buy the cheap quality parts, the time to fetch them, gas/costs, and trust him to do the job. I bet from start to finish it takes him 4 hours easy, plus $30 parts. Total cost is $110 and not many would trust his work.

Now, whom would you rather have to the job? Remember, the poster did not want to do the job.

A lot of you guys complaining about those prices are out of touch and just getting too old, three year old thread or not.

Let me ask you this... if a loud mouth stranger on the street you don't like but you need the money asked your help to do this same job what would you charge? I bet most would not charge much different than the $125. Anything under $100 is just a nuisance.