$600.00 bucks to replace spark plugs on a 2000 Toyota Sienna

[SearchMaster]

Maybe they had a bad experience replacing plugs in those engines before and didn't really want that work?

 

[OutHouse]

Maybe they had a bad experience replacing plugs in those engines before and didn't really want that work?

lol thats exactly what my co-worker said.

 

[jlee]

3 hour job for $600? Damn..for $200/hr I'd seriously consider switching careers.

 

[punjabiplaya]

3 hour job for $600? Damn..for $200/hr I'd seriously consider switching careers.

1 hour job + 2 hours doing something else = 600+/hr

 

[skyking]

Why pay for that job? Get somebody like me to show you the tricks. Just buy them a video card, I heard us geeks will do anything for a video card.

 

[BoberFett]

I paid for a tune-up for the Lincoln this spring. From what I've seen and heard it's a pain in the ass on that car. The Dakota I do myself, the engine compartment is huge and everything is easily accessible. Depends on the vehicle.

 

[CraigRT]

I don't know if it would take 3 hours, for an experienced shop... But I recently did the spark plugs on my Maxima, transverse mounted V6, and the rear 3 were a bit of work, that is for sure. (removal of the intake manifold is mandatory)

But it also did not take 3 hours (actually it did for me but I stopped and cleaned a bunch of things etc) A shop could do what I did in an hour honestly. I could my 2nd time around too.

 

[exar333]

I used to go to a Subway that always treated me right. Then I ate a meatball sub there that made me so sick my stomach was spasming for 8 hours straight. Even if a noob had messed up and forgot to turn the cooker on for the meatballs, I'm still never going back. In the service industry, all it takes is one bad experience before customers take their business elsewhere.

All the food is pre-cooked anyways. There is no "cooker" for the meatballs...that store has no control, unless they let the food sit out for a long time.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

If I had to guess the $600 figure probably includes plug wires and the $198 at the dealership doesn't. On several vehicles I've worked on replacing the plug wires required loosening motor mounts and jacking up the engine to access a channel that the wires run through, plus these type layouts usually require an extra long plugwire set that runs over $100 just for the wires.

 

[SandEagle]

buy the plugs online. have dealer install. they will warranty the labor, but not the parts. see autohausaz.com for oem parts/prices

 

[Gibson486]

buy the plugs online. have dealer install. they will warranty the labor, but not the parts. see autohausaz.com for oem parts/prices

LOL....that labor is what costs alot.

 

[zCypher]

Wow, that is brutal.

 

[StageLeft]

But I recently did the spark plugs on my Maxima, transverse mounted V6, and the rear 3 were a bit of work, that is for sure. (removal of the intake manifold is mandatory)

My MPV is the same, intake manifold has to come off. Pain in the ass. Even then it's quite hard to get at because it's a minivan but two hours tops if you've done it before. really, if you've done it before an hour would do it.

 

[kornphlake]

You might want to get an itemized description of the work being done, I have an '01 and the recommended plugs are not platinum, they're iridium so figure an extra $30 or so over the price of platinum. The sienna doesn't have spark plug wires because the coil sits on top of the plug, you may have gotten a quote to replace the coils also at about $60 each, there are 6 of them total.

I replaced the knock sensor on my van several months ago and had to remove the windshield wiper cowl and the intake manifold. I thought about replacing the plugs at that time, but it still looked like a tough job even with everything moved out of the way. I'd easily call it at 2 hour job unless you've got little girly hands that can fit into tight spaces.

If the bill includes iridium plugs, new coils and boots as well as labor I'd think $600 is a pretty fair price. On the other hand the dealer's price is suspiciously low, I hope you got it in writing because I'm not sure you'll be able to get that price otherwise.

 

[OutHouse]

All the food is pre-cooked anyways. There is no "cooker" for the meatballs...that store has no control, unless they let the food sit out for a long time.

the stainless steel pot they sit in keeps them hot enough so that the bad bacteria cant grow. i should know because last week i burnt the hell out of my mouth on a subway meatball sammich.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

If you're replacing the plugs how many miles do you have on the van? At 90K you need to change the timing belt. We were quoted $700 to do that on our 06 Sienna.
Everything else I can do on it, but getting all of the accessories and junk out of that little space is got to be a huge PITA. This is why all the vehicles I drive have Chevy small blocks in them. If something needs fixing I can get to it.

 

[OutHouse]

You might want to get an itemized description of the work being done, I have an '01 and the recommended plugs are not platinum, they're iridium so figure an extra $30 or so over the price of platinum. The sienna doesn't have spark plug wires because the coil sits on top of the plug, you may have gotten a quote to replace the coils also at about $60 each, there are 6 of them total.

I replaced the knock sensor on my van several months ago and had to remove the windshield wiper cowl and the intake manifold. I thought about replacing the plugs at that time, but it still looked like a tough job even with everything moved out of the way. I'd easily call it at 2 hour job unless you've got little girly hands that can fit into tight spaces.

If the bill includes iridium plugs, new coils and boots as well as labor I'd think $600 is a pretty fair price. On the other hand the dealer's price is suspiciously low, I hope you got it in writing because I'm not sure you'll be able to get that price otherwise.

the 2000 takes platinum plugs and i asked here what was included in that price

6 plugs. 30.00 each
3 hours labor 98.00

that does not equal 600 bucks PLUS its 400 bucks more than the fricken Toyota Dealer.

 

[Pacfanweb]

3hr job costs 600 bucks?

What the hell is their labor rate? If it was 100/hr, which is high IMO for an independent shop, she's saying the plugs cost another 300?


Since it's a woman, it's probably just a mistake, though.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Just change the plugs yourself. 6 plugs + a spark plug socket shouldn't be more than $50 total, and you can do it in like 15 minutes.

100 bucks cash says you can't do it in 15 minutes

 

[bruceb]

Can't say about your particular car, but on my 1999 Grand Prix 3800 engine, the back ones are hard to see. You can either crawl over the top of the engine or remove the front dogbones and tip the engine forward a little. And a very good work light to see what you are doing is a good idea.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

the 2000 takes platinum plugs and i asked here what was included in that price

6 plugs. 30.00 each
3 hours labor 98.00

that does not equal 600 bucks PLUS its 400 bucks more than the fricken Toyota Dealer.

Yowzer, plugs should be under $10 each no?

 

[kornphlake]

Yowzer, plugs should be under $10 each no?

Yeah that price looks like iridium plugs. Like the OP mentions, the math doesn't add up, $300 labor + $180 parts = $480, where's the extra $120 come from? They must be replacing something else to drive the cost up that high or they've made a mistake. Did you schedule an appointment at the Toyota dealer? I'll be very surprised if you get the quoted price on the job, it isn't a 15 minute job even for a dealer unless they only replace the front 3 plugs. I'd insist they show you the 6 plugs they removed before paying for the service.

 

[CraigRT]

Yowzer, plugs should be under $10 each no?

Not for OEM style plats.
I got a really good deal on mine at $17/ea. Dealer wanted $22 which was actually reasonable and I saw prices even higher. They were NGK laser platinums. (OEM)

 

[filter1_1]

Maybe she read the book wrong.
Maybe the book is wrong (it happens).
Maybe the Toyota dealer quoted you wrong.

Even if none of those things happened, why would you quit using a business who has a track record of treating you well just because they quoted you a price you think is too high on one occasion? People sure are quick to launch a lifetime boycott of a business over one issue. And in this case, it was only a quote, not an actual problem!

I totally agree with you 100%, mistakes will happen....

 

[RockinZ28]

EBay. Think I paid about $50 for eight NGK iridiums for my car.

I would do it yourself too for assurance. The #8 plug on my engine is a pita, so much so that it isn't cost effective for shops to change and they will just say they did from what I've heard.

Took me the same amount of time to do that one as the other 7 combined, but I know its done.