The Cal-look Lounge

Okay, so my daily driver, a bland '99 Ford Contour four-door with an inline four engine, started running pukey this weekend.  Took it to the local Ford dealership and they diagnosed it as needing plugs and wires.  For this they say the cost is going to be $156.  Am I wrong, or does this seem outlandishly expensive for plugs and wires??  It doesn't even require any special tools for changing the wires or anything.  I could have done it myself for the price of the parts, but went to the dealership for the convenience factor.  On top of that they didn't have the wires in stock, so they've had my car overnight.  On foot now as my '70 Bug is disabled and in the middle of an engine removal project that has gone all wrong because of one stinking bolt.  Good thing I live in a small town!  Lol.

Just curious what others thoughts are.  I'm well aware of costs being higher at a dealership but I figured I'd get a complete tune up for that price.

i know what you mean!
it has always amazed me how much dealerships charge for new tyres too...

I feel quite foolish, as its one of the rare things I could do myself on a brand new car.  Probably won't be going in again unless it's something absolutely unavoidable like a timing belt change or something.

More good news, the coil is apparently bad, which is why one of the plug wires apparently burned in two.  Dealership says there's too much resistance, which is why the wire burned.  Tack on another 80 bucks plus labor.   I'm absolutely disgusted right now due to severe budgetary constraints. >:(

NEVER take your car to the dealer if you don`t have to. The prices are way higher then anyone else.

Not to play 1 up, but just plug wires on my wifes E-430 sport are $550, new plugs, 2 per cylinder, total of 16, just over $275. :P

It only gets worse. I changed the plugs on my FJ a few months back and the plugs cost around $85. Good times.

What is an E-430 sport?

I was just about to bring up the MBZ V6/V8's that run two double-platinum plugs per hole......  yeeeow :o

The new hemis use 16 plugs too. But at least they run copper champions. Only $1.89 each.

It costs about £80 ($120) to change all 8 plugs on my Alfa GTV... So I don't bother! :D

I remember when plug wires for a 16v VW were $120...no wonder I never owned a new set!

Final bill was $202 and change... had it just been plugs and wires, I would have paid $23.50 or so for plugs but they gave me a deal and charged me only $10 for plugs in this case with all that needed to be done.  ::)  Wires were like 82 bucks!! I learned a vital lesson today, folks, and my keester is still a little sore as a result.  The new coil was about 72 dollars, the wires 82 and they charged me 10 bucks for plugs that apparently should be $23.50.  Lol.  Labor was 36 bucks (about half an hour I figure) and there was a four dollar charge for shop supplies, whatever that was.  Wow.

Does`nt sound so bad actually. Most dealers charge a minimum of $100.00 an hour.

Yeah, it's not as bad as I anticipated, but still, next time I will go to a local shop.  I'm constantly on the ragged financial edge, and this is a huge hit for me, even as mild as it seems.

Any car you own, you should be able to do at least general maintence on, unless of course you can afford to have it done by a shop.

Next time, buy a manual if needed and do it your self. Try www.rockauto.com, just guessing but if you would of got parts from there you would of spent $50.00 or so and your time.