I put 70,000 miles in 2 years in my 98SE. I know it's about time for a tuneup, but someone said the plugs should last 100,000 miles. Is that true? Would someone please clarify?

I called some shops to inquire about the tuneup prices, and this guy said since I've got 70,000 miles, I'm gonna need a "major" tuneup instead of a "minor" one and it's gonna run me $250 bucks and it includes this and that and throttle body cleaning. He must have thought that I'm a stupid teenager with rich parents who dont know nothin about cars.
How important is the throttle body cleaning?


98SE White
Clear signals Front & Rear(never doing this again)

 

Wow man, that's some miles you put on your car. I couldn't even put up 35K in the 3.5 years that I have had my car. But those platnium spark plugs are good for 60K. You are supposed to have changed it at 60K along with the 60K tuneup which include the oil, air, fuel filter change, transmission fluid flush, coolant change and the spark plugs.
the throttle--the dealer didn't mention that. But the price that my nissan dealer charges for the 60K is about 350...

 

Instead going to a shop for a major tuneup. Buy either the stock NGK plugs from http://www.worldparts.com/tacomanissan/ or Courtesy Nissan. You can also buy the Denso Iridium plugs which I like from http://www.ahmotor.com/.
Get a shop install them for around $50. You can't really do major tune up on the Maxima. When shops that do major tune up, they replace the Cap and Rotor. Spark plugs and spark plug wires. Adjust idle and ignition timings. These things are for Honda...etc. Maxima has the direct ignition and we do not have these parts. They are not maintenance items. All you need is spark plugs. Which range from $1 - $15 each. Just make sure you get the correct heat range, but I would stick with stock NGK or Denso Iridium. I would change the fuel filter $13 part, flush transmission fluid $60, flush coolant $50, change the air filter $10 part and change PCV valve $8 part to complete the 60K mile service. You might want to check your brakes. Where are you located? In Virginia? If you are local to the DC metro area, I can point to places that can do these work. I can help you do the spark plugs and fuel filter if you are local. I just did mine last week. Took 30 mins. E-mail me.

[Edited by 1MAX2NV on 09-13-2000 at 10:42 AM]

 

When I'd changed the NGK platinums at 53k,
I noticed a healthier throttle response already.
So I wouldn't wait pass 60k to change them.
The price of platinum plugs have gone up
in prices everywhere. I ordered mine from
Courtesy Nissan at $8.25 a pop. Just mention
the internet discount to get that offer.
It's really not that hard to change the plugs
yourself as long as you have a long socket wrench.
It took me 30min the first time I'd done it.

 

How good are those Denso Iridium plugs? I found a shop near me that sells them. They are selling for $13 a piece. Does that sound resonable? They are selling the factory NGK platinums for $17. Do you like the Iridium's better than the platinums?

 

excellent plugs, but they aren't cheap. Not really worth spending the money on slightly modded cars; more for 600+ hp vehicles.

The main difference between the iridium vs. copper or platinum is that the tip is MUCH smaller. Iridium tips are ~ .4 mm. The platium tips are ~ 1.0 to 1.2 mm. Copper I have no clue (probably 2.5 to 3 mm .. estimated). Smaller tip = less voltage required; roughly 5000 less volts required to fire an iridium plug!!!

also, by having a smaller tip, the spark is more centralized around the tip, which leads to a higher electrical potential.

there's a few other little things but no need to keep rambling..

 

Thanks a lot Got Rice. That was very informative.

 

for the platinum NGKs, do they need to be gapped? or they can just go into the engine chamber as is?

 

They should come pre-gapped from the factory but you should double check before installing them. It only takes a few seconds for each plug to be checked; a gapper tester only costs $2-3