That's the quote for labor only I got from a local mechanic. I already have the plugs (Nissan OEM platinums that I got at a very decent price from Garrand's Nissan, 518-561-1210, Disc. code: 07168).

 

$91 is $91 too much. Change them yourself or advertise in your regional forum and get someone who is competent to do it for you for perhaps a modest fee.

 

Do it yourself - it is VERY easy.

 

wtf man? That takes 20minutes to do, tell them to shove it.

 

haha nice.

arent the rear ones supposed to be kind of a pita?

 

not really, just get in there, remove 2 coilpack screws, remove coilpack and stick ur extension and 5/8 sparkplug socket in there, no different than the front except a little less wrong but its nothing undoable.

 

NO. Honestly, even if you have NEVER done them yourself its not hard. $91 is a rip off, just like how stores charge $5-10 to install new headlight bulbts. Spark plugs are easy, go buy a haynes manual for $15 or however much and follow the instructions then go bank the other 70 and smile.

 

cool thanks guys, ill remember that

 

http://www.vqpower.com/v2/modules.ph...howpage&pid=33

 

Need to do this when the plugs are close to 80k. Subscribed.

 

Socket tool=$5
12" Extension=$5
Phillips head=$2

$12 DIY or $91 have someone else do it.

 

And the satisfaction of making your car silky smooth all by yourself: priceless

 

wats the proper lbs of torque for the spark plugs??

 

Go to the vqpower website posted above. It states between 14 and 22 ft. lbs.

 

j/k

 

Quarter turn after snug. It doesn't have to be exact.

 

$91, wow thats def. a ripoff. Def. do it yourself. 20 Minute job

 

yup, but be very careful, take off the socket when you are screwing the spark plug in. It should screw in smoothly with no force, if you force it, you may ruin the thread inside where the spark plugs are suppose to go and you will then have a problem and create more hassle for yourself. the spark plug socket is a reg socket but has a cushion inside so it doesn't damage the spark plug. don't get too long of an extension since you won't be able to do the ones in the back. if you are using muti[le extensions, tape the connecting parts before you screw the sprak plug in. i don't believe that these tips are in the haynes manual....

 

Thanks for the tip on 25% off list on genuine OEM. Puts that other dealership that has been lurking for years to shame with their 9%.

 

I had mine done yesterday with double platinum tipped. I'm not sure exactly how much my mechanic charged me but he told me it would be an hour and his rate is $70/hr Canadian. $91 does sound too high.

 

The Cdn$70 hourly rate is OK, but the hour charge was excessive.

 

its good if hes supplying the plugs to. my oem plugs were almost 70? i think. so that 20 to bolt them in. if you cant handle it yourself i would have someone else do it so you dont make an expensive mistake.

 

I wouldent charge $10 for a plug change.

 

On the '95-'99 VQ30DE's, it is very easy, and like stated by everyone else, takes 20 minutes to do. The rear ones are readily accessable on the 95-99's. The 2002+ VQ35's are a royal pain because the intake manifold is completely different. You actually have to remove the manifold to do it on the 2002+ cars, so it's considerably more challenging. I actually did the spark plug change on my dad's '02 this past weekend, and it wasn't too bad. It took about 2 hours, most of which was disassembling and re-assembling the intake manifold, variable manifold actuator gear, airbox and piping. The actual spark plug work only took 20 minutes, in the same manner that it does on my '96.

Do it yourself. Save yourself 90 bucks.

 

He is talking $91 labour. He is providing the parts.

 

If you don't want to give it a try have somone in your region do it.

Buy them lunch . . .$5.31 job hahah

Whatever you do, do NOT PAY A SHOP/STEALERSHIP to do this . .

You can probly PM about 70% of this board to walk you through it.

 

I wonder if there will ever be a point at which this forum separates DIY from a mechanic who is in business to make a profit? Someone said they were quoted $70 CDN, and then there was a response that 1 hour is excessive.

If you can do it yourself, hats off to you. If you have to take it to a shop to have the work performed, you might want to let the guy earn a living. Because if you get all into something as little as $70 CDN, I can't imagine what you do when you're faced with an amount that matters.

Think about how much your employer charges clients for your services. Now imagine every external customer you deal with nickel and diming you saying you should have charged them for 39 min. and not 1 hr. minimum. Or that they coulda done your work in less than 10.

 

They make enough money ripping other people off. The entire point of this forum is to learn more about your car. Going to a mechanic would be like buying a book and lending it to someone.

Its like this guy's sister. She's like a doorknob. Everyone gets a turn. Except him. Only that doesnt apply to this because nobody should get a turn on their own sister.

Anyway

 

Bafflegab!

 

tell you the truth, i do'nt find that changing oil or spark plus is something a mechanic is known for. if that is the case, then 90% of the orgers on here are mechanics. n if that is true, then there wouldn't be a shortage of mechanics in the US. i belive mechanics are good for stuff that you need to be specially trained for such as frame damage, ball joint replacements n diagnostics.

 

And... free shipping on orders over $50.00.

 

IIRC, the Haynes for my 87 Max had a tip about using a short length of heater hose over the "stem" of the plug; used to allow the finger-starting of the plugs in the deep/hard to reach plug wells on the back of the engine...

As stated - you do not want to run the risk of cross-threading and then tightening the cross-threaded plugs. MAJOR PITA time if you do.

And by all that is right and holy with the world: use anti-seize paste on the plug threads, you'll thank yourself the next time you change your own plugs.

 

I just did this on Sunday 8/13. Along with this I also did the Fuel Filter and the belts. That was the first time I worked on my car (barring changing the oil and cleaning the TB). This stuff is really easy. Follow those VQPower Instructions and do this yourself and keep your $91.

Nope. Just remove those two things mentioned at VQPower out of the way. Both the front and the rear plugs are easy to get to.

 

Y'know, Some of us(speaking here strictly for myself) have passed the age of DIY for all but the simplest of tasks,, owing to bad backs, fear of screwing up (we grew up with GM V8s) not wanting to spend a week getting the grease from under our nails,, stuff like that..I do change my oil,, did change the starter,, would (and will) change the plugs..But stuff like CV joints is frightning.. mine need replaceing (or rebuilding actually) But, I want to commend you on this forum, I have learned a great deal about the 96 I30 I just got three weeks ago, who knws in a year or so I may deceide to put in my own headlamps..(I think mine are stock)

 

as little as $70 !!!! how many hrs. does the average person work to bring home $70 ? then turn around and pay some mechanic that kinda hard earned money for what probably takes them 15 min...support the common man !!!

 

That $70/hr has to cover everything, including but not limited to, the rent for the shop, tools, materials (disposables), overhead such as electricty, phone, advertising, wages for the other employees. The mechanic is probably taking home less than a 1/3 of the "hourly" rate charged.

 

Spark plugs are easy, just do it yourself or have a friend do it. What you *need* to remember is HAND tighten until snug then tighten app. 1/4 of a turn. If you don't tighten it by hand, it's easy to strip the threads of the head.

 

im bashin the shop ,not the mechanic. all that you mentioned as overhead is part of the cost of doing buisiness in general. the hourly rates are set regardless of the task. the amount of time to repair is based on parts and time guides which are marked up for profit margins, and they're probably gonna make a good amount of money on the parts also. it' s excessive..in my opinion

sorry, im angry today.....is it to early to start drinkin ????

 

The dealer prolly wouldn't charge this much in labor. Most dealers charge $70-$80/hr with a 1/2hr. minimum. This might take 1/2hr. to do if you are half retarded.

 

For a 4th Gen a Nissan dealer charges $160-$180 to do the plugs (including parts). I've called many dealers over the past few years (out of curiosity).