how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

Scot

New member
the GMC dealer wanted $300...ahahha... i think they were going to drop the engine????

What is a decent price to pay? I am unmechanical and will just destroy shit trying.

thanks
 

Stangbeater

How bout it?
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

Just do it yor self. It just takes time. Also bookmark this site. http://www.sytyauthority.net/

Tune Ups
If you are doing a tune up on your truck I have found the following guidelines help eliminate some common problems.



Setup your Sy or Ty in an area, preferably shady and cool area with good lighting available. Have your tools within reach.


Jack up the front of your SyTy to unload the front suspension and always use jack stands.


Remove the ECM A and ECM B fuses from the fuse panel, (this will erase any BLM adjustments that the computer may have stored.)


Until recently AC CR42TS plugs were exclusively used, but some are now having good luck with NGK UR5. A swivel spark plug socket is available from AutoZone or Sears and allows you easy access the # 3 plug fairly easily (behind the steering shaft). Use a long extension through the fender well with this socket.
Gap all plugs @ .035". Tighten the gap .032"for higher boost and more Fuel Pressure, or when running alky/water injection.


Spark plug boots can be troublesome at times. Get a boot puller to safely remove your wires without damaging them.
When reinstalling, apply a small amount of dielectric grease to the inside of the boot to seal out moisture, and prevent the boot from sticking to the plug.


A quality Distributor Cap and Rotor like the Conrad unit (@ AutoZone) usually lasts a year before degradation starts to appear. It is a BRASS terminal design and very robust, the rotor has a lip to keep "arc over" from happening within the Cap itself. Bottom line, don't buy Accel especially or any other cheap brand.


Once plugs, cap and rotor have been changed. Take a few moments with a flash light and check your vacuum lines etc. The hard lines start to show wear and tear fairly quickly as these trucks age. I changed all of mine out with new 7/64 line and zip tied all the end connections, this also eliminated some interesting problems that I actually didn't know I had.


Put the truck down, and reinstall the ECM fuses. Fire it up and let it idle to warm up, after about 2 minutes or so, turn on the headlights with driving lights (loaded alt. forces the idle adjustment etc.) Place foot on brake, with lights on, put it in reverse, then neutral, then Drive, each operation a few seconds at a time, let the idle under these circumstances have time to adjust and settle.


Misses? Stumbling? Check wires and plugs, if care is not taken, it can be fairly easy to crack a plug insulator or not seat a wrie fully during install. Check under Tips Engine if you need help on the firing order or timing adjustments.
 

Ian Turgeon

Cascading Inspiration
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

get some help and get to it, You'll be better off knowing whats happening under that hood the next time something goes wrong.
 

bezerk

New member
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

the first time you swap plugs, it makes you feel like a virgin.
after that, you will be a man, and you can do it within 15 min.
 

skata

Donating Member
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

and pull out your inner fenders, it makes it a whole lot easier.
 
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

when I first got my Ty, I took it to get a tune up and they wanted to charge me $700 for stock wires, stock plugs, stock cap and rotor, and fuel filter. I was amazed they wanted this much just for that!

I do all of my own stuff because tune-ups are where these places make huge money.
 

SeattleSy#1255

Category 5 Conservative
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

skata said:
and pull out your inner fenders, it makes it a whole lot easier.

you don't need to do that, just jack it up and the body will lift. Remove the crappy fender flaps anyway, mine just crumbled off.
 

hatrik8

Donating Member
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

LOL $300 is a rip. I know a guy that would do the labor for under $100, but I'm just going to do it myself. Print out the instructions from sytyarchives and bring it around and ask what they charge if you really don't want to do it.
 

syclonekid43

New member
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

if you feel like taking a ride to my shop. ill do them for you. just pick up the plugs. we can do it on a saturday. should take no more than 30 min to change
 

Scot

New member
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

i appreciate the offer.... too bad you aren't closer.......

syclonekid43 said:
if you feel like taking a ride to my shop. ill do them for you. just pick up the plugs. we can do it on a saturday. should take no more than 30 min to change
 

skata

Donating Member
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

SeattleSy#1255 said:
you don't need to do that, just jack it up and the body will lift. Remove the crappy fender flaps anyway, mine just crumbled off.
damn, how rough is your truck?

i remember a dealer taking a hole saw to a inner fender so that they could get the #6 plug out.:rotf:
 

Dr.Evil

Addicted to Boost
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

bezerk said:
the first time you swap plugs, it makes you feel like a virgin.
after that, you will be a man, and you can do it within 15 min.


Its really not that bad. I did plugs and wires in 30 mins the first time. WAY easier than my SHO and my buddy's Z28, which took him all weekend!
 

bezerk

New member
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

Dr.Evil said:
Its really not that bad. I did plugs and wires in 30 mins the first time. WAY easier than my SHO and my buddy's Z28, which took him all weekend!

at some trucks it can be real easy, at some trucks there are different things blocking your way to get a good acces to the plugs.

after you sort out which tools work best, you are set to check your plugs if you get alot of KR ;)
 

SeattleSy#1255

Category 5 Conservative
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

skata said:
damn, how rough is your truck?

i remember a dealer taking a hole saw to a inner fender so that they could get the #6 plug out.:rotf:

no no, the truck isn't rough at all...i'm not talking about the fender well, i'm saying leave that in...i'm talking about the POS mud flap thingys that are clipped on there. Pretty much any truck that is actually driven and 14 years old, they'll likely be a POS and just crack and crumble....

i don't think we are talking about the same thing.
 

Crimson93Ty

PITA new guy
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

Like they said, just do it.
First time I did it, I took the old distributer cap and a felt tip marker and just did a 1-6 deal and then took the new cap and did one to six on it. Then laid the new cap up on the intake manifold and did one wire at a time, connecting the new one to the new cap and then running it down to the new plug. Don't even try to use all the old clips and stuff. They'll break and be brittle. You'll be an artist with black zip ties :tup: The one behind the steering shaft is probably the hardest but there is a pic on here that a guy posted up showing a sear swivel head socket on it. If you pay someone to do it, chances are they'll change all of them but that one. :tdown: I've done some for buddies. They were always CR43TS on all them (wrong) EXCEPT the one behind the steering shaft...OEM CR42TS...like opening a Christmas present :lol:
 

SY2932

Administrator
Re: how much $ to get spark plugs replaced?

Crimson93Ty said:
The one behind the steering shaft is probably the hardest but there is a pic on here that a guy posted up showing a sear swivel head socket on it.

That would be me:
3_from_side.sized.jpg

"Craftsman #43322 ($9.99) 5/8" swivel spark plug socket in action on plug #3. "

If you get confused about the firing order, there is a good grapic illustration here.

Getting the rotor off can be a royal pain unless you still have this in your glove box.
 
Top