Giving up DIY spark plug change =)

[esculatus]

I've given up DIY spark plug change. Does anybody know any good shop that will do it for a reasonable price?
Souther Cali area

Thanks in advance.

[Mole]

i know of a home mechanic located in Artesia/Ceritos area.

[Solaradude]

yea i thought changing spark plugs would be a piece of cake but you need a some sort of special tool to get the spark plugs out. I think I paid 20 bucks to get em installed.

Steve

[hari-bhari]

yea i thought changing spark plugs would be a piece of cake but you need a some sort of special tool to get the spark plugs out. I think I paid 20 bucks to get em installed.

Steve

nooo man, its really easy on the 4 banger, i did it myself. the tool is just a special socket that costs like 5 bucks from autozone or any other similar store. the v6 is harder because three of them are located in the back, but the I4 is very simple, took me 15 minutes. oh yea, and go for denso iridium IK20s, they are nice.

[MaxBoostSolara]

so did i buddy... and nice they are

[bassthrive]

Mineke wants $60 to install plugs on my V6. Is this a ripoff? I didnt tell them about the new wires yet either.

- Paul

[esculatus]

shops here wanted 50 and I thought that's already too much. The dealers charges 80
but mine is supercharged so I dont know if that will hinder things a bit.

[Turbosolara]

usually a mechanic charge 40-60 dollars for one hour labor

[Masshole]

I did mine in the V6 and it wasnt' THAT bad. You just need some extensions and a wobbly and some patience to get at the rear ones. Special tool??? You mean the spark plug socket? All tool sets come with one... I don't know if that classifies as a special tool.

40-60 bucks is about right for an hour's labor. You can get some extensions and a u-joint for probably less than that and then you have some useful tools in your arsenal for future work AND the satisfaction of getting the job done yourself. my 2cents

[bassthrive]

Ive personally done everything for my 60k maintenance - oil change, oil filter, tranny flush, coolant flush, fuel filter, cleaned k&n air filter, pcv valve, new battery, cleaned throttle body - I really do NOT want to do spark plugs. Ill see if i can find a shop that will hook me up for $40, that would be sweet.

- Paul

[esculatus]

how did you clean the fuel filter? I thought the fuel filter is in the tank?
and the throttle body? how do u clean that?

[bassthrive]

Fuel filter is a replacement part, and its under the airbox.

Go to an auto parts store and buy some throttle body cleaner spray, make sure its ok for fuel injected vehicles. Take off the rubber intake hose going into the throttle body and spray that stuff in there, work the butterfly valve with your hand as you spray to get deep inside. I scrubbed with a toothbrush, then wiped out the nasty black crap with a rag. Go here for a tutorial with pictures... http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenan ... ttle_body/

Throttle response is nice. It was feeling "sticky" before. Now when I press the accelerator pedal it glides like new.

- Paul

[esculatus]

nice post! Thanks. You should post the throttle body cleaning in the DIY section. I m sure people will appreciate it.

[bassthrive]

Doh! Another shop quoted me $150 labor and that they needed a new intake manifold gasket!

[somethingcool]

Ive personally done everything for my 60k maintenance - oil change, oil filter, tranny flush, coolant flush, fuel filter, cleaned k&n air filter, pcv valve, new battery, cleaned throttle body
- Paul

How did you do a tranny flush yourself?