Tino D'Voe

I'm getting a tune-up done today and the mechanic which I normally use called to let me know the spark plugs will run me $25CDN each! He says that they're a special platinum plug and the best price he could find is from the dealer. That seems like an insane price for plugs and I'm just wondering what's going on? I've always trusted this guy but i'm wondering why can't he use something else?

Also, i'm pretty much getting a full tune-up on this thing. What are the standard things they do for the car and what is the expected price to pay?

dubcnea

what engine do you have? how many miles does the car have on it? need a few specs first

spooky3ce

Should be $25 dollars overall... I went to autozone and got myself 5 spark plugs Dual Platinum Sparkplugs for my 2.5... you'll just need 6 for a 3.2... depending on which TL model you have...

Shouldn't cost you more then $6 bucks per plug for the good ones... and as little as $2 bucks per plug for regular platinums... and i'm talking about each... $25 for just one sounds like is trying to scam you...

Click Here!!!

Ken1997TL

Sounds like a scam.

Tino D'Voe

The car's a '96 3.2 TL, 135K kms on it.

I picked up the car, I was charged $25 per plug. I asked what's the deal with the insane price, he said these are supposed to last longer, and he gave me one of the one's they removed, it's the PFR5L.

I called a part store in town and they quoted $6 for platinum plugs, $11 for iridium and when I mentioned the part number they said that's a double platinum and they're special order at $20 each.

So I guess it's not that much of a scam, however looking at the autozone prices they're quoting $3.99 for the double platinums. I'm still curious as to the huge price difference in plugs, and why I can't just use the regular platinums?

All together I was charged $320 cdn for air filter, fuel filter, oil change/filter and the plugs, and the labour.

I'd be suprised if this guy's trying to scam me, but I guess it wouldn't be too hard when I don't know much about mechanics or even if he did the work he claims.

spooky3ce

Air filter (when it was stock), Fuel Filter, 5 Spark Plugs (Dual), 5 Spark Plug Wires... total cost me about $100... Labor done myself... not that hard on a 2.5... I wouldn't know about 3.2... Oil change, i usually get it done for $39.99...

I'll tell you right now... if you have everything stock... just head over to your local Auto parts store... (ie: Autozone, Checkers, Kregan) and ask them for:

1. Fuel Filter
2. Air Filter
3. Spark Plugs (6 if its 3.2... 5 if its 2.5)
4. Plug Wires (6 if its 3.2... 5 if its 2.5)
5. Oil Filter
6. 5-6 qts. of oil (don't need all 6 but better safe then sorry...)

I bet you can get everything for under $150.00 if labor done yourself...




Edit: :piggybackride: Sorry to piggy back... but how often are you suppose to do a tune up??? I did mine at around 130,000 miles... i'm now at 175,000... which is 45,000 miles ago...

Vincent

Damn! That's a lot for spark plugs... for that much, you could get Iridium plugs (much better than any single/2x/4x platinum plugs I hear).

What's the advantage to using the $20 plugs vs some plugs you'd find at Autozone or any other automotive parts shop.

UnsanePyro

I just picked up an air filter and fuel filter, and throttle rotor, for about $55. I'll take some pictures of the fuel filter install when I do it, and maybe bust open the old one for you guys. Give me 10 days and it should all be up to see.

naba2002

not to but wat does the fuel filter do and does it need to be changed? ive for about 145,xxx on mine and dont think ive ever changed it

Cornflake

I paid $115 with tax for the platinums I bought for my 3.2 last year. You probably CAN use cheaper plugs, but I just used OEM plugs.

Ken1997TL

Its a filter for your fuel

Keeps out nasty buildup and impurities from going into your engine.

BTW, I'd change it if I were you.

dubcnea

the fuel filter does just that....filter the gas coming thru the line. i THINK that it should be changed every 60k miles or some such. that was on my chevy, so i guess i'm not sure about the acuras yet.

and changing the oil on the 2.5 isn't that hard to me. yeah, the filter is in a weird spot. but once i found it, it was a jiff. i just turned my left hand quasi backwards to unscrew and rescrew the new one on. cheaper than the 40 bux. i MUCH rather perfer doing anything i can on the car myself, even though sometimes that can get me into issues that i don't like. i just feel better knowning that if it's done, and i did it according to the instructions, that it was done right. AND that it was 'free' (assuming my time is worth nothing )

but i think he hosed you on your plugs. there is no reason to special order plugs unless YOU say so. for him to take it upon himself to do it for you then charge you for it....scam or not.....is rude as F. i'd demand some type of refund, or refuge on the charge on that fact alone.

Edit: my grammar can be blah...and damn you Ken for your faster responses :P

Tino D'Voe

Not to defend this guy, but he didn't special order them, he phoned me and said that the plugs will run me $25 each and he could only find them at the dealer. The $20 special order one's are from a part store I phoned up afterwards.

Regardless, I'm not going to let it go. I'm going to check with a few places to see what they'd charge, and I'm checking the plugs to make sure they're supposed to be. With my old civic, I would do most of these jobs myself (air filter, spark plugs etc.) It's just that I don't mind spending a bit more as long as they look over the whole car and make sure they let me know if there's anything that I should be aware of.

In the end, mechanics give me a f'n headache. I've been through so many, I can't find one that is just 100% straight up and doesn't bullsh!t me. What do you do???

Corby

I used the coppers that were meant for the 2.5 in my 3.2 and they have been working fine for a year. CT also has the platinum plugs a bit cheaper too, its like $10 per plug

UnsanePyro

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...33#post1174733

There ya go, just did a write up on replacing it, an easy task I thought.

dubcnea

that's what i'm sayin tho. he didn't give you any other options other than those expensive plugs. and not calling him a liar, but who knows what he really put in there? what do you do? --> do it yourself i know you said you didn't mind spending a bit extra, but i feel SO much better knowing what has been put in my car, etc. when i'm the one that put it in. there is no guessing/scamming/etc. now some stuff you can't do yourself and you have to just have it done, but when that much of a price difference is involved (it's all relative), that throws up a red flag for me. i hope you get it straightened out in the way that you want it resolved.