Spark plug replacement

Recently got quoted almost $1,000 for a spark plug replacement at my local Toyota dealership. Is that high? From what I could find online it seems like most people are playing around $500

 

Welcome to TW…I’d get the plugs and do it myself..
1000 sounds extremely high to me

 

Yup way to high . Have a local shop do it or try another dealer .

 

Check out this video and see if you are comfortable changing plugs yourself

https://youtu.be/737qAw6Z0n0?si=Q7Q5U70Qy2lKRL2M

 

$1000 is a lot. 500 would be reasonable if you account for cost of plugs, some tools(need lots of extensions if dont want to take the intake)+ value of your time.
Otherwise, cost of plugs + tools.

 

welcome
It sounds high, but I’d include your location, as prices and labor rates vary. I’d also ask for a break down on that quote, and see if there’s other suggested items in there, crazy shop fees, etc. If nothing else, just to keep ‘em honest and let them know folks are watching.

 

$1000 is quite high. The plugs are around $15-20 a piece. Call it $100 in plugs. The right 3 plugs can be changed in about 10 minutes. The left 3 require a bit more disassembly, maybe 30 minutes of work. I don’t think it’s worth anywhere close to $1000, but if you have 0 tools, know how, or room to work, then that might be the cost of admission.

 

I have found out through the years that often times a shop will price a job at a 30 to 50% price increase just because they don’t want to do the job.

1K is extremely high, the job can be done by most experienced owners in 3 to 4 hours with an extreme amount of patience.

note to self, always buy one spare plug. Throughout the years I don’t know how many times I have dropped a plug.

 

Highway robbery and that Toyota dealer should be stood down and dismantled for quoting you 1 grand for plugs

 

It’s about $435 here in East Tennessee at a dealership.
I was just there picking up some parts and asked.
This also included a “free” throttle body cleansing too.

 

I was just quoted $700 in Mass…no thanks. $150 in parts and tools plus an hour or so of my time is a no brainer

 

You're kidding right? I have never done them before on my 2020 and was done in 40 minutes. Watched video first then grabbed my 24" extension and ran with it. It's not really that hard at all.

 

I'm a biologist. It took me less than 2 hours change my 3rd Gen spark plugs.

 

Wow!

$1K bucks for a spark plug change?

That video gave some good pointers too, plus...it gives owners a chance to get hands dirty and get to know the engine bay.

It's even better because I have hood struts...BONUS!!!

I don't even have 25K miles on my Sport yet so oil changes are the only maintenance I've done.

 

Yes, it's high and anyone willing to pay 1K is also high.

 

absolutely!
my GF is wondering why I have been putting off some home remolding. Right now every carpenter/handyman is not to be bothered kind of busy. If I can't do it myself, I will wait until work slows, and folks get more competitive on their rates and lead times. Until then, it's just functional work as necessity.

 

Like others have said... $1K is insane IMO. They don't want your business. As mentioned, DIY on the passenger side is easy peasy. The driver's side is a little more tedious, but nothing that an able man or woman that can follow a YT video can't do. Nothing to be afraid of, but if you don't feel like DIY, there's nothing special about your engine and any reputable repair shop should be able to do it for less than half that including parts.

My $.02

 

Give it a whirl. I did mine myself. Worst case you pay someone to change the 3 difficult ones to access on the drivers side.

 

$1000 is f-ing crazy! I spent $100 on spark plugs and a couple hours of my time. I was in no rush. Like others have said, the passenger side is super easy. Drivers side takes a little longer. Just get some ratchets and a few different length extensions and knock it out yourself.

 

I'd often pay for some work out of convenience, figured since I worked all week and made pretty good $$ I pay someone to spread a load of gravel etc... After I retired and watched the prices shoot up I evaluate the work differently, I'm comfortably retired so it's not a funds issue.

I look at how difficult is it? Does the work require an expensive tool I'd need to buy? And lastly, what would I do with that grand if I didn't spend it on spark plug change. When I save hundreds of dollars doing something like that myself it makes the times when you have to take in in less painful. I just refuse to pay that kind of $$ for something that's basically nuts an bolts and that I'm almost positive I'd do at least as well and more likely better then the guy trying to beat the flat rate manual.

Hang around this place for awhile and you'll realize how much of the dark arts of Tacoma maintenance is really just nuts n bolts with some common sense thrown in, almost any question you'd have about the process is answered here and if you look hard enough there's probably a YT video showing a grandmother doing that same 3rd gen plug swap.