Question on plugs/cop costs

[7FordExpedition]

I have be having some problems with the car cutting out under load. After some good advice and observations from this site ... I be believing that it is a problem with either plugs or cop. Since I cannot confirm with certainty this has ever been done before I got it (I am 2nd owner) ... I am going to take the car over to a local Ford dealer in Southern Pines to get the work done. I have had some experience with this dealer, not exactly really good experience but ... there really isn't anyone else close to us.

I wish I could do it myself but it is just not a good thing ... me, my hands and wrists and wrenches. Such is life when you get old and stove up! Besides, I have never replaced the plugs on a 5.4 and I understand it can be trying.

They tell me that for plugs and cop R&R it will run a bit below $700 otd. Using motorcraft plugs and cops.

Question: Does that seem reasonable to all you guys out there?

 

[DesertFordRat]

The motorcraft plugs are like 9 bucks a piece or so. The coils are pricey depending on where you get them. Orielly wanted to charge me something like 80 a piece but I found them on Wal-Mart's site for like 45 so they price matched. So based on those crazy prices it sounds about right I suppose. They may be factoring that if a plug breaks inside they will have to remove those. Make sure that price includes that possibility. I'm assuming you have an 07 which I believe has that problem (if they are original plugs).

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

A set of 8 DG-511 COPs are $232.72 at Amazon right now. If you have a Discover card, they're doing 5% cashback at Amazon also. Pair that with 8 plugs and you're looking at about $300 in parts. That means your paying about $400 for labor just to change some plugs. That's 4 hours labor where I live and probably more hours at NC labor rates. Breakage aside, this is a 2-hour job tops. Do you have an independent shop that can do this for you rather than the stealership? Even better if you have one that lets you bring your own parts.

 

[docraymund]

Have them test the cop's first. Not all may need replacing.

 

[bloodhound]

That sounds about right for dealership prices. I agree with the suggestion to go to a local shop if possible instead, to save a few bucks.

 

[7FordExpedition]

I called Crossroads Ford in Southern Pines to make an appointment to get it done, they can't do it until Sept 14th. Cost for motorcraft parts and labor (plugs/cops) will be $603 out the door ... UNLESS ... GET THIS ... UNLESS ... they break a plug off, then they will charge me an extra half hour labor for each plug they break off to get it out.

They tell me the plugs/cops calls for 4 hours labor. Then if they break any/all off it could mean as much as an extra 4 hours labor.

Ford designed and manufactured the engine, they make the plugs, they train and certify the mechanics in how to do this ... and if they break it ... I pay extra for it.

I just think it is odd.

Well, see how it goes on the 14th.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

I called Crossroads Ford in Southern Pines to make an appointment to get it done, they can't do it until Sept 14th. Cost for motorcraft parts and labor (plugs/cops) will be $603 out the door ... UNLESS ... GET THIS ... UNLESS ... they break a plug off, then they will charge me an extra half hour labor for each plug they break off to get it out.

They tell me the plugs/cops calls for 4 hours labor. Then if they break any/all off it could mean as much as an extra 4 hours labor.

Ford designed and manufactured the engine, they make the plugs, they train and certify the mechanics in how to do this ... and if they break it ... I pay extra for it.

I just think it is odd.

Well, see how it goes on the 14th.

Ironic, eh? :/

I can't believe they're going to bill you for 4 hours. I did mine in under 2 hours and my automotive skill level is about a 1 out of 10.

 

[DesertFordRat]

Yea that's quite a lot of labor time. A few lap dances should be included. I did mine in about 3 hours and I really took my time with lots of breaks for beer. Id shop that price around a bit if possible.

Edit:

I should also say I tested all my COPs in that time too.

 

[DesertFordRat]

I read your other thread about it cutting out under load. You stated the people who sold you the vehicle told you the previous owner did the plugs at 90k. Can you ask that dealer for the service records? You may want to consider only buying the cops or a tester and do some troubleshooting. Unless you are comfortable dropping 600 bucks on this problem. I bought a tester for like 6 bucks. Then tested each coil for good spark. Id hate for you to waste good cash on this man.

 

[alter1]

I read your other thread about it cutting out under load. You stated the people who sold you the vehicle told you the previous owner did the plugs at 90k. Can you ask that dealer for the service records? You may want to consider only buying the cops or a tester and do some troubleshooting. Unless you are comfortable dropping 600 bucks on this problem. I bought a tester for like 6 bucks. Then tested each coil for good spark. Id hate for you to waste good cash on this man.

What kind of tester did you use? Where did you get it?

 

[DesertFordRat]

What kind of tester did you use? Where did you get it?

http://m.oreillyauto.com/h5/r/oap/s....oap?ck=Search_N0221_-1_-1&pt=N0221&ppt=C0371

I used something like this.

 

[SDExpedition]

Ebay has cops for under $100 for the set of 8. Everything i've read, says they are gtg. Some people with over 80k on them already. Try a local mechanic and see what he says, you might save some money on the repairs.

 

[alter1]

http://m.oreillyauto.com/h5/r/oap/s....oap?ck=Search_N0221_-1_-1&pt=N0221&ppt=C0371

I used something like this.

Thank you.

 

[98RedExp]

Order the COPS on ebay. They are all the same thing.

 

[7FordExpedition]

Does Brewer vs Ford Motor Company apply in all 50 states or just Texas? Anyone know? The labor limits should apply to current work not just past plug service on these. I take it in tomorrow, I wish I could do the work myself but I cannot so I pay the piper apparently. Thanks for all the responses.

 

[mmaylock]

Before you spend money on COPs, you may want to pull the boots off a few cylinders and check the springs. It's possible that the connections are corroded. In my case, I had the same symptoms you did. Sluggish under hard acceleration. The dealership scoped it out and found a couple cylinders on the right bank weren't firing properly under duress. They wanted a ridiculous amount of money to replace the boots. The drivability tech mentioned to me during the test drive that they could try to use dielectric grease on the connections. I went to my local parts store, got a small packet of the dielectric grease and did all the boot springs on the right bank of cylinders. Fixed my problem for .99 cents... YMMV. Either way, it's a cheap, easy experiment that might fix your problem...

 

[7FordExpedition]

I am very puzzled this morning. Certainly frustrated. Maybe on the edge of psycopisstamania. Real close.

OK, it is September 14th. Time to take the car in for plugs/cops. Just before I left I got a call from the dealer. This is Crossroads Ford of Southern Pines ... they have a monopoly on ford dealers in and around my area. Crossroads owns them all. Anyway, I got a call.

The Service Rep was nice. BUT ... SHE CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THE COPS WERE GOING TO BE $94 EACH. That would add like another $800 to the cost of doing the job they quoted me for plugs and cops at $603. Now it is over $1000.

I talked to the parts department, Leon told me that what you guys are buying for a reasonable price and what I have found online and on Prime for a set of 8 are probably just boots not the coils. They sure look like coils but he says no. Anyway. I told them to forget it. None of the local independent shops will do plugs on these 5.4's. I soooooooo wish I could handle doing this! At this time the car sits, it is our primary vehicle but we will use it sparingly until I figure something out, probably start with getting a grandkid to help and starting with the coils.

And another question, when I looked up the cops, I got a variety of brands, copper wound, usually in a set of 8. I did not find 'boots'.

 

[GaryH2]

A set of 8 DG-511 COPs are $232.72 at Amazon right now. Pair that with 8 plugs and you're looking at about $300 in parts.

That's what I did. COP were about $300 and the plugs were $67. I took my time.

The COP were easy to replace. Maybe start there.

 

[jeff kushner]

I don't know how you made out but for my '03 and '99 expys, I've used something similar to these...40 bucks PER SET OF EIGHT DELIVERED!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Pcs-Ignit...ash=item33c30e553e:g:XWEAAOSw44BYK0Ox&vxp=mtr


good luck

jeff

 

[1955moose]

We've stated on this site numerous times, you don't need to change coils, just the boots, on a spark plug change. The only time you change out coils, is if one starts misfiring, and throws a dtc code. The boots are just like the full size spark plug wires on earlier cap/ rotor ignition. Technically, you can use an ohm meter and measure resistance on old ones. The problem with these replacement low price coils, is they rarely work right. Theirs a reason why Ford charges $85,00 each for theirs. They work. Just like the Ford spark plugs don't misfire. If more of our members would dump codes first, they'd just be changing plugs, boots, and maybe one or two coils. Please people read the past posts, on your symptoms.


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