Pending Dodge Maintenance is Depressing.

[farmerbyron]

I own a 5.4 too, one dealership wants around $500 and if the break them the fix is included. I've been told that dealerships typically charge an additional $150-$200 for each break-off. I don't know what I'll do yet, I typically change my own but no experience in removing the busted ones kinda spooked me.

I think the tool is called the Lisle tool? I can't remember but I know you have to be very careful not to get any debris like the crumbling porcelain from the broken plug down in the cylinder. I'm generally a DIY guy but with all the problems that these motors have it's best to hire this one out IMO.

 

[4play]

The tougher dodge truck engine to do plugs on is the 4.7 V8 not the 5.7 Hemi, 4.7 has 16 plugs too, the uppers should be copper, lowers should be plats. Both engines are not real difficult to do but the Hemi is easier and less time consuming. Dealers can be pricey on some stuff and if their quote is around $500 just for plugs or anywhere near that that, I would simply go somewhere else.

I read a mention about the 5.4 Fords, its the 3V engine that likes to break the plugs off. There are a few tricks to try to prevent this but sometimes it just happens. I have done many of these engines and usually at least one breaks, worst one I did all 8 broke, if you're lucky none or just a couple break.

 

[tran]

::::fair warning, this is a RANT post, look away now if you do not want to read crazy one sided rantings about a first world "issue"::::

My baby just ticked over 30,000 miles. in addition to the routine 6,000 mile oil change, it is time for a new set of spark plugs..... 16 of them...

It is a 2010 Ram 1500 quad cab big horn 4x4 with the 5.7 hemi v8.

I know they are about to charge me around or over $500 bucks just for the plug change; but the money does not really upset me, I have known about that for a long time and prepared for it... No.. what is upsetting me far more is my fear.
I Absolutely HATE and have Absolutely NO Trust for the service techs and mechanics at ANY local brand dealership I have come across. I know these are strong words, and that at the end of the day I am certain these are all mostly good people, and they have a stressful dirty, hot, and difficult job. But I do not care; I am paying good money and even more above and beyond for the name, for the service record. These are the people that are openly accepted as the trusted and knowledgeable mechanics for our cars. When you have a vehicle that has been fully maintained as per the owner manuals recommend maintenance schedule and all the work has been done by the dealerships mechanics; THAT is supposed to mean something, that it was done on time, and most importantly, done CORRECTLY by the people with the proper tools and training and skills to do it right and not cause any further problems for the vehicle in doing so.

.... but I have no faith in the quality we receive from them. I am not talking just form the dodge dealers, my parents have had just as poor and in fact many horror stories from each of the Ford dealers in the Tulsa area; and my sister her share if disappointing stories from the GM/chevy dealer.

my biggest fear has become a reality for my parents from the ford dealer, and seems to a lesser extent be happening at the dodge dealer.
I could extend my already extreme wall-o-text to tell you the stories of how ford has screwed up my folks vehicles, and how bill knight ford made this fear a reality for my moms expedition an would not do a thing to fix it, said it was not their fault... or how my dads nearly identical truck as mine with 62,0000 miles started knocking after its second plug change on the drive home form the dealer.... but i do not think i need to be more specific than that.

So here i am.... ready for a new set of plugs, and incredibly depressed in fear that they are going to ruin my engine and i will not be able to do anything about it to make them do right by me. I am paying a small fortune to drive what i think is an outstanding vehicle and as petty or stupid as it sounds or my be to any of you, its my pride and joy, and my single most valuable asset I have; and I have fought every day to keep it as flawless as possible.

basically what I am saying is when they give me my truck back and it makes a noise it did not when i dropped it off.... I am going to lose it.... Popeye steam whistling out of my ears, dense boiling red skin, teeth grinding loose it!
and I can just feel it... I know they are going to screw up my truck...
and i know the obvious response i am about to get; "do the work yourself or shutup", i cant... i don't have the right tools, the right facility, the right training to know that i wont screw it up... but they do, and that is why i pay them extra to take care of it, and have the service record showing the "right people" did it.
i have put it off, and even looked into buying the plugs and doing it myself, but the right side looks like a real pain in the arse, i dont have the proper magnetic deep well plug socket wrench or a torque wrench i feel confident trying to squeeze into that tight right side space.. I fell they should be more qualified to do the job right than i am, and that is the point... but i just know its going to turn out bad.


I am sorry, but I had to get this out; call it my yearly insane rant post.
but does anyone else feel this way?

Dude, It's a 4 beer job! Do it yourself... Takes about an hour.

 

[300WSM]

I have a 2004 f150 and at 95k i decided i would change the plugs. Had read all of the horror stories about them breaking. I got the first one backed out but it wouldn't come out of the hole. Called around to dealerships and winched it on the trailer and took it to one. 500 to change them and I provided the plugs. I bought the motorcraft plugs at the local parts house for 8 bucks each and the dealer wanted over 20. When the trucks first came out, i heard the new style plugs were 100 each so i was ready for the cost. I think if you dont want to pay for maintenance and cant do it yourself maybe you should stick to the heel toe express.

 

[300WSM]

Or whine on the internet about being gouged i guess.

 

[SoonerP226]

Dude, It's a 4 beer job! Do it yourself... Takes about an hour.

That's what I'm thinking--if the dealer is only charging $500 including parts and labor, there can't be very much labor involved at all. Oh, they're charging you out the wazoo for the labor, but there can't be anything complicated at that price. I'd be shocked if that price included intake or engine mount R&R.

 

[BikerHT]

My Ford F450 doesn't have plugs...I checked!

 

[grnflash]

I'm going to-respectfully-disagree with the assumption that a so-called "100,000 mile" plug is good for 100,000 miles. This is about as genuine as the EPA-cycle fuel milage that's posted on new cars.

I've never met a car or truck that didn't benefit from an old-fashioned tune up that includes plug swap after about 25,000-40,000 miles. That is irrespective of points, HEI, capacitive, distributed coil pack, or coil on plug ignition. Also irrespective of n/a or forced, and carb, f/i or d/i.

I am basing this ONLY on personal experience with my own vehicles, but that includes all of the types described above. In the spirit of full disclosure, I am also a somewhat demanding driver, but I am likewise heavy on preventative maintenance, and I have almost never paid for maintenance that I didn't plan. I will also happily agree with those that recommended you do your own. It's a valuable skill to learn, and you can tell a tremendous amount about how a vehicle is running by learning to "read" the plugs.

In short, if you want to do a plug change, don't let anyone tell you it was pointless! (no pun intended! LOL!)

 

[inactive]

On my previous ram, 2007, when I hit 30k I had the plugs changed at my dealership, cost me $160 with a oil change, and yes all 16 plugs were changed.

The 5.7 hemi runs a hot plug, run champion and change them at 30k.

Someone who finally knows the particular vehicle! those dodge truck engines, the 3.7 4.7 and 5.7, all run quirky ignition systems and need a copper plug. The plug erodes and needs replaced fairly often.

Anyone who has pulled one much past 40k miles can tell you. Everyone I know who tried an iridium on the 3.7s (like jeep frequently used) had to switch back as it misfired and threw codes. Platinum works about 50/50.

 

[4play]

My Ford F450 doesn't have plugs...I checked!

Keep checking and you might find some glow plugs. Gotcha!