why does it cost over 100 dollars to install 4 spark plug wires on a 97 pontiac sunfire 2.2 4 cylinder?

Answer 1

plug wires on a 2.2 are pretty difficult to route. the coil pack is on the backside of the motor by the firewall and under the intake manifold. we charge 50 dollars an hour at the shop i work at and it takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to do it. gm charges about 80 an hour.

Answer 2

Yes it is mostly labor. I have replaced many spark plug wires on the sunfire/cavalier with the 2.2L motor. The ignition coil is on the back lower side of the motor all most hidden and GM left a very small area to reach up and gain access to the coil. Every time I replace a set of these wires I get serious cuts on my arms from wedging it up thru everything to reach the coil. Between the cost of the wires and the labor cost that is actually a pretty fair price.

Answer 3

I have a '98 Mazda 626, and I had to replace the spark plugs last year. I was just as shocked as you, and I thought they were taking advantage of me too. I found that the spark plug wires are quite different than the ones in older cars, and they always cost around $100 to $150. You shouldn't ever have to replace them again, but payed $139, and after doing some homework, I found it to be the going rate. Good luck, and I hope that helps a little.

Answer 4

Check for spark at the bad cyl with a working spark plug. If no spark, either the coil or spark plug cap is bad. Or the spark plug cap isn't making a good connection to the high tension lead (spark plug wire).To check the spark plug cap, unscrew the spark plug cap from the wire that isn't making a spark and screw it into a wire that works and check for spark. If it's OK, snip about 1/4" off the end of the wire that isn't making a spark and screw the cap back in. Check for spark. If the spark isn't the problem, then probably carbs need cleaning.

Answer 5

Spark plug wires have to be moulded to fit the specific car these days. There are no generic, 1-size-fits-all plug wires these days. Therefore, they cost MUCH more. For example, on an '01 Ford Focus, Pep Boys sells them for about $60, and these aren't factory parts. Add labour to that...you get the picture. Forget gapping...these other guys are talking about spark plugs, not the wires.

Answer 6

you could have done this yourself, by doing some research on the net. Mechanics charge for labor and parts. Just be glad that it was nothing serious and that you only had to pay $100, instead of $600 for a more serious matter. Do the research and change your own plugs and wires next time.

Answer 7

Did you check into the cost of parts... I do all my own work and changed the plugs and wires on one of my ex's cars, either a cavalier or Mazda 626. I can't remember which one but do remember that the wires alone were over $60.00 plus tax... add four plugs at about $5.00 a piece, $20.00 for labour and there's your hundred bucks.

Answer 8

phill..thank you.alot of people think all techs are crooks.and yes toy have to have a lift to do those wires.people don't realize that the shop charges 75.00 an hout the tech might see a a whopping 15-20 dollars of that.along with the 15,000.00 toolbox and 120-150 k in tools they have to pay for every week.and then you have training you have to pay for.and that's just the techs overhead.the overhead for the shop is another story.

Answer 9

i own a repair shop,and were not all crooks,lol,but on some of the smaller engines that are hard to put in,but i cant see why they charge a 100 bucks for a sunfire that's a little high,good luck hope this help,s.

Answer 10

It dosent, whoever is charging you that is trying to rip you off. It will cost $5 for the spark plugs, $10 for platinum's tops..... to install will take a big 20 minutes if you take your time.