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Plugs + wires + fuel filter = $450, reasonable?
I've been having some engine misfiring problems since late Feb. My knee-jerk reaction is to blame it on bad gas, since it started 20 minutes after I put in a new tank of gas and got up to highway speed.
The check engine light was on, flashing sometimes under hard WOT acceleration. Engine sputters/shakes under acceleration. Advanced auto scanned the code and got P306 (can't remember exact code), but basically misfire in cylinder #6.
I've gone through one and half tank of gas after I went through that "bad" tank. The check engine light went off about two weeks ago, but after some WOT starts it came back on, flashing. It went off again last thursday, when the car was running smoothest yet since the incident started. But I had already planned to take it to a shop the following morning. There were still some sputtering, mostly when accelerating slowly (up to 2K RPM). The engine sputters mostly during gear change, especially at the 3rd/OD change at around 40 mph or so.
The shop got back to me today quoting $450 to change plugs + wires + fuel filter. I think it's a bit high. What do you think?
Update (from a follow-up phone call to shop):
me: were you able to get the SES light to come back on?
"No."
Me: Did you even try?
"No."
Me: But like I told your guys when I dropped off my car, the light went off the day before. It went off once already - it will most likely come back on if you give it WOT, or run through the gears under 2K.
"Sir, we don't have time to drive 50 miles around to try to see if it would come back on."
(in my mind) well then did you actually DO any testing...?
Me: so the $450 is based on how many hours of work?
"3 and 1/2 hours"
Me: is John#1, John #2 or John#3 in? I spoke to them when I was there.
"everyone's out on vacation. For the entire week."
Me: ...
Second Update (4/18/09): They want $150 for parts, $300 for 3.5 hours. If I don't let them do the work, there's a $40+ "engine check" fee. Which I guess is for popping the hood and checking the OBD code.
The check engine light was on, flashing sometimes under hard WOT acceleration. Engine sputters/shakes under acceleration. Advanced auto scanned the code and got P306 (can't remember exact code), but basically misfire in cylinder #6.
I've gone through one and half tank of gas after I went through that "bad" tank. The check engine light went off about two weeks ago, but after some WOT starts it came back on, flashing. It went off again last thursday, when the car was running smoothest yet since the incident started. But I had already planned to take it to a shop the following morning. There were still some sputtering, mostly when accelerating slowly (up to 2K RPM). The engine sputters mostly during gear change, especially at the 3rd/OD change at around 40 mph or so.
The shop got back to me today quoting $450 to change plugs + wires + fuel filter. I think it's a bit high. What do you think?
Update (from a follow-up phone call to shop):
me: were you able to get the SES light to come back on?
"No."
Me: Did you even try?
"No."
Me: But like I told your guys when I dropped off my car, the light went off the day before. It went off once already - it will most likely come back on if you give it WOT, or run through the gears under 2K.
"Sir, we don't have time to drive 50 miles around to try to see if it would come back on."
(in my mind) well then did you actually DO any testing...?
Me: so the $450 is based on how many hours of work?
"3 and 1/2 hours"
Me: is John#1, John #2 or John#3 in? I spoke to them when I was there.
"everyone's out on vacation. For the entire week."
Me: ...
Second Update (4/18/09): They want $150 for parts, $300 for 3.5 hours. If I don't let them do the work, there's a $40+ "engine check" fee. Which I guess is for popping the hood and checking the OBD code.
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