Spark Plugs Vent

Just dropped off 23 Tundra at dealership to replace spark plugs. Estimate was $570, truck is almost at 40K. I drove in from about 2 hours to dealership to get done. After waiting 3 and half hours, they tell me...oh we don't have the spark plugs, we had the engine taken apart and everything, went to get the plugs but they werent there. But its on order so next time it will be here. I am at lost for words. How does this happen????

 

People are people. We make mistakes. Those folks are obviously disorganized and run a loose ship. I wouldn't start a project without tools and material to do the job in hand, but that's just me.

 

Computer may have said they were in inventory but they walked off is my guess

 

That certainly sucks, and I'd be pissed as well. I'd also be pissed that my truck needs new plugs after only 40k miles, but that's just me.

 

Vehicles used to need them every 25k miles.....

 

File a complaint with corporate. Bet they will mysteriously get it done sooner

 

Even if these plus cost them $20 a pop......$450 in labor for 1hr job???
Jeez, I'd be pissed off too, albeit for different reasons than you.

And yeah, as much as this sucked, let's give them a benefit of the doubt and chalk this one up to inventory mess-up, otherwise the only fitting word to describe the establishment is "incompetence."
Things happen....but, perhaps this was your sign to reevaluate spending $570 of a spark plug job. Unless you're incapable of the job yourself, then I guess you have no choice but pay to play.
GL on your next visit.

 

To tell you the true, is best that they told you that they don’t have them. They could also have told you that is all good and charge you for something that they did not do.
Is pretty normal these days to have some shortage on some parts. I called three weeks ahead to order them.
As long I can hold a wrench in my hand and is not something that needs a computer rewrite,, I simply refuse to give these guys $175 plus taxes per hour.
It took me about two hours and I bet anything that I did it as well as any good tech.

 

Probley call next time to a manager to make sure all six are in hand before driving that far. Sorry but seems you have my luck.

 

Why does your truck need new plugs at 40k?

 

That's the recommended mileage in the maintenance guide.

 

Maintenance schedule on the V35A calls for plugs at 40k.

 

Damn, I guess I was looking at the wrong schedule. That's crazy iridium plugs need replacing that early.

 

Apparently it's an emissions thing....

 

I think the 40k plug change speaks to the duty cycle of a smaller displacement TT engine vs a traditional NA engine. If the plugs can't even make it past 40k due to the stress and heat, what will the long term durability of other components, or the motor overall be? Starting to see some 300k plus F150 Ecoboosts so if Ford can do it, surely Toyota can figure it out.

 

OR it's just an emissions thing as previously mentioned and Toyota already has it "figured out."

 

The 3.5 ecoboost plugs are due at 60k. Someone on here did a plug replacement at I think 70k and they didn't look too bad.

The 40k replacement keeps the warranty on the emissions system.

 

That's normal for modern Toyotas. Spark plug replacement on a V6 Highlander or Camry is $700 to $1000 job, depending on the dealer. Toyotas have become one of the most expensive brands to maintain, competing with Merc or BMW. If you want low maintenance costs, but a domestic brand or Korean.

 

Why anyone takes anything to the dealership outside of warranty work just boggles my mind.
Complete and utter waste of money.

I had a 2015 Expedition EL with the 3.5L Ecoboost and did mine at 75k and they certainly should have been done earlier.

 

Dealers = warranty work only. Its not just Toyota, its all the dealers for all the brands. Dealers are a huge rip off
Paul

 

F ing accountability!
Is this another word that has fallen out of the Websters dictionary along with common sense?
WTF!
A mistake, maybe, but an appointment is an appointment,try backing out of a "scheduled appointment" with your doctor or dentist.They will gladly say no problem Mr Jones we will send you a $50 penalty for holding up our schedule,have a nice day.

5 hours lost and plans shifted for this appointment,hey thanks for playing.

 

I had a couple recent experiences that led me to reconsider dealer service and the premium paid. First, I was going to have front wheel bearing replacements on my '05 DC done at a local shop recommended by a friend. I was surprised when they said their shop rate was $140/hr as the local Toyota dealer is $150/hr. Then they said they weren't sure if they could get OEM parts - depended on what their suppliers had. I ended up paying the premium for dealer service. Second, I ran into a friend who had a timing belt done in his '06 Tundra at a reputable local shop. 100 miles down the road in the middle of winter the engine died. Turns out they screwed up the timing belt job and cratered the engine. Definitely wasn't worth however much saved by having the local shop do the work. Yes, ideally we could all do our own timing belt, bearings, etc. but I'm hesitant to get in over my head when I live an hour outside of town. Gets a bit old running back and forth to town. Not to mention my shop and tools won't win any awards.

Mostly though, I'm still trying to process the cost mentioned above for spark plug replacements. Ouch.

 

I’ll just do em myself….. Easy money.

 

Same here. Wasn't sure at first but after seeing posts of a couple other guys saying it's pretty easy I'm doing it myself.

 

If the OEM plugs are Iridium, like my Taco and Venza were, they’ll go easily twice that long.

 

40K for a plug change is a Toyota kickback to dealers.

 

I haven't even looked to see if I'll be able to do this Tundra myself when it's time. The Venza was the first in 50 yrs that I couldn't (or wouldn't) do.
The transverse V6 had the rear plugs under the firewall. Could not reach from above or below. Rear intake manifold and a pile of
emissions crap had to be removed. Nope Nope Nope. Those days are long gone.

 

Except for that pesky fact that FI engines wear plugs out at a much faster rate, due to increased pressures and temperatures. Tacoma/Venza are NA motors.