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Chubroc
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2002
16:38:05

Subject: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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Ok. I have only posted a few times and love the board. I got a 2000 Dak 3.9 sport 54k miles. I really am almost clueless to mopar products. I have 2 fords(please hold flames) which I race and can repair them blindfolded. Well heres my dilema
Thought I had a dead cylinder, was hoping, so theyd replace the motor!!! Lol
but come to find out just a multiple misfire. Now I figured Id let everyone know so they can get a good laugh today but the dealer wants to charge me $455 for get this, plugs, wires, cap and rotor, and installation! And I thought fords were expensive. Well no way in hell im paying that since I can get the parts for under 50.

now is the installation that hard to charge 2.62 hrs of labor to install them? On the stang everything is right there. and I have long tube headers so even more easier. I havent popped the hood on the dak yet as its sitting at the dealer, but figured id ask real quick before i go get it to prepare me for what im about to get into. Also im on a time limit so any wires be ok until the 8mms are ordered? Thanks for your info and heres a price list to amuse you more:
Dealer==
Plugs $32
Wires $86.95
Cap $28
rotor $13
Then service mngr told me 2.62 hours of labor for a total of $455. which if you do the math comes out to 113 an hour for labor??!?!?! Guess they want to make back that $2000 off when I bought it :)

Hers what im putting in it:
3923s 1.19 ea
BoWar cap and rotor. 13.58
And whatever wires is oem at Schlepboys
Thanks again for your help




forexfour
GenIII
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12/02/2002
17:29:22

RE: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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Now way!!! They actually quoted you that. I am not mechanically inclined at all and I can change the plugs, wires, cap and rotor in an hour and change the oil and filter. $455.00!!! WHAT!!! They have to be doing more than what you listed. The toughest part of doing the work is reaching the cap and rotor since it is behind the Air hat on top of the carb. I have the exact year and engine size you have. 54k miles. I NEVER go to the dealer anymore. I tried for the first service periods but I thought they were morons and you can tell they do not care about you vehicle.

Do it yourself. I put on the Champion 8mm truck wires from NAPA when I put in the 3923's.

FXF

Never late for a Tee time or wheelin with my buddies! Always ready for both!!!

Forexfour's home



Todd W
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12/03/2002
01:04:26

RE: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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Geez! There are -two- screws holding the cap on, the rotor -lifts- off once the cap is off... heck, even the plugs aren't that bad! Worst part is if you wire up the plugs in the wrong order, but they helpfully put the firing order on the intake manifold (passenger side, front), so...

Get a nice NAPA Brass Cap/Rotor kit, some good wires, and Autolite 3923s. You'll be done in an hour, two if you stop for a drink. :0)



Andy
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2002
10:15:47

RE: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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Even a non-mechanic like me can do this in max 1 hour (just did this weekend).



gooberlog
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2002
12:26:55

RE: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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I'm a mechanic and used to be a mechanic at a chrysler/Jeep dealership and i think that our engines are the most basic and prehistoric things that anyone could ever work on. The tasks that you are talking about could be completed by a jiffylube man. The only hard part i had was getting the factory plugs to break loose. From the factory they were tight, just put alittle azz into it. Other than that, just don't mix up the firing order of the wires and you'll be good. I now work on Mitsubishi's and yester day i did plugs and wires on a 3000GT "non-turbo" and that payed 3 hours, and I had to take the intake manifold off of the car/ put it aside, and disconect all of the sensors and vacum lines. I would say that a realistic labor time on plugs cap and wires on a 3.96 dakota would be 1.5 to 2 AT MOST. the book might say 2.6 but it's nowhere worth it since it's so simple. My sugestion is go spen your $60 in parts, pop your hood and take 45 minutes to throw everything in there and save yourself about $300 in labor. Just my 2centz
Gooberlog
'01 CC sport 3.9 auto, 3.55
Lowered 3&5"s, sir mike's steel rollpan, etc.



DakotaDan
*GenIII*
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12/03/2002
12:33:55

RE: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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http://www.k-huhn.com/dodgeram/sparkplugs/





Dan

Next Time You Think You're Perfect
~~~~~Try Walking On Water~~~~~

Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2002
14:01:10

RE: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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I hope that they at least were going to take you out to dinner before giving you that bill. NAPA #M026 and M028 cap and rotor crosses to the Borg Warner units...about $9 for the cap and $4 for the rotor. $455 is un-freakin' believable...



macman37
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2002
14:59:29

RE: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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Chubroc,

I will do them for $400 even. A HUGE savings! ; P

jim

(I haven't done the wires/cap/rotor yet but have done the spark plugs... That first plug on the driver side BACK caused me to bark my knuckles something fierce. I was so mad I kept working, blood all over my hand... Oh well. Good luck and be careful with that particular plug - the rest are a breeze with socket extensions)



chubroc
Dodge Dakota
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12/04/2002
12:33:11

RE: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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Well thanks everybody for lending a hand. I got everything in in about 2 hours. Sorry took so long but that damn distributor was a bitch to get to. I must say I love the stang over the dak, everything is right in front. I installed the 3923s and man what a difference in idle instantly. I can say the factory did a good job at gapping all the plugs uniform at .062!!!!

Now one last thing , the check engine light is on and I read on here several different ways to reset it, and everyone saying their way is right and yours will destroy the comp. Well sorry to revert back to the stang, but all we have to do was cross jumper cables connected to the battery and it would reset the ECM. I like the idea about taking off the negative term and turn key on for 20 sec? But thanks again for saving me $400

Big Mike
But just wanted to double check



Andy
Dodge Dakota
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12/04/2002
16:29:25

RE: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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Just disconnect the neg pole, wait for a minute and reconnect it. Always worked for me. If you turn the key and all you will reset the PCM as well... I don't think that's necessary after changing plugs.



Mangat
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2005
20:53:00

RE: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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Hello guys..first time here..I just installed a intake gasket on my 1996 GMC Sonoma (V6 4.3L). I had to take the distributor out too. Now when I installed everything back together, my timing is messed up. Could anyone tell me in detail how to reset the distributor time properly...Please ...appreciate it.



Mangat?
Dodge Dakota
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2/02/2005
22:01:28

RE: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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and while you're at it, can you tell me how to get my thumb out of my a$$?



Chris
Dodge Dakota
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2/03/2005
12:04:51

RE: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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I was told by the dealer that it would cost $1,110 to do ball joints. I did them my self with no special lift or tools in about 5 hours and if I had done them before I could have done them faster. So much for the dealer.



93dak4x4
Dodge Dakota
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2/03/2005
13:23:54

RE: Plugs,cap, rotor installation help
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ok if you have a sonoma what the hel l are you doing on a dakota page asking about gm timing? there is no corelation between a 3.9 and a 4.3 ltr pile o crap. dodge timing is computer controlled, you need to ask your gm friends dude.



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