How much $$$ to change plugs on a Caravan

[joe wilkerson]

I have a 1995 dodge Caravan 3.0 with a shaky front end. I was going to change the plugs and wires in case I am having a misfire under load that is causing the problem. Has anybody had the plugs changed at the dealer/tune-up shop?

What was the cost? I just read a few write ups on changing the rear plugs and I don't think I am up to that kind of difficulty to change a darn plug. I'd rather pay than swear at automotive engineers all afternoon.

Thanks

Joe

[Vistal]

Sorry i do all my own tune ups .its very simple. Ok not VERY simple but easy. The rear plugs i jack up the van and slide underneath and get the back ones.If i had to guess 2-3$ per plug 30$ for wires and 60 -120$ for labor.

[joe wilkerson]

I do most of my own work too , but I read a couple of posts where they had to pull the plenum to get access to the plugs and yank the alternator for one of the back ones. That sounded like something I would be willing to pay $200 not to have to screw with it. The tune up is my last option with the violent shaking of the front end. It was suggested that a misfire under load could cause what I'm experiencing.

But if I can slide my creeper under there and with some inovating extentions and swivels can reach them then I will give it a go. Yours was a 1995? with 3.0 mitsofugy?

I changed all the motor mounts (tranny mount too) had the front end checked out at the Frame and alignment shop and aligned. Sounds reasonable that a couple of wires/plugs could be crapping out under load and giving me the shakes since the front wheel drive set up is not very secure as far as mounting, a lot of shaking could go on if the right cylinders were misfiring. It is my last shot at fixing it , if this doesn't work it's "over the cliff " time. Although I don't here the motor crapping out , just maybe... its the last thing I know to try

[Vistal]

Dont know how bad it have to be to pop and shake But very well could be the case. As far as my van its a 3.3l not the 3.0 .I would try and reach behind the engine from underneath and see it would save you a BUNCH of cash getting a tuneup . Whats it going to hurt to try 1hr of time?

[00molavi]

On my 3.3 I changed the front 3 and paid $100 to pepboys for the rear 3. I provided the plugs. It was well worth the dough.

[joe wilkerson]

Thanks for the tip on the price. The previous poster said I ought to try it myself and I did this afternoon. On my 95 with the 3.0 it was a snap I pulled the airbox where the airfilter rides with two bols and with that not there I just looked over the motor and slipped them out easy as can be, The last plug under the alternator and strut was a lil difficult. I have a billion ratchets and extensions so I was able to build my ratchet to fit the job. Without a lot of options to arm your ratchet with the last plug under the alternator would be a major problem. I had to slip a plug socket and 1 inch extension over the plug... and then slip my ratchet in and snap it on the end of the extension that was sticking out. If I had put the wrench together I never would have gotten in that tight space. after I broke it loose, I slipped off the ratchet and put about a three inch extension on it and worked it out with my fingers. with the ratchet in there I had almost no stroke to work with other than enough to break it loose and would have took me 30 mins working it out a 1/8th of a turn at a time arrgh.... good that I have a billion tools all sorts of lil adaptors and extensions I have collected over the last 40 years....... being old is good for something LOL

[MrBiglund]

Hey, I have the same van only difference is it's 1996, but same 3.0L engine. I just got a tune up done last weekend for 40 bucks labour. I bought my own plugs and wires and had the shop install them right in front of me and it took them around 40 minutes total. Another thing I found out was that the shop who did the tune up last time didn't change the rear 3 plugs. But, this time the guy did it right in front of me, so I know for sure they are changed. Last time i went with ngk copper plugs and this time i went with the recommended under the hood champion copper plugs, when the dude took the plugs out the rear three all turned out to be champions and were pretty worn out, and the front ones turned out to be ngk which were just changed about a year and a half ago. So, i know that shop cheated me out of installing rear 3 plugs. One thing I would recommend is, go with the factory recommended champion copper plugs, they work the best.

[MrBiglund]

Oh, by the way the guy who did the tune up on my van got 5 plugs right from the top and he didn't have to remove anything, the last rear plug close to the alternator he got from underneath, so, still he didnt' have to remove anything to make way, i think the 3.0L engine is much easier to do then the 3.3L.