Replacing plugs and coil 21 January at 10:22AM in Motoring 20 replies 181 views

PawelK

Good morning. I was hoping if anyone could please let me know if the below price seems fair? I've never used this mechanic before but are in my area with excellent and many Google reviews. Spoke to then already face to face and over the phone. They seem knowledgeable and honest but that's just my personal judgement. 
My car is with them for diagnostics and they just asked me to give them a go to start with replacing plugs and coil for which they quoted me £197 including labour. Do we have any mechanics on this website or perhaps someone who had the same service done recently?
Many thanks!

williamgriffin

What car and engine?

PawelK

Hi williamgriffin. It's a Peugeot 3008, year 2011. My only concern is that when I checked online, plugs usually cost around £30-50 but I am not sure about the cost of coil and what is an average labour rate. Thanks.

tacpot12

Have they confirmed that the plugs and coil are the cause of the fault? £197 seems a fair price if they have diagnosed the fault and KNOW that the plugs and coil will fix the problem. If they want to try changing these items in case they fix the problem, they haven't earned their diagnostics fee as they haven't diagnosed the problem, so a lower price (approximating the cost of the parts and the time to fit them) would be  appropriate. 

JustAnotherSaver

All cars are different and I'm far from a mechanic but I bought spark plugs for mine and they were £10 for 4. Genuine GM ones. OK that was a lucky purchase and when I bought 4 for the wife's car, different seller it was £19.98 for 4, again genuine GM ones. 
I think the coil pack cost in the region of £60-£70 from AutoVaux if I remember correctly. I'd need to check the invoice. 

Changed everything over myself. Lift engine cover off, unbolt, remove, replace, re-bolt, engine cover on, job done. 

Anything I can do myself I do. 
Anything I can't do myself I see if I know someone I trust who can. 
Anything we can't do between us gets sent to the garage. 

PawelK

Thanks tacpot12. The problem was with the engine fault  and icon popping up on the dashboard. In December while driving, I didn't want to risk it and called roadside assistance who initially diagnosed mass air flow problem (sensor) and combustion misfiring (cylinder 1). The garage now told me that these could be the reasons but it could be anything else relating to the engine icon coming up. They had my car for the last couple of days as couldn't do diagnostic yesterday (small garage so car outside and it was raining) so I assume they're doing it today. Yesterday they called me and explained that the worst case scenario would be to change the timing belt but that's a very worst case. They checked the plugs and suggested changing them with coil as a first step so it doesn't seem to me as they're 100% sure what causes the problem with the engine. My worry is exactly what you say, that they're unable to figure out and will be trying which may be few different bits each costing me and in total would be as much as the car is worth. Perhaps I will message them and find out if this is because they actually we're unable to find the problem.

williamgriffin

PawelK said:

Thanks tacpot12. The problem was with the engine fault  and icon popping up on the dashboard. In December while driving, I didn't want to risk it and called roadside assistance who initially diagnosed mass air flow problem (sensor) and combustion misfiring (cylinder 1). The garage now told me that these could be the reasons but it could be anything else relating to the engine icon coming up. They had my car for the last couple of days as couldn't do diagnostic yesterday (small garage so car outside and it was raining) so I assume they're doing it today. Yesterday they called me and explained that the worst case scenario would be to change the timing belt but that's a very worst case. They checked the plugs and suggested changing them with coil as a first step so it doesn't seem to me as they're 100% sure what causes the problem with the engine. My worry is exactly what you say, that they're unable to figure out and will be trying which may be few different bits each costing me and in total would be as much as the car is worth. Perhaps I will message them and find out if this is because they actually we're unable to find the problem.

What's the timing belt got to do with it? Personally I'd find another garage. 

PawelK

williamgriffin said:

PawelK said:

Thanks tacpot12. The problem was with the engine fault  and icon popping up on the dashboard. In December while driving, I didn't want to risk it and called roadside assistance who initially diagnosed mass air flow problem (sensor) and combustion misfiring (cylinder 1). The garage now told me that these could be the reasons but it could be anything else relating to the engine icon coming up. They had my car for the last couple of days as couldn't do diagnostic yesterday (small garage so car outside and it was raining) so I assume they're doing it today. Yesterday they called me and explained that the worst case scenario would be to change the timing belt but that's a very worst case. They checked the plugs and suggested changing them with coil as a first step so it doesn't seem to me as they're 100% sure what causes the problem with the engine. My worry is exactly what you say, that they're unable to figure out and will be trying which may be few different bits each costing me and in total would be as much as the car is worth. Perhaps I will message them and find out if this is because they actually we're unable to find the problem.

What's the timing belt got to do with it? Personally I'd find another garage. 

Don't ask me. I have no idea. 😉😂 I am just saying what they told me over the phone. It was a worst case scenario they said. I just replied to them to clarify if by '1st attempt' they mean they were unable to find the problem because of this doesn't work I don't want to pay in total more than what the car is worth. 🤪

williamgriffin

PawelK said:

williamgriffin said:

PawelK said:

Thanks tacpot12. The problem was with the engine fault  and icon popping up on the dashboard. In December while driving, I didn't want to risk it and called roadside assistance who initially diagnosed mass air flow problem (sensor) and combustion misfiring (cylinder 1). The garage now told me that these could be the reasons but it could be anything else relating to the engine icon coming up. They had my car for the last couple of days as couldn't do diagnostic yesterday (small garage so car outside and it was raining) so I assume they're doing it today. Yesterday they called me and explained that the worst case scenario would be to change the timing belt but that's a very worst case. They checked the plugs and suggested changing them with coil as a first step so it doesn't seem to me as they're 100% sure what causes the problem with the engine. My worry is exactly what you say, that they're unable to figure out and will be trying which may be few different bits each costing me and in total would be as much as the car is worth. Perhaps I will message them and find out if this is because they actually we're unable to find the problem.

What's the timing belt got to do with it? Personally I'd find another garage. 

Don't ask me. I have no idea. 😉😂 I am just saying what they told me over the phone. It was a worst case scenario they said. I just replied to them to clarify if by '1st attempt' they mean they were unable to find the problem because of this doesn't work I don't want to pay in total more than what the car is worth. 🤪

Timing belts are replaced on age or mileage and if correctly set will not have any effect on the running of the engine. At 9-10 years old I would hope it's been changed at some point and may be due again.

It sounds like they are guessing at the solution rather than knowing.

PawelK

williamgriffin said:

PawelK said:

williamgriffin said:

PawelK said:

Thanks tacpot12. The problem was with the engine fault  and icon popping up on the dashboard. In December while driving, I didn't want to risk it and called roadside assistance who initially diagnosed mass air flow problem (sensor) and combustion misfiring (cylinder 1). The garage now told me that these could be the reasons but it could be anything else relating to the engine icon coming up. They had my car for the last couple of days as couldn't do diagnostic yesterday (small garage so car outside and it was raining) so I assume they're doing it today. Yesterday they called me and explained that the worst case scenario would be to change the timing belt but that's a very worst case. They checked the plugs and suggested changing them with coil as a first step so it doesn't seem to me as they're 100% sure what causes the problem with the engine. My worry is exactly what you say, that they're unable to figure out and will be trying which may be few different bits each costing me and in total would be as much as the car is worth. Perhaps I will message them and find out if this is because they actually we're unable to find the problem.

What's the timing belt got to do with it? Personally I'd find another garage. 

Don't ask me. I have no idea. 😉😂 I am just saying what they told me over the phone. It was a worst case scenario they said. I just replied to them to clarify if by '1st attempt' they mean they were unable to find the problem because of this doesn't work I don't want to pay in total more than what the car is worth. 🤪

Timing belts are replaced on age or mileage and if correctly set will not have any effect on the running of the engine. At 9-10 years old I would hope it's been changed at some point and may be due again.

It sounds like they are guessing at the solution rather than knowing.

I just spoke to the man who explained to me everything. He said if I want to try the dealer I can, will obviously pay more and they will tell me what to fix. I can then go back to them or any other garage to get it fixed. However, he told me that if I want to go through garages, each will have a similar procedure of starting with the part that is the cheapest if not sure. He admitted my car's situation is not as straight forward and said they have a policy of not charging the diagnostic fee if they're not happy with the results. He said they have three machines, used two of them and both showed there is a problem with cylinder 3. He cannot promise me that changing plugs will fix it but they're old and need replacing. If I want to go ahead they will do it in half an hour and then take the car for a half an hour test drive, reset the lights and so on. What do you think?

PawelK

JustAnotherSaver said:

All cars are different and I'm far from a mechanic but I bought spark plugs for mine and they were £10 for 4. Genuine GM ones. OK that was a lucky purchase and when I bought 4 for the wife's car, different seller it was £19.98 for 4, again genuine GM ones. 
I think the coil pack cost in the region of £60-£70 from AutoVaux if I remember correctly. I'd need to check the invoice. 

Changed everything over myself. Lift engine cover off, unbolt, remove, replace, re-bolt, engine cover on, job done. 

Anything I can do myself I do. 
Anything I can't do myself I see if I know someone I trust who can. 
Anything we can't do between us gets sent to the garage. 

I would lik to keep costs down like you do and do it myself whenever I can, even if using YouTube to learn how to change plugs and coil. But didn't know that after this you also need to reset some things like lights (if I understood the mechanic on the phone correctly). All in all, if plugs and coil and resetting everything with labour, it does feel like a fair price and I just need to hope that this will fix the cylinder issue.
Thanks!