# Fair price--spark plug change?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/fair-price-spark-plug-change/75415>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [November 8, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fair-price-spark-plug-change/75415 "2012-11-08T19:48:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fair-price-spark-plug-change/75415/1 "2012-11-08T19:48:31Z")

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What would you say is a fair labor charge for replacing the spark plugs on a Toyota 3L v-6 (1999 Lexus E300)? In dollars, or maybe labor-hours?

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**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fair-price-spark-plug-change/75415/2 "2012-11-08T19:54:37Z")

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My labor guide shows $135.00.

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fair-price-spark-plug-change/75415/3 "2012-11-08T22:05:49Z")

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I replaced the plugs on my wifes ES350. Those back plugs are a royal pain. Might be the same on your E300.

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**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fair-price-spark-plug-change/75415/4 "2012-11-09T01:44:05Z")

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This is a transverse mounted V6 engine. Meaning you have 3 plugs on the front that are real easy to change and the 3 in the back are very difficult to replace. It involves removing some significant engine parts to even get access to the back 3 plugs. The Camry, Avalon, with V6 engines have the same problem. Most shops that work on Toyota’s do a lot of these jobs so shop around for some prices. You are looking at about 2 hours for labor.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fair-price-spark-plug-change/75415/5 "2012-11-09T02:42:41Z")

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Book time is 2.8 hours

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**Author:** ![mark9207](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mark9207](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mark9207)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 6:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fair-price-spark-plug-change/75415/6 "2012-11-10T06:55:27Z")

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Fair price in labor hours: book time, which is 2.8 hours.  
Fair price in dollars: depends on the hourly rate in your part of the country, could be anywhere from $150-400.  
Whoever does this also needs to quote you a plenum gasket, but not charge additional labor to replace it because the upper plenum needs to come off to replace the back bank plugs.