When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I went into this spark plug change and ran into the ole "coils blocked by the metal surrounding the shocks" puzzlement. The OP (Roadfrog) saved me a lot of hours, elbow grease, and scratched paint because there is a little plastic spacer that seals the gasket to the coils that can be removed with a pair of needle nose pliers. I didn't try the screwdriver routine, but the idea that the seal was multi-piece sent me in a good direction.
Excerpt from Roadfrog's DIY:
NEW INFO: Recently it was noted that another option to using a pry bar, is to simply remove the rubber gasket surrounding the coil packs. This allows just enough room to get the coil pack out easier. To remove the gasket, there are slots in them that allow to insert a screwdriver and pry it off.
Coming up on 60,000 miles. Called Lexus of Omaha last week while I was up in Omaha. They want $515 to replace the spark plugs. So I called Lexus of Tulsa which is where I sometimes get the LS serviced. They want $639 but do give a military discount of 10% which would bring it down to $575 to change 8 spark plugs. They both said it 3.25 hours of labor..
Coming up on 60,000 miles. Called Lexus of Omaha last week while I was up in Omaha. They want $515 to replace the spark plugs. So I called Lexus of Tulsa which is where I sometimes get the LS serviced. They want $639 but do give a military discount of 10% which would bring it down to $575 to change 8 spark plugs. They both said it 3.25 hours of labor..
Dennis
All you need: tools (311 peice $206) and Denso plugs ($65-$100).
Every thing is cheaper in US than in Canada. Lexus dealer in canada charge USD337 for parts and labour. USD200 for labour if you have the OEM plugs. So $500-600 is way too much from lexus dealer in US.
I don't have tools, so I will ask Lexus dealer to do it after I get my OEM spark plugs.
Called Reliable Lexus in Springfield, MO yesterday and asked what the price was for just changing the 8 spark plugs. $518 plus shop fees and Sales Tax. I asked the service tech to break that down for me. $374 for labor, $144 for the 8 plugs then the shop fee would be $60.00 and the sales tax would be $18.90. Out the door cost $596.90. I said I can buy the OEM 3473 plugs from rockauto delivered for $80.56. He said I could bring the plugs and they would take the $144 off. I said fine now about the $60 shop fee, and he said oh that is a federally mandated fee they must charge and that is the fee for changing spark plugs on a LS. I said oh how much hand cleaner does the guy use when he is done changing 8 spark plugs. He asked if I would like to make an appointment and I said no the $60.00 shop fee kind of put me off. He then said well let me talk to the service manager and I said fine. He came back 2 min later and said they could drop the shop fee to $10. So we went from $596.90 to $396.23 with me bringing the 8 Plugs. So $396.23 plus $80.56 for plugs brings me in at $476.79 or a saving of $120.11. Still way hi but much better than either Lexus of Omaha or Lexus of Tulsa
Called Reliable Lexus in Springfield, MO yesterday and asked what the price was for just changing the 8 spark plugs. $518 plus shop fees and Sales Tax. I asked the service tech to break that down for me. $374 for labor, $144 for the 8 plugs then the shop fee would be $60.00 and the sales tax would be $18.90. Out the door cost $596.90. I said I can buy the OEM 3473 plugs from rockauto delivered for $80.56. He said I could bring the plugs and they would take the $144 off. I said fine now about the $60 shop fee, and he said oh that is a federally mandated fee they must charge and that is the fee for changing spark plugs on a LS. I said oh how much hand cleaner does the guy use when he is done changing 8 spark plugs. He asked if I would like to make an appointment and I said no the $60.00 shop fee kind of put me off. He then said well let me talk to the service manager and I said fine. He came back 2 min later and said they could drop the shop fee to $10. So we went from $596.90 to $396.23 with me bringing the 8 Plugs. So $396.23 plus $80.56 for plugs brings me in at $476.79 or a saving of $120.11. Still way hi but much better than either Lexus of Omaha or Lexus of Tulsa
Dennis
Even if you had to buy a new set of mechanics tools, it would still be less than 396 including the plugs/this is the win win from a DIY perspective.
I don't need any more tools. I have tools that I am to old to use now. That's the problem I don't want to do it myself anymore. I have lost that wrenching feeling. I guess I will try and sneak the $476 bucks out of my dear wife's pedicure account and hope she does not notice till next spring when it's slipper season again.
Djwldw, that is too expensive. This is a 1.8-2 hrs job according to most dealer's mechanical books. Ask your Lexus what is their hourly rate and multiple 2 is what they should charge you for labour cost of replacing your plugs.
that is why my local Lexus dealer in Canada charge me usd200 (usd100 hourly rate x 2)
As for the $80 shop fee or other environment fee, I bet you they won't charge the insurance company if that job is covered by warranty. Once I asked them why Insurance company didn't get charged extra environmental, shop or misc fee if it is covered by insurance? They told me because insurance company won't pay them.
If if you know the service guy well or complain to them about the extra fees, they might waive it for you. That is my experience
I want to thank all that contributed to this thread. All the comments and help made this the easiest v8 that i have changed plugs on. There were lots of things that would have taken a few more hours for me to figure out if I did have this thread. It took me about 2.5 hours including a short dinner and taking my time.
A few notes:
I could not find two 4" extensions but two 3" extensions worked out fine for the socket stack.
I removed the entire air box including the tops
Magnetic wand is key to save time for dropped tools.
The electrical connectors to the coil packs are murderous. Removing them before taking out the 10mm bolt helps.
The all plugs were easy except for cylinder 7 (driver side rear) i had to remove more than RF. I removed the bolts to the brake fluid fill, the abs sensor, and the bracket that held the abs module plus some more hardware just to get the tools and plug out and back in. It was still a pain and took as long as 1,3, and 5 combined!
This all worked for a 2010 ls460 sport. Nothing significantly different from the OP's post.
On another subject plug 7 was wet with oil. There were no issues before changing plugs or CEL. Is this an issue? Car sat for two days unused before changing plugs.
07-10-16, 10:01 AM
Thanks Roadfrog
