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Car Forum / Dodge / Dodge Cars / August 2006Spark Plug change in an '04 Durango
I would like to change the 8 plugs in my Durango next time around. This is a cost-cutting measure, since the shop really charged me a bundle. I noticed they have some sort of cap or device on top of each plug. In fact, the rear two seem to go back into the fire wall a bit. It looks like I can get to it, but I would hate to remove a bunch of stuff first. How difficult is this job? I have changed plugs in my '93 Dakota but they are easy, wires, easy access, etc. My concern also, is will I throw a code with the engine if I do it myself? Any advice would be great. Leo > I would like to change the 8 plugs in my Durango next time around. > This is a cost-cutting measure, since the shop really charged me a [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > they are easy, wires, easy access, etc. My concern also, is will I > throw a code with the engine if I do it myself? Which engine do you have? The Hemi has 16 plugs and 2 cylinders are difficult to get too. Shops figure 2 hours labor so thats why the high cost for them to change. I have about 40K on mine so it's about time to change mine as well. I have the V8, 4.7L. I just had them changed and it was a whopper of a bill. > > I would like to change the 8 plugs in my Durango next time around. > > This is a cost-cutting measure, since the shop really charged me a [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > cost for them to change. I have about 40K on mine so it's about time to > change mine as well. I have a 98 Dakota with the 5.2L V8 and 89K miles on it. I've never changed the plugs. My son's 2000 Dakota has a 3.9L V6 with 97K miles on it. Those are also the original plugs. Same with my wife's 02 Intrepid (70k miles) and daughter's 2000 Neon (120K miles) - original plugs. Today's engines don't need plug changes like the older engines so you may want to consider saving your money until one goes bad. >I have the V8, 4.7L. I just had them changed and it was a whopper of a > bill. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >> cost for them to change. I have about 40K on mine so it's about time to >> change mine as well. > I have a 98 Dakota with the 5.2L V8 and 89K miles on it. I've never changed > the plugs. My son's 2000 Dakota has a 3.9L V6 with 97K miles on it. Those > are also the original plugs. Same with my wife's 02 Intrepid (70k miles) > and daughter's 2000 Neon (120K miles) - original plugs. Today's engines > don't need plug changes like the older engines so you may want to consider > saving your money until one goes bad. Thats not entirely true. If you take your plugs out you'll probably notice the gap is now many times greater than what it should be. Odds are the probe is eaten away to very little remaining. The higher voltage and current in todays ignition system means the gap is of less importance. It still fires. However, your mpg and performance will improve if you replace the plugs far sooner than 100K. The Durango Hemi comes with copper plugs. They're not gonna do that well for 100K. I don't know what other Dodge engines come with. You are right. I just pulled each one from my 5.2L V8 and found the gap on each one to be at .044 in. and they are supposed to be 0.040 in. They all looked in pretty good shape too. I re-gapped them all to 0.040 in. and reset them. They didn't look new but for having almost 90k miles on them they did look pretty good. I would check the distributor too if I could get to it. That will take some doing and removal of a few engine components first. I'll revisit that when it gets below 90 deg. F here in Texas. It was hot as he*@ this afternoon just doing the plugs. Looks like I have some plugs, wires, and distributor parts to change out this Fall - both trucks. The Neon will take all of 10 minutes if I take my time. The Intrepid may be another story. Haven't cracked the hood yet - too hot. >> I have a 98 Dakota with the 5.2L V8 and 89K miles on it. I've never >> changed the plugs. My son's 2000 Dakota has a 3.9L V6 with 97K miles on [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > copper plugs. They're not gonna do that well for 100K. I don't know what > other Dodge engines come with. > You are right. I just pulled each one from my 5.2L V8 and found the gap on > each one to be at .044 in. and they are supposed to be 0.040 in. I pulled the plugs on my 2001 Ram with 60K and found the gap to be .15". There wasn't anything left of the probe. Maybe Dodge uses copper on some model/years and platinum on others. my plugs are: Champion RC12LC4 and gapped to 0.040 in. if that means anything. It will cost me about $100 in parts to do the plugs, wires, distributor cap, and rotor for this engine and a couple dollars less for my son's 3.9L V6. >> You are right. I just pulled each one from my 5.2L V8 and found the gap >> on each one to be at .044 in. and they are supposed to be 0.040 in. > > I pulled the plugs on my 2001 Ram with 60K and found the gap to be .15". > There wasn't anything left of the probe. Maybe Dodge uses copper on some > model/years and platinum on others. > I have the V8, 4.7L. I just had them changed and it was a whopper of a > bill. My dealer wants $230 to change them on a Hemi 5.7L. |
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