I was at one of the local Ford dealerships today (I've seen the term 'stealership' here, it probably applies) to buy a rear door lock actuator and a new lamp for the license plate light, and decided to stop up at the Service desk to ask about a couple of prices. I asked about Transmission fluid service, flush and refill, drop the pan, clean the screen and magnets, etc. Guy says that will be all total, a little over $200. I've priced these out with reputable local shops and about $100-$125 is the norm. That's okay, I was just checking anyway.

Then I asked about changing just the plugs on my 2001 EB. He says he wouldn't do it--as in, if it were him, he wouldn't change just the plugs. I took it the other way, and asked him why he wouldn't do the job if I didn't want my COPs replaced? He said he WOULD do the job, but he personally wouldn't do it if it were him because the boots will probably rip and break anyway at 90K miles. But he gave me the price of the plug job anyhow--around $150 give or take. Then I asked him about the COPs. He told me without looking that they were $168 each. "Each!?" I almost sounded like a girl when I said it. So he looked it up in the computer, and they came back at $128 each.

So for a complete plug job, which according to the guy will likely also involves all 8 COPs, we're talking over $1200.

I smiled, thanked him for his time, and went on my way.

I've read many, many posts in this forum, and while I know from others that COPs are expensive, I never in a million years thought they were $130 each.

Unfortunately, what I am going to have to do, is not change the plugs and just wait for a COP to go bad, then change that one only. At $150 per cylinder, that's about the most I can take without tossing lunch all over my shoes. Christ, I could almost get a rebuilt motor for close to the cost of a plug & COP change!

(I hate to ask, but has anyone else seen or heard anything even remotely like this?)

 

What is a COP?

 

Damn stealerships!

Absurd to think that you'd have to change the COIL ON PLUG (for oldRedTruck. ) just the change the plugs.

Really...if the service guys cannot remove them without ripping them...maybe they should work elsewhere.

Plus, you can get afteramarket COPS a lot cheaper.

 

I will change your plugs for $ 999.00

 

Let's not forget you can gets the boots seperate form NAPA for about 6 bucks each...
Someone on here sourced the part number a while back.

Dave

 

Thanks Monsta

As you can tell by my screen name, this old fart doesn't need to know about that new fangled stuff but it doesn't hurt to learn something new everyday

 

THe dealer won't tell you but aftermarket now sells just the boot....

 

Make sure that you use a good amount of dielectric grease to seal out water and keep the boot from dry rotting and cracking. I had to replace 3 COP's on my 01' EB at 40,000 miles. Have not had a single problem since and have 97,000 on it now...

 

I recently changed the plugs on my '98 Club Wagon, which has the 5.4L engine probably used in some Navigators. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) This was the most difficult plug change I ever attempted. I'm sure it's harder to get van plugs replaced, then the plugs on any vehicle which has a nice big hood to open.
The rubber boots were difficult to extract, but I did so without tearing a single one. In a couple of cases, the COPs were slightly compromised. I can't remember in detail what happened, but I think the boot separated from the COP, and the COP high-tension conductor was stretched out. I simply tucked this spring-like object back in the boot, returned it to its rightful position on my new plug, and completed the job. The van runs perfectly...I mean...PERFECTLY.
Plug changes are mandatory, after roughly 100,000 miles. There is no mention in the maintenance schedule to change COPs, any more than older vehicles require changes of their ignition coils on a periodic basis. If they die, then replace. I call that "RWD"...Replace When Dead.
With such a premium on those COPs, an aftermarket is sure to emerge.