This is bringing back some PTSD for me. I owned one of those turds and the alternator died a day before Easter. I replaced it myself and had to go through the bottom exactly how you described, so I was only out the $220 for the alternator. Took me six hours since there were no service manuals because Chrysler wouldn't license Haynes or Chiltons to make one for that line at the time.

To compound it all, the alternator itself was fine. What failed was the damn clutch. Who the hell puts a clutch on an alternator?!

Guitar let alone that every year its something new to learn or buy tools to fix.I loved when people said you must be making a killing making $65 an hour as that was labor rate at the shop then.Then the morons say company must treat you great bying you all those toos.yeah right.Oh yeah lets not forget the cut body parts all the bruises the wet and cold from rain and snow.Oh yeah you are supposed to work on their junk when they pull in and its 300 degrees under the hood.that and when you tell them they need say 5oo bucks worth of parts to make it right.But hey I Only want to spend 200 bucks and you still can make it perfect.Yeah Im glad Im retired and dont have to deal with most of them.Rocky

You guys getting bent out of shape need to take a step back and re-read OP's post. I don't think he's ragging on techs for the time taking what it takes. The real issue is the poor vehicle design and lousy quality. At $100/hr shop rate it adds up quickly. I don't really see what any of that has to do with the technician himself. The job takes the time it takes no matter what shop you bring it to.

First is a tune up. I checked at a local shop and he told me like $430. Wait, WHAT?!?!?!? $430 to change a set of plugs? He also told me it takes 3 hours and copper core plugs. Ok, now I know it’s been a while since I’ve really done any work on cars. I used to do all my own work, but these new computer controlled cars are a little more intimidating. I know it has a coil on plug ignition and the plugs are centered in the heads like a hemi so I don’t really see why it would take 3 hours. I know it’s a transverse mounted engine, but with the plugs on top, I don’t think it should be too hard to get to the back plugs.



So the questions for this are: 1, am I right thinking it shouldn’t take 3 hours and 2, does it really take copper core plugs? When I checked Autozone, it’s listing double platinum plugs. Also, what brand of plugs do you recommend? I’ve always been a diehard Champion user in my Mopars, but do they still work best in the modern engines?

You guys are acting like whatever a shop charges goes in your pockets. You've all stated yourselves that the shop doesn't buy your tools, or in some cases pay for your certifications. Sure the shop does provide some equipment, but that is to be expected.

Yes, I am...or was a truck driver. taking some time off from that for a while. But before I started driving, I was a mechanic for 25 years. So I am well aware of what your expenses are, as well as the shops overhead. Maybe I still think old school, when a tune up consisted of more than just six spark plugs and didn't cost $430. Perhaps I wouldn't have been so shocked and upset about it if the shop had told me that the intake has to come off to get to the back plugs. And also told me the truth about the type of plugs needed. Everything I've seen listed for plugs for this car shows it needs double platinum or iridium plugs and he wants to use copper core. I would be needing another tune up i10,000 miles because the ignition system would have burned up the plugs. This guy has been in business for years and he doesn't know that? How am I supposed to trust him with that kind of wrong info.

Maybe $400 is the norm for a tune up on a modern car. Maybe that is something I will just have to get used to if I don't want to work on my own junk anymore. But that is a pretty heavy bill for me. I don't have that kind of money just lying around that I can just say, "Ok, no problem. When can I pick it up?" Not everyone is as rich as you all seem to be.

I don't see it your way.