<RJ> wrote:

This is the year 2006, not 1965. This is a Northstar, not a
K-car. The dealership routinely makes 100% markup on
many, many items. You figure it out.

By the way, to the original poster....I don't believe that
you have spark plug wires on this year of Northstar
anyway. This year should have the coil pack cartridge
with spark plug boots, but that's about it.

Ian

"<RJ>" <baranick (AT) localnet (DOT) com> wrote in message
Times have changed. Plugs run from $2 to $10. Wires can be $10 each.
Given the age and miles on the car, it would be about time to replace them
if they have not been already. I did my 01 LeSabre just a couple of months
ago because of mis-fires. It was a lot less than $500 though, more like
$120, IIRC at a local shop.

"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp (AT) snet (DOT) net> wrote

A while back I compiled (in another forum) a list of some of the things that
have changed since carburetors roamed the roads. I forget most - many were
contributed by others - but some are:
*the radiator could be topped off with a garden hose
*to tell if the alternator was working, unfasten one battery terminal to see
if the engine dies
*the radiator overflow just spilled on the road
*the points should be filed or replaced at least once a year
*the alternator could be run at full rated output all day
*spark plug gap could be set with a gap tool
....

Thanks to all of you for your information and especially
*for the time you all spent* to have such a spirited and
interesting discussion.
This vehicle will probably go back to the dealer. I got the
suggestion of bad plugs and/or wires from the Autozone gal when I
told her that I had never had the plugs/wires changed in
about 120K miles (I bought the car with 26K on it and I
assume the plugs/wires were not changed in that interval.
Note also that *nothing* has been done to this car since
I have owned it, short of normal tire and brake maintenance
and oil changes.) I hoped to find something that could be done
locally since the dealer is about 45 minutes drive.
The dealer had recently diagnosed the rear main seal
problem, but the misfire problem is new. The $500 ballpark
estimate for plugs/wires was based on a "what if" question.
We did not explore other possibilities when I talked to the
service manager.
Every local guy I spoke with refused to work on the
plugs due to their inaccessibility. I cannot evaluate why they
have said this, except to take note of your comments here.
Anyway I will go back to Autozone and write down the
details of the diagnosis and post them here to see if that
helps point in the right direction before I do anything else.
I'll be back soon with this info.
The engine was stumbling so badly I would have to guess
that more than one cylinder was involved.
Once again "thank you!"
Frank





On Sun, 10 Dec 2006 04:25:00 GMT, frank1492 <frank1492 (AT) verizon (DOT) net>
wrote:

BTW as for crank position sensors, these were changed twice.
When they were bad, the problem was sudden stalls, and slightly
slow starting of the Northstar, nothing like this. Also, the second
time the dealer told me they were redesigned.
If it appears I am contradicting myself about *nothing* ever
being done, I meant no regular maintenance on things like
plugs or other "tuneup"-type items.



On Sun, 10 Dec 2006 04:25:00 GMT, frank1492 <frank1492 (AT) verizon (DOT) net>
wrote:

frank1492 wrote:
That's funny....the dealership should have known these
engines don't have wires.

Hmmmm.....they aren't that hard to change on these engines.
The front four are a snap, the rear ones are more difficult
only because of the air injection plumbing that has to be
removed before the rear coil pack cartridge can be removed.
But still well within the realm of possibility for even the
intelligent DIY'er.

By the way, the proper response to any suggestion made
by someone like the staff at a store like Autozone when it
comes to driveability issues would be a polite nod of the
head, and then quickly forget anything they might suggest
and have it diagnosed properly.

Ian

In article <XP4fh.460551$1T2.414631@pd7urf2no>, V-L-M (AT) hotma1l (DOT) com
says...
Ballpark? Which frig'n ballpark are they playing in? BTW I feel 120k
miles on platinum plugs was way to long. 80k miles is the most I
recommend ever putting on platinums.

frank1492 wrote:
If you are at 146k miles on the original plugs and wires then it is
surely time to change them and they are the most likely cause of
misfires. Sure there are other possibilities, but that is the place to
start.

John