Tune up (coil) question

[Rob175]

Thanks guys..... I’ve watched a few videos and agree it doesn’t look difficult. Hardest part for me is raising the car and put it on a jack stand since I don’t have either. But when my mechanic quoted over $1,200 to do the job I was shocked since Pelican sells the OEM parts for about $600 and about $300 if I buy the non OEM parts. I know everyone is entitled to make a profit but that seems excessive. So maybe I will try to DIY.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Rob175

Thanks guys..... I’ve watched a few videos and agree it doesn’t look difficult. Hardest part for me is raising the car and put it on a jack stand since I don’t have either. But when my mechanic quoted over $1,200 to do the job I was shocked since Pelican sells the OEM parts for about $600 and about $300 if I buy the non OEM parts. I know everyone is entitled to make a profit but that seems excessive. So maybe I will try to DIY.

Just do one side at a time. A quick jack (just enough to get the wheel off) supported by a stand, pop the wheel liner out and go.

It goes fairly quickly.

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by particlewave

Just do one side at a time. A quick jack (just enough to get the wheel off) supported by a stand, pop the wheel liner out and go.

It goes fairly quickly.

This!!! Jack it up just enough to raise the tire.

An inexpensive socket set from HF... what... ~$30.

Plugs... coils... tubes... Likely WELL under $450, and all OEM. Filters? Air/oil/cabin... another $50.

The price your mechanic quoted? **************** me.

Obviously, any tools you purchase will pay for themselves the moment you conclude your maintenance/repair.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by Starter986

This!!! Jack it up just enough to raise the tire.

An inexpensive socket set from HF... what... ~$30.

Plugs... coils... tubes... Likely WELL under $450, and all OEM. Filters? Air/oil/cabin... another $50.

The price your mechanic quoted? **************** me.

Obviously, any tools you purchase will pay for themselves the moment you conclude your maintenance/repair.

Do it right the 1st time with a Snap-On hex bit to remove the coil bolts. Or buy several new bolts in advance.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

Do it right the 1st time with a Snap-On hex bit to remove the coil bolts. Or buy several new bolts in advance.

If you wrench for a living, Snap-on is the way to go.

But for everyone else and at a fraction of the costs, Craftsman makes great hand tools, and HF makes great impact sockets, hex bits and other specialty tools.

[Rob175]

I have all the quality hand tools to do the job (including an impact driver for the wheel lugs) it's just the lifting jack and the stands I don't have......I'm assuming that the factory jack would be good enough to lift the car as long as I buy jack stands to support it once up.
Where do the jack stands get placed? Also, I'm thinking that as long as the car is "up" and if I'm doing the labor then I might as well change all of the coils.....because I have to remove them anyway.

[kk2002s]

Really, throw some epoxy, jb weld on the coils if their cracked.
I had 3 of 6 cracked at 90 k miles. I was getting intermittent codes, very random and they would clear. No they are not cheap but the new style has a much thicker base. Pull them and you will no right away if they need replacing.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by Rob175

I have all the quality hand tools to do the job (including an impact driver for the wheel lugs) it's just the lifting jack and the stands I don't have......I'm assuming that the factory jack would be good enough to lift the car as long as I buy jack stands to support it once up.
Where do the jack stands get placed? Also, I'm thinking that as long as the car is "up" and if I'm doing the labor then I might as well change all of the coils.....because I have to remove them anyway.

Jacking the car up:
https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/01-BASICS-Jacking_Up/01-BASICS-Jacking_Up.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDA-qI5HsIU

The jack stands usually go where the jack points are, but if you'll be using the Porsche jack, then the jack stands can go under where the floor jacks go to lift the car. I use a piece of 2x4 between the stands and the car to protect the paint. I usually lower the car until it touches the stands. I don't release the weight off the jack entirely.

Regarding the cracked coils, if you want to spend money on new coils, that's your option. I'd just put some epoxy on them and keep driving.

If you do buy new ones, I'll take your old ones!

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by Rob175

Thanks guys..... I’ve watched a few videos and agree it doesn’t look difficult. Hardest part for me is raising the car and put it on a jack stand since I don’t have either. But when my mechanic quoted over $1,200 to do the job I was shocked since Pelican sells the OEM parts for about $600 and about $300 if I buy the non OEM parts. I know everyone is entitled to make a profit but that seems excessive. So maybe I will try to DIY.

Do you have a Harbor Freight near you? You can get a set of jack stands pretty cheap:
https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/jacks-jack-stands/3-ton-steel-jack-stands-61196.html

Or try your local Craigslist listing for a used set.

[Brian in Tucson]

Do it yourself. Spend the money on the tools, which are a permanent investment. Also, the 3 ton jackstands aren't tall enough. My system, which I've accumulated over years is a pair of Rhino ramps (plastic, don't bend or rust,) a bunch of 1' by 1' by 2 wooden blocks (from new lumber.) And then an air/pneumatic 12 ton bottle jack (need a compressor for this,) and the 6 ton jackstands. I have a pair of the 3 ton ones, but they don't allow enough room to crawl around and work. Nice for doing brake jobs. The air jack really does make lots of work possible and almost pleasant.

[tonythetiger]

Originally Posted by Brian in Tucson

Do it yourself. Spend the money on the tools, which are a permanent investment. Also, the 3 ton jackstands aren't tall enough. My system, which I've accumulated over years is a pair of Rhino ramps (plastic, don't bend or rust,) a bunch of 1' by 1' by 2 wooden blocks (from new lumber.) And then an air/pneumatic 12 ton bottle jack (need a compressor for this,) and the 6 ton jackstands. I have a pair of the 3 ton ones, but they don't allow enough room to crawl around and work. Nice for doing brake jobs. The air jack really does make lots of work possible and almost pleasant.

'
Agreed on the jack stands...the 3 tons don't extend enough to give you room for some things. you need 4 of them.
Buy a decent floor jack, you want at least 24" of lift (harbor freight, low profile long reach has been working fine for me and under 200 bucks) lift bars make it even easier to shimmy up each side and get some separation between the floor and the car.
I toss the tires underneath in case something goes wrong, figuring that will save me from most of the squish if the car falls.