I took my 2005 Mazda Tribute in for a tune up (spark plugs) and was told I could REALLY damage my PCM (computer) if I did not replace the coils too (which added about 800.00 to my bill). I told them only do the spark plugs and they didn't want to do it. any suggestions???

 

mileage?If near 100,000 change your ign coils. There is no extra labor as these have to be removed anyway. I changed mine a lot earlier. I currently have 72,000 km. Old coils will start to misfire.

 

Buy a set on Ebay for 1/10th the price.

 

I can't see any reason the ECU could be damaged by not replacing coils.

When removing the coils to R&R the plugs it can sometimes upset/kill older coils, resulting in misfires.( Which may end up with the coils being replaced under duress/labour warranty) The mechanic may just be covering their ****.

 

My mazda has 98,000 miles.

They basically refused the change the spark plugs without the coils. I didn't argue the matter - I just told them not to do anything.

The car runs fine and I was just going to do preventative maintenance.

I'll trade the car in and get something other than a mazda - especailly when the want 1,100.00 (with a discount) for a tune-up!

Thanks for the helpful info but I am not able to do a tune-up on this one myself and my husband is disabled.

 

"I'll trade the car in and get something other than a mazda - especailly when the want 1,100.00 (with a discount) for a tune-up!"



I don't know if this makes a lot of sense. There are hardly any late model cars that don't have Coil On Plugs (COPs) anymore. That means almost any car will cost you $$$$ when they come due.

No matter which car make you own, the dealer service will be the most expensive. Instead of looking for another car, why don't you look for a good independent shop to get that routine job done at a reasonable price?

You may have other reasons not to like your Mazda anymore, but if this estimate is the only one then make damn sure your next car won't surprise you in this regard.

All the best!

 

we have 2 99 millenias with cop system. while the coils DO go out, and i change them, i do NOT change them unless they go bad. there is NOTHING in the owners manual or the fsm about changing coils as routine maintenance. coils are expensive, and there is a lot of profit from selling them. some of the coils on our millenias are original, and both cars are over 150k. fsm says to change the spark plugs every 60k, which i do. and, i have encountered weak coils. generally, a misfire will throw a code, but there is no distinguishing from a spark plug, coil, or injector. a weak coil can cause a slight miss under load, and still not throw a code. if your car is running smooth, i see no reason to change a coil, and certainly not all of them. your main problem is basic, and will be with you until you solve it. you need to find a reputable shop. they are out there. but there are also a lot of wannabe's. dont be fooled by the cheapest price, in the long run, it may turn out to be the most expensive.

 

I have an '04 Tribute with 225K miles and have probably replaced every coil at least once by now and the spark plugs maybe three times...I never replaced a coil unless it died and threw a code...period...and my PCM is original...

 

At all the Mazda dealers I've worked at we do not replace the coils unless they die. If the vehicle needs sparkplugs, we only replace the sparkplugs.

You need to find a workshop that will replace just the plugs, and tell them you understand the risk of upsetting the coils.

 

If it's a V6 replace all the coils in the rear as it is hard to get at those coils and is labor intensive, otherwise it will cost you big time very time, especially if you can't do it yourself! The chances of those coils lasting another 50-70,000 miles is slim.
Supply them with coils that you can buy cheaper on-line.
The older the coil, the more chance it is weak and will misfire.

Added Oct 3: Not everyone carries a diagnostic tool, tools and a spare ign coil with them or has the ability to change them. What would happen when someone is on a long journey only to get misfires near the beginning of their journey. They would be screwed and could possibly do more damage to other expensive things like the catalytic converter. Preventative maintenance is the key. Stock ignition coils @ 100,000 miles are suspect for failure already. Expecting them to last another 50,000 miles is really pushing your luck.