A mechanic is cautioning people against buying their own spark plugs. He says that while it may seem like a good idea at the time, it ultimately could cost you more in the long run.
In a TikTok that’s generated over 132,200 views as of this writing, mobile mechanic Simeon (@mrappltn) says one of his customers ignored his advice and ended up paying more for repairs.
In the TikTok, the mechanic says certain spark plugs work better than others. He believes they’re not one size fits all.
The mechanic says one of his customers asked for a quote for parts and labor for spark plugs, but it didn’t fit their budget. So she asked him if she could buy her own and just pay for labor.
The mechanic was wary, but agreed. He says he told her which brand to buy.
“I informed her that if you are going to get the parts yourself, ensure that you get NGK spark plugs. Those perform the best in your vehicle. If you get other brands, they may not work as well and they may cause damage to other components,” Simeon explains.
The customer went to AutoZone but it didn’t have NGK spark plugs, he says, so she just bought what the employee recommended.
Simeon was reluctant to install them, he says. Against his own judgment, and in part because she was a repeat customer, he agreed to install them.
A week or two later, the woman’s check engine light came on. When Simeon inspected her car, he says he discovered multiple misfires.
“The spark plugs are the issue. So I informed her we’re going to need to replace the spark plugs with the accurate spark plug NGK ones,” he says.
The customer agreed and asked for a discount for parts and labor. Simeon claims he declined, saying he didn’t think a discount was warranted because he told her in advance using the other spark plugs could cause problems.
When she continued pleading, he says he ultimately caved and gave her the discount.
A week later, her check engine light came on again. This time he found that the coil pack for cylinder three was the problem.
He says his customer blamed him. Simeon was unmoved.
“I told you this could be a problem from the beginning,” he says he told her.
The customer agreed to get the coil pack, but decided to have another mechanic complete the job. She later sent Simeon a lengthy text about how to better serve his customers.
“The only thing that situation taught me was that there are policies and rules for a reason. If I had just stuck to my guns from the beginning and be like no, we don’t allow customers to purchase their parts. We purchase all parts for this exact reason. This would’ve never had been a problem in the first place,” he says.
He concludes the video by reemphasizing his stance on not installing parts that customers bring in.
“If this part doesn’t work and doesn’t perform as it should, I am not responsible. There is no warranty on labor for parts purchased by a customer,” he says.
Should I Change My Own Spark Plugs?
Changing your spark plugs can be done as a DIY project with the right tools and access to the spark plugs.
AutoZone suggests spark plugs should be changed every 30,000-100,000 miles. However, spark plugs may need to be replaced earlier when any misfiring, loss of power, or excess fuel consumption occurs.
While this job can be a simple one to do at home for some vehicles, in others, it may be more complex. This depends on what engine the car has and where the spark plugs are located.
People who commented on a thread on r/mechanicadvice believe that, generally speaking, this is an easy at-home repair.
“Definitely a DIY job, granted you don't have a boxer engine. Just make sure you gap the plugs correctly, use the appropriate socket specifically for spark plugs, and be gentle removing and replacing,” one person wrote.
“Find some YouTube videos, watch several and make sure you have the right tools,” another offered.
To change a spark plug, here are the following steps needed to complete the job according to Capital One:
- Wait for the engine to get cold
- Gather the required tools
- Disconnect your battery
- Remove coil-on-plug connectors or spark plug wires
- Use a socket to remove the spark plug
- Perform a visual inspection of the faulty plus
- Install the new plug
- Reattach the spark plug wires or coil-on-plug connectors in the proper order
- Reconnect the battery
Overall, if the spark plugs are easily accessible and you already have the tools, this can be done at home. If not, you may want to get professional help.
Who’s To Blame When A Customer Buys the Wrong Spark Plugs?
Some people who watched Simeon’s video were appalled that the woman listened to an AutoZone worker over her mechanic.
“Imagine listening to the guy who selling the parts and not the one who’s installing them,” one said.
“They never listen and pay 3x more,” another added.
“She trusts the guy behind the counter more than the mechanic she’s built rapport with??? lol wow,” a third commented.
Others suggested that Simeon may have been partially to blame, however. They opined that the coil packs should’ve been replaced with the spark plugs initially.
“To be fair you always always replace the coils with the sparkplugs,” one said.
“You replace both sparks and coils together one time,” a second agreed.
“She didn’t want to spend the extra $20 for the NGK plugs doubt she woulda wanted to buy 4 coils, but you are right I prefer replacing coils and plugs all at once,” Simeon explained.
“My man should have not installed those plugs to begin with. This is 100 percent your fault my guy,” another added.
“You are 100% right I’m the professional and knew from the beginning that it would be a problem, should of stuck to my better judgement and turned down the job,” Simeon agreed.
Motor1 has contacted Simeon via TikTok and Instagram direct message. He has thus far declined to comment. This story will be updated if he does.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motor1.com?
Take our 3 minute survey.- The Motor1.com Team