grokit

Confirmed. I did replace my plugs at 60K, but the wires were original 1996. Replaced both this time (105k), and got a similar mileage bump as mcg_. Highly recommended!

Just got back from the dealer, got 10% off the whole job, or $79 plus a couple of hours of labor gratis for an unrelated issue. Also had the injectors pressure-cleaned which is a 105K thing and the fuel filter replaced. I'll have to check out that mileage thing; I am expecting an improvement just from finally replacing the original wires, much less the rest. And now for only a marginally related story: The other issue was the reason I went back after the last time a couple of months ago, when I had the struts replaced along with a four-wheel alignment; I have been having issues with the ABS system for years. I replaced the relay once and that worked for a year or two but then it started working only intermittently and when it did work it did not work well. It got progressively worse to the point that I preferred to drive it with the ABS light on more than with the ABS functional. So while they were messing with the struts I asked them to check out the sensor cables, and sure enough there was a bad one. I let them order it with a written estimate for installation with one hour labor plus the cost of the sensor cable. Fast forward 60 days, and both the service writer and the mechanic that wrote that estimate no longer work there! The new guy finds that the place where the sensor cable meets the brake is completely corroded from well over a decade of heavy road salt, and it's going to take another couple of hours of dealer$hip labor to install the sensor. But I had a written estimate from the previous mechanic It cost me an hour to have the cables checked but that was unavoidable, and having that estimate in writing saved me two hours on the back end. And my biggest fear, that I would still have problems and end up pulling the relay and fuse anyways, went unrealized because the brakes now work great. Sorry for the OT, I should probably find an ABS thread that must exist as I have been reading up on the various earlier systems and their associated frustrations over the years. But I am glad I stuck with it, at least until that damn ABS light comes back on (knock in wood)! Anyways, a good exercise in winning for once at the dealer.

That was a bit discouraging! The dealer originally quoted me $200 for wires and plugs and I said okay. Then they called back and said that was just for the plugs, the wires will bring the cost to $300 including another $50 for an additional half-our labor of labor so I declined. It seems to me that once you've changed the plugs all the labor is done. Perhaps now I'll re-consider, maybe I can talk them down to $250 or something.

Okay I'll re-investigate the plugs. As far as the wires go, I couldn't find a date reference on the tags you mentioned. I called the dealer, and evidently my 1997 GT was made in 8/96. I am guessing that there are not very many 1997 GTs made after 5/97.

So I just joined this fine forum, and this is my first post. I am considering doing the plug change myself on my 97 GT sedan, and finding the plugs were no problem. I am going with the DENSO Iridium IK20 Spark Plugs # 5304 which I believe are the OEM replacements. But when I go to get new wires (mine say 1996 so it's time!), I have to decide whether mine is "TO 04/97", or "FROM 05/97". I know my VIN but I can't find any date info on the car tags so far. Any suggestions?