Oil on a couple spark plug boots- car turns but won't start- is $360 reasonable to fix?

Bear with me, as I have little/no car knowledge!





I have a '90 Acura Integra that in the past had some trouble starting up. It would crank but I'd have to give it a few tries before it started all the way up. Yesterday, it was turning over (but sounding extra weak) and not starting.





The mechanic showed me the spark plug boots- the rubbery things that go into the holes on top of the engine, and a few were soaked in oil. He said I have a ';cracked seal'; and he needs to change some wiring. For all this, he is charging me $360. I know engine work is usually expensive, I just want to make sure he is not ripping me off.





Thoughts?Oil on a couple spark plug boots- car turns but won't start- is $360 reasonable to fix?
Was the oil on the plug lead before he took out the actual spark plug itself or after he took out spark plug. If it was before he took out the plug then i can only persume that you have been filling with engine oil regulary and spilling some around rocker cover thus filling the spark plug/lead shaft up with oil. If this is the case and not the other then he is talking through his hat do it yourself it aint hard try drying up oil and leads and connect back and see what happens if no different then replace leads and plugs for third of price he has quoted it aint hard as ive already said, and hey presto car is firing up fine again and running smoother.Oil on a couple spark plug boots- car turns but won't start- is $360 reasonable to fix?
Ditch the mechanic man and buy yourself a repair manual and learn how to fix your car. It's an easy fix and he's overcharging you. Looks like the valve cover grommets are going/old causing the oil to leak through to the plugs. Should be about $25-$30 for a set of 4. Don't forget to buy a new valve cover gasket also. Then buy a new set of plugs wires since your at it because the old ones are soaked with oil or you can just clean them. Good Luck!
Good spark plug wires are costly. The car is 20 yrs old. I would buy wires at Auto Zone (cheap ones) and have and independent install them. You can install them yourself if you trace each one. Only remove and replace one at a time. Change the plugs also.
that sounds kinda high to me besides if they are wet with oil that should,nt keep it from starting. it might miss like crazy but it still should start. it sounds more like your battery.
its an estimate? plug wires ? valve cover seals ? but get it running...?


it should run with those problems.
Look up prices for a valve cover gasket, spark plugs, and spk plug wires, and maybe 3 hrs of labor
plug wire cost about 50 bucks give or take can cal any parts store hour or less 80 bucks valave cover gasket might be less maybe 20 bucks but some what longer to replace not as hard but more needs to be removed sometimes maybe two hours so three to four hours 80 bucks a hour be close could do most it it if not both at home few simple tools an dknow how not hard work easy to know a price cal three local shops you know what you need done they can put a price on it
You either can look in Chiltons and see how to do this job- and be careful to not mix up and plug wires and vacuum lines, or you can pay the Honda guy. I wouldn't pay that much- I'd do it myself. You need new grommets and valve cover gasket and it wouldn't hurt to change the plug wires.





The oil on the wires really isn't causing the engine's weakness. It's messy and needs to be remedied. Your car needs tuning up and the timing belt should be checked too. If it has 90,000 miles or more, it's a suspect in the trouble. There's a $200 job there that I would have done just for the guarantee.
';Yesterday, it was turning over (but sounding extra weak) and not starting.';


Sure sounds like a weak battery to me. For starters,check the battery fluid level (if not a maintenance-free batt), add distilled water as needed, that'll help ur batt hold its charge. 2nd, clean batt terminals, a solution of water w/baking soda and scrubbing w/an old tooth brush should do the trick, although it'd be even better to remove terminals and use wire brush and a little grease before reinstalling. Or, u may need a new batt altogether.





As for the oil on spark plug boots, $360 is way too much!


See prev answers on how to tackle job, or enlist help of a friend or relative that may have more experience than urself, and when/if u find such person, learn all u can from them re: car-maintenance. U will need that for the rest of ur life!