Toyota: Toyota Tercel changing plugs/wires/coils, spark plug wires, toyota tercel

Question
My wife has been having problems with her 1997 Toyota Tercel, we recently took it to a garage and they told us, after hooking it up to the computer, that she needed new spark plugs, wires and coils.  They told me that the # 1 and 4 were misfiring and the #1 wire was totally shot.  But they told me to change these with parts and labor would be $500.00.  I said thanks but no thanks.  Is this something that someone with limit auto knowledge can do or should I find a cheaper garage to do this??  Thanks for you help.

Answer
WHOA!  Thank you for saying NO WAY!  J.J., you can do that labor yourself my friend.  Spark plug wires should set you back about 40 to 45 bucks.  Spark plugs are (for four of them) about 7.00 bucks total.  $500 bucks is gross, gross, gross, gross, gross overcharge.  But then again, they aren't running a charity so.. Anyways, the spark plug wires are only a matter of pulling off each one in a twisting motion off of the engine and disconnecting the other end from the distributor.  (I'm wondering why they said coils..  You have a four cylinder engine, right?  Do you happen to have an engine code?)  

I will walk you each step if I have to.  Do not pay those greedy jerks.  As far as tools you'll need. a 5/8 deep socket (Auto parts stores carry them as "spark plug sockets") and an extension bar for a socket wrench.  Side items include "die electric grease" for when you replace your plugs and "anti-seize" that goes in the threads of the spark plug tubes to make them easier to remove the next time.  Tightening them is a matter of just racheting (light pressure) until the spark plug stops turning with ease and then just a half-inch turn more with light pressure.

**Engine Code Location**
Pop the hood and look at the underside of it.  There are a couple of stickers...  One of them will show your "Engine Family".  My Camry has a 5S-FE.  My Corolla (99) has a 1ZZ-FE and my '89 has a 4A-F.


If you need a manual, pictures, anything.. Please tell me..  I refuse to have ANYONE pay such insane prices for simplet tasks.  

P.S.  Go ahead and change the distributor cap and rotor arm because it'll make sure that it's not those components causing you trouble either.  The distributor cap is the plastic thing the spark wires lead to.  It's a matter of just loosening three screws to pop it off.  A new one just pops right on.  As far as the "rotor arm", it's the little thing that you'll see in there once you pull off the distributor cap.  This thing spins around inside there, but anyways, to remove that, it should be a matter of pulling it off with HARD pressure UNLESS there happens to be a screw holding it in place.  Just to make sure, look at your replacement rotor arm.  If it doesn't include a new screw or shows a hold on the entire thing where a screw could go through, then most likely you'll just have to pull the old one off and push the new one in..  BUT.. EXACTLY in the same direction the old one was at.  Pointed in the same direction.  As I said, I can send you a bunch of pictures of what to look for and everything.