When your car just doesn’t seem like its running up to par, maybe has a rough idle at stoplights or when you turn the air conditioner on, you may just need a tune up. If you haven’t changed the spark plugs in a while, or the air and fuel filters, you’ll definitely want to do that at the same time. Most auto manufacturers have a recommended time to change those items, each vehicle is different so you can check your manual that came with the car. When it comes to the air filter, hold it up to a light or the sun, and see if you can easily see light through it. If not, its time for a new one. As far as the fuel filter, every 8 – 10,000 miles should be good. The PCV valve should be changed at the same time. When you drop your car off at a shop for a tune-up be ready for the mechanic to tell you, a tune up might not fix your rough running problem, so be prepared for extra diagnostic time. Diagnostic time is charged by the hour and can easily be around $60.00 per hour. The more information you can give the mechanic about your "driveability" issue, the better off your wallet will be in the end! Make sure you describe the problems you are having before you leave the car. Take a test drive with the mechanic, first you drive to a point and tell him when the car acts up. Then swap seats and let him drive back to see if he understands what the problem is. This will eliminate a lot of trying to explain whatever driveability problems you might be having on the phone later. I always recommend an oil change at the same time the engine gets tune up parts installed. That way if the engine had been running rich due to a fouled or bad spark plug, you get rid of your contaminated oil at the same time. Anything can happen though. Be prepared for things like spark plug wires, or fuel injectors. Oxygen sensors are another often overlooked maintainence part that needs to be changed periodically. If your mechanic thinks you have a clogged injector, he may recommend to have your fuel injectors pressure cleaned. Just make sure he doesn’t come back later and say that one of them is bad. If a bad injector is suspect, they should be checked for operation prior to cleaning them. Always ask for the old parts back so you can inspect them and get more of a feel and understanding about them. On the next post, we'll talk about your "Check Engine" light.
Simple TUNE UP? Or More Diagnostic Time?
When your car just doesn’t seem like its running up to par, maybe has a rough idle at stoplights or when you turn the air conditioner on, you may just need a tune up. If you haven’t changed the spark plugs in a while, or the air and fuel filters, you’ll definitely want to do that at the same time. Most auto manufacturers have a recommended time to change those items, each vehicle is different so you can check your manual that came with the car. When it comes to the air filter, hold it up to a light or the sun, and see if you can easily see light through it. If not, its time for a new one. As far as the fuel filter, every 8 – 10,000 miles should be good. The PCV valve should be changed at the same time. When you drop your car off at a shop for a tune-up be ready for the mechanic to tell you, a tune up might not fix your rough running problem, so be prepared for extra diagnostic time. Diagnostic time is charged by the hour and can easily be around $60.00 per hour. The more information you can give the mechanic about your "driveability" issue, the better off your wallet will be in the end! Make sure you describe the problems you are having before you leave the car. Take a test drive with the mechanic, first you drive to a point and tell him when the car acts up. Then swap seats and let him drive back to see if he understands what the problem is. This will eliminate a lot of trying to explain whatever driveability problems you might be having on the phone later. I always recommend an oil change at the same time the engine gets tune up parts installed. That way if the engine had been running rich due to a fouled or bad spark plug, you get rid of your contaminated oil at the same time. Anything can happen though. Be prepared for things like spark plug wires, or fuel injectors. Oxygen sensors are another often overlooked maintainence part that needs to be changed periodically. If your mechanic thinks you have a clogged injector, he may recommend to have your fuel injectors pressure cleaned. Just make sure he doesn’t come back later and say that one of them is bad. If a bad injector is suspect, they should be checked for operation prior to cleaning them. Always ask for the old parts back so you can inspect them and get more of a feel and understanding about them. On the next post, we'll talk about your "Check Engine" light.
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