Car tune-up in Apple Valley, MN

What a tune-up means on a modern car

Cars from the 1970s and 1980s had carburetors, distributor points and ignition timing that drifted out of adjustment and had to be reset by hand. Engines built since the 1990s use fuel injection and computer-controlled ignition. There is nothing left to adjust. The engine computer manages fuel and spark by itself, as long as the parts it depends on are healthy.

So a tune-up now is about replacing wear items on time and catching problems early. The schedule comes from your vehicle's manufacturer, based on miles and time, and it is different for almost every engine.

What a car tune-up in Apple Valley, MN may include

• Spark plugs. Many modern iridium or platinum plugs are rated for somewhere between 60,000 and 100,000 miles or more.
• Ignition coils, tested and replaced if one is failing.
• Engine air filter and cabin air filter. The cabin filter cleans the air coming through your heat and A/C vents.
• Fuel filter on vehicles that have a serviceable one. Many newer cars put it inside the tank.
• Fluid checks: coolant, brake fluid, transmission and power steering fluid.
• Inspection of belts, hoses and the battery.

Not every item is due at every visit. We go by your manufacturer's schedule and your mileage, and we do not replace parts that still have life left in them.

Signs your car is due

A rough or shaky idle. Hard starting, especially on a cold morning. Hesitation when you press the gas. Fuel mileage that has slipped for no clear reason. Cold weather finds weak ignition parts first: a coil or plug that barely gets by in July will often misfire at ten below.

Watch the check engine light. A flashing light usually means a misfire bad enough to overheat and damage the catalytic converter, so ease off and have it checked soon. A steady light is less urgent, but it still needs the code read; see our engine diagnostics page.

We test before we replace

A rough idle does not automatically mean new plugs. A misfire comes from a problem with spark, fuel, air or compression. A worn plug is one cause, but a failing coil, a clogged injector or a vacuum leak can feel exactly the same from the driver's seat. We read the codes and test before selling you parts, because swapping parts to see what happens is the expensive way to fix a car.

Some engines make this job bigger than people expect. On a number of V6 engines, the rear spark plugs sit under the intake manifold, which has to come off to reach them. We tell you that before we start, not after.

Pair it with other maintenance

A tune-up visit is a natural time for an oil change. If the engine cranks slowly rather than cranking fine and failing to fire, the battery or charging system may be the real problem, which our battery and alternator service page covers. Low or dirty coolant spotted during a tune-up points to radiator and cooling system repair.

Questions about tune-up