What Is Just A Tune-Up?

I had a lady tell me one time, "That's a lot of money for just a tune-up." What is "just-a-tune-up" anyway?

Today, it is more than just replacing the points, condenser, spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, fuel filter and breather.

Before the electronic ignition system, we would remove the distributor cap and look at the points...if they were bad, we replaced them, and the rotor, and the condenser.

Most times we would just leave the wires and distributor cap, unless they were in bad-looking condition.

We'd usually check the fuel filter...if we could "blow' through it without popping our eyes out, we'd put it back in place.

As for the breather, we'd just beat it against the bumper to get as much trash out of it as possible...sometimes we might blow it with compressed air, from the inside out.

You can't do that to today's vehicles...

you have to 'test' things to see if they are within the manufacturer's specification.

A 'tune-up', today, starts with a great conversation.

The owner, or driver of the car, tells the service rep, or the mechanic, what the car is doing, or not doing.

So, when you take your car to the repair shop, be prepared to tell them as much information as you can... it will help with the diagnostics... looking for the problems.

Everything is controlled by the computer... the throttle position sensor tells the computer that it needs more fuel because someone turned the steering wheel before the car was moving. Um, um, um!

Remember, newer cars, from 1993 up have programmable ECMs.

That means if you have the Electronic Control Module updated at least once a year: it will give you better fuel mileage; the car will perform better; it will drive better; and the diagnostics will be much faster and efficient in the future.

Tommy Sessions has been in auto repair since 1970. He publishes Auto Repair Answers Newsletter so you can learn how to keep your vehicle looking new, running safely and efficiently, while you save money and time...also, learn how to avoid shop rip offs. Don't be at the mercy of the dealerships and auto repair shops...they will have more respect for you.
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