Getting an oil change and a filter change are probably the most famous aspects of regular car care, but you’ve probably also heard about getting a tune-up now and then. Despite the frequent advertisements for oil changes on the side of the road, tune-ups are a bit less common.
Are you wondering about what actually car tune-up is and what is its average cost? Then, I must put it that you are not alone. Normally, tune-up costs between $40 and $150, but in some cases, that price could exceed $800 and more, depending on the issue. The understanding of the functionality of tune-up and its cost is very important for you to know about as the owner of the vehicle.
What Is Tune-Up?
To put it simply, a tune-up refers to performing routine preventative maintenance on the parts of your vehicle most likely to require replacement. This is because the definition is so vague because what is being checked and what is going to have to be replaced is highly dependent on the nature of your car, where you have driven it, and other factors unique to it.
Tune-ups have many benefits, and ensuring your vehicle is maintained regularly will keep its lifespan longer and its maintenance costs lower. In case of failure on keeping top maintenance could lead to costly repairs that could have been avoided. As maintenance can result in improving performance and fuel efficiency.
Whenever you decided to go for the tune-up checkup, there is likely one of the components to be checked is the; air filter. Generally, an air filter should be replaced once a year, depending on the area you drive mostly your car. For example, if you drive on a lot of dirt roads then you might have to replace them more often.
By not replacing an air filter when it is necessary, the engine will not receive enough air to function optimally. As a result, your engine’s air-fuel mixture will run rich, meaning you have too much fuel in the fuel-to-air ratio. Moreover, it can potentially lead to other parts of your vehicle failing early than they should, wasting fuel and increasing maintenance costs.
When you inquired about tune-up prices, you typically meant that you were asking about how much it would cost to replace the spark plugs. The spark plugs of older vehicles typically needed to be changed more frequently than those of modern vehicles – sometimes even once a year. The spark plugs today last much longer than they did in the past, but they should still be checked during a tune-up and replaced if necessary.
How Much Does A Tune-Up Cost?
The cost of the car tune-up depends on multiple factors. The cost of the very basic tune-up will be between $40 and $150, depending on where you drive your vehicle. This mostly tends to focus on spark plugs and their replacement.
This variety of tune-ups, however, may cost between $200 and $800 if you want your oil changed, your air filter checked, your distributor cap checked, your rotor checked, your PCV valve checked, your fuel filter checked, and all your systems examined.
The total cost of the tune-up is based on the hourly rate of the mechanics as well as the car parts that need to be replaced. Typically, getting a tune-up from a regular repair shop is much cheaper than from a dealership.
Coincidentally, if you happen to have an older vehicle then be prepared to pay more for a tune-up. If your vehicle has been driven over 120,000 miles, it could cost anywhere from $500 to $1200 depending on the state of the vehicle.
It would be a wise decision to compare repair shops before taking your car for a tune-up. You should ask the mechanic specifically what the tune-up entails when you call for a price quote. Additionally, you might want to ask about discounts, because some shops provide coupons and other incentives relatively frequently, especially for new customers.
Despite if you wanted to save money, most people do basic tune-ups at their homes. The majority of modern cars are equipped with onboard diagnostic systems that can determine whether spark plugs are worn out or fouled based on misfire codes. This will, however, require the use of a scan tool. Although basic spark plug and air filter maintenance can be done at home for a fraction of the cost, it does require a few steps.
Signs Your Car Needs A Tune-Up
Certain signs indicate you need to have your car tuned up immediately, even though they should be a part of your regular maintenance. Whenever you notice your average gas mileage has decreased, it is time for your car to be serviced. Tune-ups are also recommended if the Check Engine light always stays on, your vehicle frequently stalls, you hear strange sounds coming from the engine, or you have poor performance when driving.
How Long Does A Tune-Up Take?
You should expect a tune-up to take between two and four hours, depending on your vehicle. Taking care of a modern, computerized vehicle would fall on the faster end of that range. However, tuning up an older vehicle would take more time if there are many mechanical components to adjust.
What Does A Full Tune-Up Include?
Tune-ups typically involve checking the engine for parts that need to be cleaned, repaired, or replaced. There are a variety of areas that are inspected, including filters, spark plugs, belts and hoses, car fluids, rotors, and distributor caps. Usually, you can perform a visual inspection or a simple test on these items.
