A modern tune-up means replacing spark plugs, checking ignition coils, servicing the air and fuel filters and verifying the engine management data is where it should be. AutoTech Clinic performs tune-ups at our Dearborn shop, usually the same day.
A tune-up is not a fix for a specific fault. If your engine has a misfire, a rough idle or a warning light, we diagnose that first rather than replacing parts and hoping the symptom goes away.
- How Long
- About 1 to 3 hours depending on the engine.
- Same Day
- Usually finished the same day.
- Vehicles
- Foreign and domestic, cars through trucks.
Signs You Need Tune-Up
- The engine idles rougher than it used to
- Hesitation or a stumble when you accelerate
- Fuel economy that dropped without a change in driving
- Harder starting, especially on cold mornings
- You have reached the spark plug interval in your manual
- A misfire code stored in the computer
What We Do
- 01
Scan and Read the Data
We read codes, misfire counters and fuel trims first, because that tells us whether you need a tune-up or a repair.
- 02
Inspect the Old Plugs
Plug condition tells a story: oil fouling, coolant deposits, overheating or a lean mixture all leave a signature we can read.
- 03
Fit the Correct Plugs
We use the plug type and heat range your engine specifies and set the gap, and we torque them properly, which matters a great deal on aluminum heads.
- 04
Check Coils and Wires
We test coil resistance and look for cracked boots and carbon tracking, which cause a misfire that new plugs alone will not fix.
- 05
Service Filters and Verify
Engine air filter, cabin filter and fuel filter where serviceable, then a road test and a recheck of fuel trims and misfire counters.
Tune-Ups Are Not What They Were
On a car from the 1980s a tune-up meant plugs, points, a distributor cap, a rotor, timing and a carburetor adjustment, and it was due every year. On a modern engine the computer controls timing and mixture continuously, and there is nothing to adjust.
What is left is spark plugs, coils and filters. Modern iridium plugs commonly last 60,000 to 100,000 miles, so a tune-up is now an occasional service rather than an annual ritual. Anyone recommending one every year is not reading your manual.
What the Old Plugs Tell Us
A plug that comes out oily means oil is getting past valve guides or piston rings. A plug with a white chalky deposit can mean coolant entering the cylinder. A plug with a melted or blistered tip means the cylinder has been running too hot or too lean.
We look at every plug and tell you what we saw. On more than a few cars, the plugs are what first reveal a problem the driver had not yet noticed.
What Affects the Cost
We quote your vehicle specifically after inspecting it, because these are the things that move the number up or down:
- Number of cylinders and plug accessibility
- Engines where the intake manifold must come off to reach the rear plugs
- Iridium or platinum plugs, which cost more and last far longer
- Whether coils, boots or wires also need replacing
- Filters replaced at the same visit
Call (313) 277-7200 with your year, make and model and we will tell you what to expect before you come in.
Why AutoTech Clinic
AAA Approved
An inspected facility that has to meet AAA standards for equipment and training.
Photos First
You see what we found and approve the price before anything is taken apart.
Same-Day Service
Parts on hand for the vehicles we see most, so you are not waiting on a delivery.