Last car question for a while

> "Staycalm" wrote:
>>How do you know if your car needs a tune-up?
>>Where's the best place to go generally?
>>What's the likely cost?

clockmeister wrote:
> How long is a piece of string?

Precisely!

> What make/model/age of vehicle?


For most of a car's life, the maintenance specified in the owner's
manual or service book (including inspecting for unscheduled problems)
is all that's really needed.

You can keep track of your fuel consumption by resetting your trip meter
on each tank and always filling completely. If the mental arithmatic is
too much for you (some days it's too much for me!) you can keep a $5
calculator in the glovebox. Particularly if you fill the same day each
week, so every tank has a similar mix of commuting and weekend drives,
you'll soon have a very good idea of your fuel consumption. When it
moves by more than about 10% for more than just a week or two, it's
definitely time for a tune.

Generally speaking, some faults in a car happen slowly and give you
plenty of warning if you pay attention to things changing. The car
starts to get harder to start on cold mornings, the clutch starts to
pick up higher, the tyres wear down, the air con loses it's cool.
Obviously get this stuff assessed and sorted as you recognise it.

Other faults can happen slowly but only become apparent suddenly, like
wearing out your brake pads and damaging your brake disks. This is the
stuff they inspect for when you have the car serviced. The stuff which
can change even quicker, you inspect yourself, like oil and water levels
and tyre pressures.

Staycalm wrote:
>
> How do you know if your car needs a tune-up?
> Where's the best place to go generally?
> What's the likely cost?
>

Difficult to start, lacks power or uses more fuel than before are all
good indications that your car needs a tune.



Daryl

"Staycalm" <lizirwinhatespam@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:417c3c28$0$25053$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
> How do you know if your car needs a tune-up?
> Where's the best place to go generally?
> What's the likely cost?
>

How long is a piece of string?

What make/model/age of vehicle?

Staycalm wrote:

>How do you know if your car needs a tune-up?
>Where's the best place to go generally?
>What's the likely cost?

If it's maintained according to the book it won't ever need a tune-up,
and won't cost a cent extra.

All the relevant items are already included in the manufacturer's
recommended service schedule. :)

--
John H

How do you know if your car needs a tune-up?
Where's the best place to go generally?
What's the likely cost?

Thanks

Liz

Staycalm wrote:

> How do you know if your car needs a tune-up?
> Where's the best place to go generally?
> What's the likely cost?
>
> Thanks
>
> Liz
>
>

Tune-up should be done every 10-15-20k klms depending on the age of the car.
A newer car (<10 years old) can probably go for 20k kms between tune-ups.

If it is not idling smoothly or if the petrol consumption is higher than
specified by the manufacturer [1] then it probably needs a tune-up.

[1] If you drive a gently as possible and you still can't get the manufacturer
specified fuel consumption then it needs a tune.
--
Ben Thomas
Opinions, conclusions, and other information in this message that do not
relate to the official business of my firm shall be understood as neither
given nor endorsed by it.

Or there is an italian tune up :)

2nd gear on a hill & rev the #$@% out of it :) It is quite amazing what it
can actually do. I used to drive a 5L with a 650 Holly that would fuel up
rather badly sometimes in traffic.

cheers
Scott
"BenOne©" <nosp@m.thanks.mate> wrote in message
news:vgfhlc.abn.ln@192.168.11.2...
> Staycalm wrote:
>
>> How do you know if your car needs a tune-up?
>> Where's the best place to go generally?
>> What's the likely cost?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Liz
>>
>>
>
> Tune-up should be done every 10-15-20k klms depending on the age of the
> car.
> A newer car (<10 years old) can probably go for 20k kms between tune-ups.
>
> If it is not idling smoothly or if the petrol consumption is higher than
> specified by the manufacturer [1] then it probably needs a tune-up.
>
> [1] If you drive a gently as possible and you still can't get the
> manufacturer specified fuel consumption then it needs a tune.
> --
> Ben Thomas
> Opinions, conclusions, and other information in this message that do not
> relate to the official business of my firm shall be understood as neither
> given nor endorsed by it.
>

Agree with both the others! Is it starting/running ok at the moment? Is the
fuel cons acceptable?
Whether yes or no - check the air filter. If it's mostly filthy on the
outside of the element, change it and the petrol filter, then do the same
every 20K.
If first answer was yes & there's STILL a problem,
change your plugs (then again every 20K)
then if STILL a problem,
get your points checked & replaced if necessary (then 20K).
Get someone to show you the bits you don't know how to do & then you're
good for next time (unless they don't know either!) Change oil and filter
every 5K regardless. Cheers