Comments on: Question about car tune ups and price quotes?

By: Mark F

Mark F — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:36:33 +0000

A “tune up” on a Ford Focus is nothing more than replacing the spark plugs, which should be done at 100k mile intervals. Tune up is an obsolete term as there is really nothing to tune on a modern vehicle.

By: Jay P

Jay P — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:25:41 +0000

I’m assuming this car is 5 years old? The term “tune-up” is a throwback to when cars where carburated instead of fuel injected, had distributors rather than direct coil-on-ignition, etc. The term tune-up still lingers but it doesn’t mean the same thing as it did for vehicles 30 years ago. Today it basically just means replace the spark plugs and check everything else. The $80 quote is probably just to change the spark plugs while the higher quotes are to check various other systems on the vehicle.

“Codes” refers to scanning the OBD ( On Board Diagnostics ) computer for any fault codes stored within the system.

By: Wheel Man

Wheel Man — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:52:01 +0000

50 bucks isn’t for the tune-up, it’s for checking to see what needs to be done. Tune up costs vary depending on the vehicle type, so without knowing that, I can’t possibly help you out there.

checking the codes means connecting a diagnostic machine to the car to determine any malfunctions that can be read through the car’s computer. AutoZone and Advanced Auto do it for free.

By: pedal2themetal45

pedal2themetal45 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:11:13 +0000

HI
Well for the $50.oo your most likely only going to get Plugs changed and maybe timing looked at. The $300.oo one most like well be changing Plugs, air filter, gas filter, maybe some injector cleaner and maybe some other parts. You didn’t give us a year of type of car so its kind of a guess. When you call ask them what parts are they going to be replacing then you well know what to expect.
good luck
tim

By: kelly_f_1999

kelly_f_1999 — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:00:41 +0000

well one was gong to replace plugs which is what most do now days not much of anything to replace but plugs and wires and most of the time you need only plugs some times a rotor button…you coul ddo it all for much less spark plugs about 30 buck or less if you do it all 300 or more.. bets thing is just ask about a tune up and say notyhing more and let them decide what its needs are but yes it can get higher than 300 just depending on what it needs done to it you check th ecodes to see what wrong with it and go from there autozone check codes for free… and most likely you just need plugs for a tune up but 5 yrs of driving id bet it need some much 300 wouldnt get it all tune up is a every year thing.. cost much less that way .. doing it your self 50 bucks would cover the most of it but id go with new plugs wire and all the filters and rotor button and maybe a new cap your talking about 300 for parts.. what i would do is look for a place that has been a round long time and or look for a lot full of cars that change every day.. always a good sign they doing busniess well .. i do my own and i work at a shop my wife does her own also most car repairs are easy if you know what the problem is replacing a part is not the hard part knowing what it needs is