Telltale Signs It's Time For A Car Tune-Up

January 17, 2020
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Regardless if you own a brand new car or a pre-inspected used car, a car tune-up is necessary when you drive it long enough.


Tune-ups vary every visit, but mostly it consists of checking up on your engine and repair or upgrade parts if needed. Tune-ups don't come for free, but it's necessary to do it regularly. If you don't, chances are you'd have to take some cash out for repairs and replacements. To prevent this from happening, you should be aware of the telltale signs that your car needs a tune-up. Below are the symptoms that you should watch out for.




Difficulty In Starting The Car


Isn't it a bit disheartening if you're excited to go on your way and start the day, then suddenly your car won't start? There are several reasons why your car won't start. It can either be due to the battery being weak, there's a problem with the fuel pump, and lots more. But one of the most common reasons is that there's a problem with the ignition. When this is the reason behind, a simple car tune-up can fix that. But, regardless of the symptom, it's urgent to take it to an expert mechanic to check.


Fuel Economy Is Virtually Non-Existent


When you observe that you're spending way too much money on gas than before, then there must be something wrong with your fuel economy. Weak fuel economy means that your car is not using the fuel for the right purposes. Dirty or faulty spark plugs, as well as problems in the fuel injection, are among the usual suspects. This is detectable when you hire a mechanic to check it.




Noisy and Rough Acceleration


Usually, you don't have problems when you're accelerating like, say, when you drive up a hill. But when your car creates that worrying sound as you climb up, it's an in-your-face sign that your vehicle has to undergo a tune-up. Knocking sound while accelerating means there's a problem with the engine. Another thing to look out for when it happens is when your engine roughly accelerates or idles harshly. There's a possibility that the spark plugs have problems with ignition. If these occur, have your car checked - don't delay.


Stalling More Than The Usual


Difficulty in starting the engine is one problem; stalling in the middle of driving is another - bigger - problem. When your car stalls while on the road, and when it happens more often than not, it means spark plug or connector issues. The most probable reason is that the plugs are dirty and need cleaning or replacements. Also, when it happens, observe if the air conditioning if it's cold, hot, or when it stopped working. The information you gather can help the mechanic to identify the problem with ease.


Just Do As You Told


Even though if your car is in excellent health and shape, it doesn't mean that you don't have to do car tune-ups regularly. It's essential to do so to prevent all the signs above from happening. You can refer to your manufacturer's recommendation on when to have a car tune-up. Usually, vehicles with non-electronic ignitions need a tune-up every 20,000 miles, while newer ones need to have a tune-up when it hits between 30,000 miles to 100,000 miles.


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