Tuning Up Your Car and Your Budget

Saving Money with Routine Maintenance

Tuning up your car is important. It makes your vehicle perform at its best, saving you time, money, and trouble in the long run. Thus, a tune-up makes good economic sense. However, since most people need to budget for planned expenses, it’s helpful to know about how often you should anticipate tuning up your car as well as about how much you can expect to spend. The staff at Jeff’s Auto Repair at the Sandpoint Way location in Seattle, Washington, will be glad to help you estimate expenses, and our ASE certified technicians are always at the ready to tune up any make or model passenger vehicle for you.

Tune-Up Expectations

Taking on average two to four hours, depending on the exact scope of work, a typical tune-up has two parts–checking and performing services. The technician will check for obvious problems based on anything you’ve noticed and reported as well as on his/her own observations. Your mechanic may discuss with you correcting any pre-existing issues. Beyond that, the technician will typically inspect the ignition system (electrical components, plug wires, coils, and spark plugs). He/She will also check and change filters (air, cabin air, fuel, and oil) as well as hoses and belts. Additionally, the service professional will top off all fluids (transmission, power steering, oil, brake, and coolant). All of these elements are essential to ensuring that your car remains in prime condition as long as possible.

Estimated Costs of a Tune-Up

While there is no magic number to use for budgeting your car’s next tune-up, there are some schedules and estimates that are helpful in planning. First, consider exactly what is meant by the term “tune-up.” Although a true tune-up is described above, some use it interchangeably with the phrase “oil change.” An oil change alone is, of course, much less time consuming and expensive than a full tune-up. Also, consider your vehicle’s mileage and manufacturer’s recommendations. If you have a newer model car that has reached the advised mileage (usually somewhere between 65,000 and 100,00 miles, dependent upon the make and model) or if you have an older car that predates electronic ignition that has reached the 10,000 to 12,000 mile mark, you need to have a thorough tune-up. This generally costs anywhere between $200 and $800. However, be aware that it can be significantly more for a few select automobiles. For a better idea of what your car needs and how much it is estimated to cost, visit Jeff’s Auto Repair on Sandpoint Way in Seattle, Washington.