How to Tune-up a Car
Your vehicle needs a major service or tuning after every two years or 30,000 miles. However, regular maintenance of the vehicle other than major service is a routine work. Tuning not only enhances the performance of the vehicle but also keep it secure from major troubles for long time. It is necessary to know when your vehicle needs to tune-up. If you do not pay attention in this regard, you are putting your vehicle in an utmost risk. Hereunder, are given some of the points to Tune up or service your vehicle to increase the life and performance of your car.
Things you required:
- Air Filters
- Car Manuals
- Car parts (belts etc)
- Distributor caps
- Fuel filters
- Oil filters
- Screwdriver Sets
- Spark plugs
- Spark Plug Gapping Tools
Steps to follow:
1. Regular cleaning of the fuel filter is not essential except the injectors are blocked, if your vehicle has a fuel-injection system. But at the time of tuning it is better to replace it with new.
2. Examine the spark plugs and spark plug wires closely. And replace them if necessary. The spark plug wires may be fixed to the distributor cap, so it will have to be changed as well.
3. Distributor cap and rotor also needs some attention. They are missing in some latest models. If your vehicle contains the distributor cap and rotor, substitute them with new ones.
4. In case you have an older model (1979 or older) that does not support electronic ignition, you are required to replace or adjust the switches (points) and condenser.
5. Ignition timing is also an important problem in some cases. So it is recommended to adjust it as per set standards.
6. Examine the top of the engine. If you find any traces of oil on it, you need to adjust or replace the valves.
7. Check for the loose or damaged belts. Replace as necessary.
8. Oil and oil filter need to be change if it has achieved the set mileage limit (3,000). Examine the fluid under the engine hood and refill as required.
9. During the tuning process, the air filter needs to be change. Air filter requires to be replacing every 15,000 miles as well.
10. In case your vehicle has a manual transmission, adjust the clutch. Adjusting is not required for all the cars. Some new cars now support self-adjusting clutches.
11. Batteries are also important past of the vehicle. Weak batteries pamper the performance of the vehicle. Check the water level in the battery and if required add distilled water. Clean the terminals and cable ends.
12. Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve also need some consideration. If this valve gets blocked, it can cause your vehicle to halt or make your car run shaky. So, it must be replaced to avoid trouble.
This is the brief process of car tuning with some useful points, which can help us to tune our car and enhance its performance.