Every car needs a tune-up from time to time, regardless if you have the latest model on the lot or your trusty old clunker. Getting proper maintenance is essential to keeping your car running efficiently and operating safely.
Depending on the year, make, and model of your car, your vehicle’s needs will vary from other cars. Older vehicles with non-electric ignitions should be serviced at least every 10,000 to 12,000 miles. Newer cars with fuel injection systems and electronic ignition should be serviced every 25,000 to 100,000 miles.
The best way to know when your vehicle needs a tune-up is to check your owner’s manual and follow those guidelines. However, some owner’s manuals aren’t available to the car owner or something may just feel ‘off’ when you’re driving.
Here are five signs your vehicle may need to come into our service department for a tune-up:
Dashboard Lights
Show of hands if you’ve had a light pop up on your dashboard and proceeded to ignore it because your car feels fine.
While your car may seem to be running well, the lights in your dashboard are a warning that something is wrong with your engine. Check your car’s owner’s manual to identify what the line means, and then call us for a check-up!
Weird noises
Cars tend to make some pretty weird noises, we know. But if your car starts making a new noise suddenly, it’s likely something is working the way it should.
A thumping noise could mean a part is loose or a screeching noise could mean you’re low on fluids. When parts become loose or broken, it often causes noises – and they won’t go away until your car is serviced.
Stalling
Nothing is quite as heart-dropping as your car stalling in the middle of traffic. Some reasons your car may stall include:
A dead (or dying) battery
A faulty fuel pump
Ignition issues
Your vehicle stalling is a serious issue that should be addressed immediately to ensure your safety.
Decreased Gas Mileage
If you’ve had your car for a while, chances are you know how far you can go on one tank of gas. Typically, the numbers should be pretty consistent in their range.
If you start to notice that you aren’t getting as much mileage on a tank of gas, it’s a good idea to bring your car in for a tune-up to get your car running as efficiently as possible.
Lagging Acceleration
Is you car lacking the get-up-and-go it once had? This may be harder to notice since this is usually an issue that progresses over time.
Slow acceleration can cause issues in situations when you need to increase your speed, like merging onto the highway. If you notice an issue with your car accelerating consistently, it’s time for a check-up.
If your car has any of these issues then it’s time to come on down to Wrench Junkies! We work on almost every make and model vehicle and offer more services than your average automotive repair shop.
