Auto Tune-Up Service in Augusta and Grovetown, GA
What’s the purpose of an auto tune-up service?
Our auto tune-up service offers cost-effective cleaning or replacement of simple parts, surpassing the expense of repairing interconnected major engine components. When your car’s performance falters, schedule a comprehensive inspection.
How do I know if I car needs an auto tune-up service?
To find out when your vehicle should be brought in for scheduled maintenance, check your owner’s manual. After all, nobody knows your car better than the folks who made it.
Regardless, if you encounter any of the following issues, it may be time to bring your car in for an auto tune-up service:
- Hard or sluggish starts
- Stalling at intersections or when passing
- Unusually low gas mileage
- Poor acceleration
- Misfiring
Contact us as soon as possible if you encounter any of these issues.
What is an auto tune-up service anyway?
An auto tune-up service is basically a checklist of parts to clean or replace in order to make your engine run better. The phrase “tune-up” is left over from years ago when cars were a lot more temperamental and needed constant tweaking to keep them running right. If your car is fairly new, there is a good chance it won’t ever need a “tune-up” in the traditional sense that has you picturing someone tinkering under the hood of their muscle car every weekend.
All cars have a recommended schedule for having an auto tune-up service conducted. Older vehicles (pre-2008 or so) may need one every 30,000 miles. But newer vehicles can go anywhere between 50,000-100,000 miles between tune-ups. Today, when someone brings their car in for a “tune-up” outside of scheduled maintenance it is most likely because they have encountered some problem with their car’s engine performance.
Why should I schedule an auto tune-up service?
The car hasn’t been built yet that will run forever without any maintenance.
As good as we’ve gotten at building vehicles better and stronger with parts that last longer and longer, everything eventually wears out. Most things you’ll need to do in order to keep your car running smoothly will be covered by the routine maintenance spelled out in your owner’s manual. In our information on Preventive Maintenance Service Page, we discuss what most of those things are.
However, when your car is having problems performing at its best, there is a good chance you may need to bring your car in so we can take a deeper look. The cost of cleaning or replacing a few simple parts is much more affordable than having to repair the bigger parts of your engine that they are connected to.
Failing to get a proper auto tune-up service can:
- Put excessive stress on important parts of your engine
- Lower fuel efficiency
- Lead to harder starts
- Decrease overall engine performance
What do we do in a typical auto tune-up service?
If you bring your car in and say “I need a tune-up,” we won’t automatically just start doing a bunch of things until we know for sure whether they are actually needed or not. However, if we can get you to describe the problem, we can usually pinpoint the real issue and just fix that – saving you time and money.
Nevertheless, when your owner’s manual says it’s time, a typical scheduled auto tune-up service includes:
- Scanning for any fault codes (or verifying codes that may have triggered the Check Engine light)
- Visually inspecting spark plugs
- Test spark plug performance
- Check ignition timing
- Check and adjust idle speed
- Test battery voltage
- Check and replace engine air filter
- Clean fuel-system
- Check and replace oxygen sensors
While many routine maintenance tasks can be DIY, it is best to have these tune-up related things done by experienced professionals. The seasoned technicians at [atc] are more than happy to put their skills to work to keep your vehicle running at peak performance.
Click here to set up an appointment. Or call one of our locations today:
atc Auto Center, Augusta
(706) 738-7812
atc Auto Center, Grovetown
(706) 303-3333
Auto Tune-Up Tips to Avoid Wear and Tear
- Consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for manufacturer-recommended maintenance. Therefore, by following these guidelines you can prolong your ride’s life and performance.
- Save money by changing filters. Anyone can replace filters. If engine performance drops, check the air filter for dirt or blockage causing poor “breathing.”
- Maintain a clean battery. Difficult starts? Check for corrosion around posts or cables. Use baking soda and a toothbrush for cleaning.
- Opt for longer drives. Frequent stops and cold starts wear your car. Also, plan errands to minimize short trips, reducing wear and tear.