You’ve no doubt heard people say they’re taking their car in for a tune up, but have you ever wondered what a tune up really is and what it consists of? 

Since my daughter and I are getting ready to take a weekend trip in July, she thought it would be a good idea to schedule an appointment to take her Malibu in for a tune up and I thought it would make a good topic for Cars for Girls, so here’s what you can expect the next time you take your vehicle in for a scheduled trip to the service garage. 

(Note: This is a general overview.  Your experience may be different.)

What is a Tune-Up?

A tune up is simply scheduled maintenance on your vehicle, usually performed by a certified mechanic, to prevent damage to the vehicle’s engine and other important parts which wear out over time.  Think of a tune up as a yearly physical for your vehicle, because essentially, that’s exactly what it is.

How Often Do I Need a Tune Up? 

Generally, a tune up is performed once each year, however I do know people who take their vehicle in every 6 months.

What Happens During a Tune Up?

Typically, a mechanic will replace the air filter, fuel filter, change the spark plugs, sometimes also changing spark plug wires, adjust valves or replace the valve-cover gasket, check all fluids and add more if necessary, note the condition of the battery, battery terminals and cables and clean or replace if necessary.  Vehicles which are fuel injected will probably have the throttle plate cleaned and the air-fuel mixture adjusted.  Mechanics should also check brakes, brake fluid and give the tires a good once over;  checking tire pressure and looking for tread wear. The mechanic will probably also check the air conditioning in the spring/summer and heating in the fall/winter. 

Other things they’ll look at and repair or replace if needed are the carburetor, distributor cap and rotor, PCV valve, oxygen sensor, timing and depending on the age of the vehicle, perhaps even the points and condenser.  If the vehicle isn’t an automatic, the mechanic will probably adjust the clutch, too.

Chances are, if you take your vehicle in every 6 months, some things mentioned above won’t be done because it’s simply not necessary, which is why most people schedule a tune up just once a year. On newer vehicles which use platinum spark plugs, these will only need to be replaced every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. Also, newer vehicles which have an electronic ignition won’t need a new distributor cap and rotor.

If you’re ever in doubt, check your vehicle manual to learn what maintenance is needed when scheduling a tune up.

How Long Does it Take and How Much Does it Cost?

A typical tune up generally takes a few hours.

Shop around and compare prices.  Typically, you’ll pay for labor charges, as well as any replacement parts and fluids your tune up encounters, while some service garages may also charge an hourly rate. 

Once you find a suitable mechanic and/or service garage, I suggest telling the mechanic or service manager that you would like to be notified in advance if the mechanic encounters a repair or replacement which may be expensive. In doing so, you can prepare for any unexpected expenses which may occur and can decide whether the repair or replacement is something you can immediately afford to pay. In the event that the repair or replacement is a cost you can’t yet afford, I suggest taking care of the problem as soon as possible, even if it requires keeping your vehicle at the service garage for a number of days until you can afford to pay.  You don’t want to jeapardize safety for the sake of repair cost.  

If your vehicle is a hybrid, you can look into hybrid-only service shops in your area.  Although relatively new, hybrid-only repair shops are becoming quite popular and your local area may offer this type of service for customers who would like to take advantage of this option.

Tags: Advice, General, Guides

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If you’ve considered buying a hybrid as your next vehicle of choice, you’re not alone.  With more choices than ever and greater fuel economy, the hybrid is rapidly becoming the way to drive in North America and perhaps even the world. 

Currently, there are 22 models on the market, ranging from compact and midsize cars to small SUV’s and 4WD vehicles. These hybrids are built with variety in mind some boost efficiency, while others are total hybrid systems which are strictly electric.

Let’s take a look at what you can expect in fuel economy from some of the more popular makes and models.  Please note: These are estimates from the manufacturer, therefore your results may be different.

• Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid: 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway (mild hybrid).
• Honda Civic Hybrid: 40 mpg city/45 mpg highway (limited electric-only range).
• Saturn Aura Hybrid: 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway (mild hybrid).
• Toyota Camry Hybrid: 33 mpg city/34 mpg highway (full hybrid).
• Toyota Prius: 48 mpg city/45 mpg highway (full hybrid).
• Nissan Altima Hybrid: 35 mpg city/33 mpg highway (full hybrid).
• Lexus GS 450h: 22 mpg city/25 mpg highway (electric motor).
• Lexus LS 600h L: 20 mpg city/22 mpg highway (hybrid V-8 engine).
• Lexus RX 400h: 27 mpg city/24 mpg highway (2WD); 26 mpg city/24 mpg highway (4WD) (fuel economy boost).
• Ford Escape Hybrid: 34 mpg city/30 mpg highway (2WD); 29 mpg city/27 mpg highway (4WD) (full hybrid).
• Mercury Mariner Hybrid: 34 mpg city/30 mpg highway (2WD); 29 mpg city/27 mpg highway (4WD) (full hybrid).
• Mazda Tribute Hybrid: 34 mpg city/30 mpg highway (2WD); 29 mpg city/27 mpg highway (4WD) (full hybrid).
• Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 27 mpg city/25 mpg highway (4WD) (fuel economy boost).
• Saturn Vue Hybrid: 25 mpg city/32 mpg highway (2WD) (start-stop).
• Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid: 21 mpg city/22 mpg highway (2 mode).
• GMC Yukon Hybrid: 21 mpg city/22 mpg highway (2 mode).

Want more hybrid? Visit The Green Motorist.

Tags: Car Shopping, General

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Last week when I was shopping for a good used car, I found myself in a situation I had never been in before.  

Let me explain:

I had found what I thought was a good, solid used car at a dealership, took it for a test drive, put some money down to hold it and then went home to do some research on this particular vehicle.  The first place I went was Edmunds.com, where I pulled up the car review/road test written by the editors for this particular make, model and year.  Next, I pulled up the car reviews, which are written by real people who have – or who previously owned - the same kind of car I was interested in purchasing.  As I was reading these reviews, I learned this particular car had been recalled – and more than a few times.

Next, I plugged the car information into one of the many recall sites on the web, and learned that this particular make and model year had 8 recalls between 2001 and 2003, some of them quite dangerous, such as the engine suddenly stopping while the car was in motion or the wheels coming loose from the car while driving. 

Armed with this information, the following day I called the salesman and because the dealership did not offer to pull a Carfax report on the car, I walked out of the deal.  I was not told the vehicle had any recalls, nor was I told these recalls had been repaired.

This situation brought up a few questions for me:

1) How does a potential buyer know whether a vehicle has been recalled?
2) If a potential buyer discovers the vehicle has been recalled, how can that buyer be assured the recall(s) have been repaired?

I turned to Cars for Girls and FOS Auto owner Hilary Green for answers.

Hilary told me that every dealer in the United States has a list of vehicle recalls.  She also said a service advisor can pull up the VIN and can easily note any recalls, as well as learn if the repair work has been performed. She went on to say that the parts and service codes are listed on repair orders and the vehicle history is with the manufacturer. If the car is a much older make and model, she assures that the customer service department for the manufacturer will be able to provide information, as well.

Once again, research is key to the vehicle buying process; unless you do your homework, you may not know if the car you intend to purchase has been recalled.  While I suggest asking the salesman, it’s also a good idea to do your own investigative work, as well – just to be certain.

• If you have the VIN, speak to the service advisor in person or by telephone.
• You can also type the search term car recalls (or something similar) into your search engine, visiting any number of sites that are returned and key in your vehicle make, model and year.
• If you would like a full report on the vehicle and the dealership doesn’t offer one to you, you can purchase a Carfax report yourself; a single report is $24.99, while unlimited reports are $29.99.

Tags: Advice, Car Shopping, General

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If you are sold on a car and want to sit down and go over the numbers you’ll need to ask some direct questions. What is the list price (The MSRP) of the car? This is the sticker on the window. What is the discount, the selling price? What would my payments be if I leased the car? Its VERY important to know how many miles you drive a year. The lower the miles, the cheaper the payment. For every thousand dollars I put down on the lease how does it effect my payment? Make sure that they calculate the lease on the discounted price they are willing to sell you the car for. What is the residual, the value of the car at the end of the lease?

There is always room to negotiate on the lease payment.

If they say do we have a deal or do you want to take it today you say…” I would consider leaving you a deposit but you will have to do better on the numbers.” Let them come back with a better payment.

You then say “you’re still to high.”

When the salesperson says there is no more room or no more money to be discounted then you know that you are at the bottom. You can think about it overnight, thank them for their time and tell them you will speak to them tomorrow. Smile, stand up and offer your hand.

Or you can leave a deposit, a few hundred dollars, and leave with a buyers order and more of a commitment. You can still cancel if you change your mind. However, the buyers order must have the vehicle identification number or VIN number. The term of the lease, the miles, the residual value, the color, model number, and all equipment that was agreed upon. I would also make sure that the deposit is refundable and that the dealer put that on the buyers order. Then you can sign the order and get a copy.

Tags: Advice, Guides, Leasing

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Once upon a time a women went into a car dealership, got intimidated, felt taken advantage of, and left feeling bad.

Those days are over. Lets talk about how to guarantee a positive experience when shopping for a car.

First call the dealership you are interested in visiting and tell the receptionist that you would like to speak to an experienced salesperson. Ask who she would recommend to her best friend if they were shopping for a car. If she’s new ask to speak to the office manager. The people who work at the store know who their top salespeople are.

Make an appointment to test drive the car. Ask that the car be ready when you get there. You don’t want to make an appointment on a Saturday afternoon when the store is packed. Make the appointment at a time when it’s fairly quiet, on a Wednesday for example.. Early morning is the best time. When you get there if you don’t like the sales person ask to speak to the sales manager. Take the manager aside explain that you are not comfortable and would like to be assigned to somebody else.

Always remember that you are the customer and you are in control. Picture a suitcase with thousands of dollars in it. You have the right to part with that money in the happiest most comfortable way possible.

Anything to the contrary, just stand up and leave. Simple, period, end of the story.

Tags: Advice, Car Shopping

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