Check the owner’s manual (or the mechanic will check the shop manual for the year, make and model of vehicle) for a list of exactly what maintenance is needed, and when. Every vehicle has a schedule of recommended and mandatory maintenance, based on the vehicle’s age and mileage.

A tune-up typically takes about two to four hours of labor, depending on what is included. City Tire describes typical tune-up procedures.

Most modern cars use platinum spark plugs, which typically last 30,000-100,000 miles, so they do not need replacing with every tune-up. Some newer cars have an electronic ignition system instead of a distributor, so a tune-up does not include a new distributor cap and rotor.

Symptoms that a car might need a tune-up include a drop in gas mileage, a noticeable loss of power, a “rough” engine or one that stalls at a stop, engine “knocking” or continuing to run after the ignition is off, or a “check engine” or “service engine” light staying on after the initial start. However, these symptoms might be caused by other problems with the computerized systems. City Tire will begin by performing a diagnostic test, to determine if a tune-up is the correct solution to the problem.