Rough idle, hesitation, or fuel mileage that keeps dropping? A tune-up restores smooth power, and on many cars it's the difference between passing and failing smog.
The old-school tune-up with points and a timing light is long gone, but engines still wear in ways that rob power, fuel economy and clean emissions. At Walnut Smog & Repair, a tune-up means replacing the parts that wear out on a schedule and fixing what the engine computer can only mask for so long.
Every engine is different, so we start with what your manufacturer specifies and what our diagnostic scan shows. A tune-up can include new spark plugs, inspecting or replacing ignition coils and boots, cleaning the throttle body, checking the engine air filter, and checking the PCV system and vacuum hoses for leaks. On older vehicles we also look at ignition wires, the distributor cap and rotor where equipped.
A misfire sends unburned fuel into the exhaust. That raises hydrocarbon readings, sets the check engine light, and can overheat and destroy the catalytic converter. A lot of "my car failed smog" stories end with plugs, a coil or a vacuum hose. One customer's Nissan had a hose that simply wasn't connected, which Arthur found in under a minute. If your car failed, see smog check repair.
Not every rough-running car needs a full tune-up. Sometimes it's one bad coil or a cracked hose. We find the actual cause and quote that, nothing more.
Many modern iridium or platinum plugs last 60,000 to 100,000 miles. Older vehicles and some engines need them sooner. We'll check your manufacturer's schedule.
Yes. Worn plugs or a failing coil cause misfires, which raise emissions and turn on the check engine light.
A flashing light usually means an active misfire. Drive gently and get it checked soon, because continued misfiring can damage the catalytic converter.
If worn ignition parts or a vacuum leak are hurting efficiency, yes, you'll often notice smoother running and better mileage.
Yes. We work on plenty of 1990s cars and trucks, including distributor-type ignition systems.
Smog checks, failed smog repair, check engine diagnostics and complete auto repair on E Walnut St. Honest answers and fair prices.