Having your car tune-up is like having the dentist give you a cleaning. Many people put off a tune-up, just as many people put off going to the dentist for a cleaning. The main reason most people have a job is to have money that can be used to maintain their vehicle. Even if you have an older vehicle that isn’t being used every day, you should still have its tune-up regularly.
If you think your car runs like a champ and doesn’t need a tune-up, then you could be in for a nasty surprise. If you tend to ignore the check engine light that’s been on for months, then you might end up with an expensive repair that could have been avoided if you had tuned it up sooner. You have a couple of options here, either you get auto repair with Midas or just check these three quick checks you can do yourself before taking it to the mechanic, and the results might surprise you.
Check engine light
The Check Engine light comes on when there is a problem with one or more of the vehicle’s emissions systems. There are many causes of this, from failing fuel pumps to faulty mass airflow sensors. The causes can be many, but the solution is almost always the same: Have the Check Engine light diagnosed by a professional mechanic to determine the cause and then get it repaired. You can try running a check engine light scanner on your own, but it’s not going to tell you what’s wrong. The trouble codes generated by a scan tool will help a mechanic quickly diagnose and fix your car’s problem.
On-board diagnostics (OBD) refers to a group of systems in modern automobiles that monitor the status of the vehicle and check for its proper operation. OBD systems collect information from various sensors, monitors several critical vehicles operating systems to ensure they operate correctly.
Car idles roughly
The car is sputtering while accelerating or going uphill means the car needs a tune-up. Sputtering can sometimes even cause your check engine light to come on. Airing down your tires may also affect sputtering and power loss. In the car, you can identify the need for a tune-up from a series of symptoms. As you accelerate or go up a long hill in an internal combustion engine, certain components come into play that requires delicate balancing between them. If one of those components gets out of balance, your engine will need a tune-up.
Hard to start
The car starts slowing down, or turns off when you apply the accelerator. This problem could be caused by the fuel system, ignition system, electronic equipment, or transmission system. If the engine starts to turn off while driving at a steady speed, electronic systems may have problems. Your car may stop running for any number of reasons: low fuel, dirty fuel, bad spark plug, bad crankshaft sensor and more. However, if you suddenly experience a lack of power and rough idling, it’s time to check your vehicle’s emissions components.
