tune up
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Confucius,
Vader say:
Perform a basic tune up and general lubrication. Chances are that even if these services were done, they weren't done completely. The factory owner's manual outlines the services necessary at a given mileage or age. If you were lucky, you got an owner's manual with your car. If you were even more fortunate, you have a factory service manual for your vehicle. This goes beyond the outline found in the owner's manual and into detail about the steps to be performed for routine service. It will also become invaluable for troubleshooting and repair of nearly anything you might encounter while you own the vehicle.
Start with a basic, thorough tune up service. It's not just changing the oil. This is a generic outline of GM recommended service procedures and intervals. Verify the correct interval an procedure with your owner's or shop manual.
A basic tune-up MUST include:
* Cooling system inspection;
* Clean or replace spark plugs;
* Ignition wire testing;
* Distributor cap/rotor (if you don't have the OptiSpark);
* PCV valve cleaning or replacement;
* Vacuum hose inspection;
* Air filter;
* Cleaning the IAC;
* Check Throttle Position Sensor voltage and adjust as necessary.
* Check/adjust minimum air rate (EFI);
* Adjusting mixture control and choke/pulloff/idle (carbed engines);
* Check/adjust timing;
* Code scan;
If you have a fuel injected engine, there are a few more steps that must be performed to ensure correct fuel system performance.
The proper steps in fuel injector system service are:
* Check fuel pump operating pressure and volume.
* Test pressure regulator for operation and leakage.
* Flush entire fuel rail and upper fuel injector screens to include pressure regulator.
* Clean fuel injectors.(* if necessary)
* Decarbon engine assembly.
* Relearn onboard computer.
If there are problems with the fuel injectors, no amount of "tuning" will correct it short of an injector cleaning. This is very rarely solved with the fuel additives that advertise the ability to clean injectors. These are probably best used as maintenance products, to keep clean injectors clean. Once an injector is beginning to fail, it's usually too late for any such product to be successful. The relatively low cost of these additives makes it worth at least trying, but don't expect it to cure all of your problems. If the injectors react well to the fuel additives, consider yourself one of the fortunate few. Most of the time, the injectors need to be removed for complete cleaning.
Once you service all the parts and systems that need attention for a car of your mileage, most of your problems should be non-existent.
Vader say:
Perform a basic tune up and general lubrication. Chances are that even if these services were done, they weren't done completely. The factory owner's manual outlines the services necessary at a given mileage or age. If you were lucky, you got an owner's manual with your car. If you were even more fortunate, you have a factory service manual for your vehicle. This goes beyond the outline found in the owner's manual and into detail about the steps to be performed for routine service. It will also become invaluable for troubleshooting and repair of nearly anything you might encounter while you own the vehicle.
Start with a basic, thorough tune up service. It's not just changing the oil. This is a generic outline of GM recommended service procedures and intervals. Verify the correct interval an procedure with your owner's or shop manual.
A basic tune-up MUST include:
* Cooling system inspection;
* Clean or replace spark plugs;
* Ignition wire testing;
* Distributor cap/rotor (if you don't have the OptiSpark);
* PCV valve cleaning or replacement;
* Vacuum hose inspection;
* Air filter;
* Cleaning the IAC;
* Check Throttle Position Sensor voltage and adjust as necessary.
* Check/adjust minimum air rate (EFI);
* Adjusting mixture control and choke/pulloff/idle (carbed engines);
* Check/adjust timing;
* Code scan;
If you have a fuel injected engine, there are a few more steps that must be performed to ensure correct fuel system performance.
The proper steps in fuel injector system service are:
* Check fuel pump operating pressure and volume.
* Test pressure regulator for operation and leakage.
* Flush entire fuel rail and upper fuel injector screens to include pressure regulator.
* Clean fuel injectors.(* if necessary)
* Decarbon engine assembly.
* Relearn onboard computer.
If there are problems with the fuel injectors, no amount of "tuning" will correct it short of an injector cleaning. This is very rarely solved with the fuel additives that advertise the ability to clean injectors. These are probably best used as maintenance products, to keep clean injectors clean. Once an injector is beginning to fail, it's usually too late for any such product to be successful. The relatively low cost of these additives makes it worth at least trying, but don't expect it to cure all of your problems. If the injectors react well to the fuel additives, consider yourself one of the fortunate few. Most of the time, the injectors need to be removed for complete cleaning.
Once you service all the parts and systems that need attention for a car of your mileage, most of your problems should be non-existent.
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