How to perform a basic tune-up on your car

By Lawrence Minnie

Technology in vehicles may have reduced the ability of the DIY mechanic to tinker with their cars, but that doesn’t mean they can’t do anything themselves anymore. There are still a number of things that DIY enthusiasts can tackle to keep their cars running smoothly.

Before technology removed many of the mechanical workings from car engines, owners were able to perform basic tune-ups at home. From manually adjusting air-fuel ratios and ignition timing to a full service, many of these jobs have been replaced by the onboard computers in most modern cars.

Although the days of setting carburettors and points with a screwdriver may be gone, there are still ways that the DIY enthusiast can do small jobs that can influence the way their cars run.

Sorting out errors

One of the first DIY tasks that can help you tune-up your car is to get an OBDII scanner.

This small device will allow you to see what the engine control computer is doing, and what errors the various components have registered. The device can display the vital statistics of the engine, such as air-fuel ratio, engine temperature and so on. The beauty of technology is that you don’t have to pay huge sums of money for a professional grade system, as there are a multitude of Bluetooth scanners available, which will work with most smartphones.

Knowing these things allows you to establish if there are any major issues, and in most cases, will allow you to reset historical errors after you’ve repaired them.

Minor service

Another relatively simple tune-up is to do a minor service. This requires you to change the oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter and spark plugs. Replacing the filters allows the various systems to operate freely, reducing flow restrictions and thus improving performance. Newer, properly gapped spark plugs (and new leads) allow for a much stronger ignition spark, making for better combustion.

Once you’ve replaced the clogged and worn out parts, the onboard computer will automatically adjust its settings to cater for the new parts and the car will begin to run better.

Cooling system

Another small task you can do to tune up your engine is to flush the cooling system. Removing buildup from the cooling system allows the coolant to flow better, keeping engine temperatures under tighter control, and improving engine efficiency.

Drive Belts

Now that your engine is flowing and breathing more efficiently, you may also want to check all the drive belts. These include the serpentine belt that runs the engine’s peripheral systems, such as the air-con, power steering, and alternator. These systems may also have dedicated drive belts, in which case you’ll need to inspect them each individually. Look out for cracked rubber or frayed edges, as these are early signs of approaching failure - you don’t want to have one of these belts break or tear, as it will most likely leave you stranded at the roadside.

Tackling these few items will ensure that your vehicle will be mechanically sound and give you many kilometres of joyful motoring.