For drivers who have owned a car for very long know that at some point in time their car will need a tune up. A tune up will help your car maintain power and performance levels so that you don’t have to worry about getting stranded with a car that won’t start.

But how do you know when you need a car tune up? Here are some signs that will become fairly obvious if a tune up is needed on your car:

• The “service engine soon” light illuminates and stays on.
• When accelerating or braking, you notice that your car is idly rough, or it may actually stall.
• Miles per gallon (MPG) has decreased and you are stopping to fill up the tank more often.
• It may become increasingly harder to shift, or you notice jerking or slipping of gears.
• The steering wheel and/or driver seat have started to vibrate a lot more than usual.

Your vehicle’s service manual lists the guidelines for when a tune up is recommended for your vehicle:

• For older cars that have non-electric ignition systems, they require a tune up about every 10,000 to 12,000 miles to replace spark plugs, filters, and fluids.
• For newer vehicles equipped with electronic ignitions and fuel injectors, computer processors and sensors, they should have a tune up (also referred to as a maintenance service) anywhere between every 25,000 to 100,000 miles.

A word of advice: It is highly recommended that you have a diagnostic test at least once a year on your vehicle. This gives your mechanic the opportunity to pinpoint internal problems in the operating systems, engine, transmission, oil and gas tanks, and exhaust system, and the required repair can be taken care of before the problem gets bigger and more costly.
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