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| | | Prices vary greatly depending on the cost of labor in your area and what work is being done. According to the New York State Attorney General's Auto Repair Tips, the old kind of "tune-up" which were more typical for cars before 1980 usually aren't required in modern cars. | | |
| Typical costs: | - For a basic "tune-up," we've seen rates as low as $30-$50 in places where the cost of living is low, to as much as $100 or more in expensive areas where more is included in the tune-up.
- Most places will charge you for parts and labor separately. Often tune-up parts like spark plugs, air filters and fuel filters will run $20-$60. We've seen hourly labor quotes from $40 an hour, to over $110-$150 an hour at BMW and Mercedes dealerships in urban areas. In the San Francisco Bay Area, we've seen ordinary repair shops with rates from $55-$80 an hour, and ordinary dealerships with rates of $80-$90.
- Dealer 30k, 60k or 90k mile tune-ups can run from $250 for 3-4 hours of labor and basic maintenance, to over $1,000 at places with high labor costs and additional maintenance services, such as timing belt replacement.
Additional costs: | - If the mechanic identifies needed repairs, this can add a significant amount to your total.
Discounts: | - Small auto repair shops and gas stations will often advertise specials on tune-ups in newspapers and coupon books.
Shopping for a tune-up: | - If you've lost your owner's manual, which typically specifies your car's maintenance schedule, you can usually find instructions for ordering a replacement at the manufacturer's web site.
- If you don't already have a mechanic, look for mechanics who are certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Search for ASE certified Blue Seal repair facilities.
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Article updated November 2006 |
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Recent Posts |
| Amount: $35.00 |
Spark plug change
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| Posted by: RG1000 in Coral springs, fl, FL. | Purchased: 2009 |
| Car Make: Toyota | Car Model: Camry |
| Hours of Labor: 1.5 |
| Wow everyone on this site has over payed quite a bit. I\'m no mechanicbut I was quoted ~250 for a \"tune up\" and decided to google how to change sparks plugs. It\'s quite easy, and I suggest anyone to try it themselves. Just google instructions for your car. Total parts cost $35 and the work was much much easier than putting a desk together, for example. Next I\'m going to change the oil myself. Also air filter change is a HUGE joke. |
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| Amount: $198.00 |
cost for my tune up
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| Posted by: shawn from tampa in tampa, FL. | Purchased: December, 2009 |
| Car Make: 99 honda | Car Model: Accord |
| Hours of Labor: ? |
My car wasn't firing correctly and sounded like it was going to stall out.
Shop changed my spark plugs and some of my plugs and wires (I believe 2 of the 6). Was done while I wait and didn't take that long. |
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| Amount: $200.00 |
do it urself
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| Posted by: a user in ontario, CA. | Purchased: June, 2003 |
| Car Make: | Car Model: honda civic |
| Hours of Labor: unknown |
| Spark plugs performance air filter and distribiter cap wires and fuel injector cleaner |
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| Amount: $300.00 |
Tune up etc.......
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| Posted by: Carrie in Houston, TX. | Purchased: September, 2005 |
| Car Make: Toyota | Car Model: Corolla |
| Hours of Labor: 1 1/2 hours |
I just received a quote for a tune up that includes belts, fluids, oil change, rotate and balance all four tires for lifetime.
NTB is the company I received the quote from |
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| Posted by: a user in fort Lauderdale, FL. | Purchased: January, 2010 |
| Car Make: Chrysler | Car Model: Town & Country |
| Hours of Labor: 4 |
| Shop claims that six spark plugs, rotor, plug wires and labor to get to rear plugs is what makes this expensive. Does not include fuel filter, air filter. I think it's way over the top. |
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| Posted by: Niki in Easton, MD. | Purchased: 2004 |
| Car Make: Mercury | Car Model: Sable |
| My car needed a tuneup, and I was quoted $320 by a guy I usually get my car worked on when needed. I think he's maybe in the mid-range on pricing on most things, but I think he's reliable and does good work. Also said needed EGR valve work and I'd save $100 getting it done now, since he'll already have removed things to get to it. So, total cost: $520. REALLY didn't want to spend that money, but it's a 2001 and my job depends on travel, so I need it done. |
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| Posted by: erniev in mount vernon, WA. | Purchased: 2004 |
| Car Make: vw | Car Model: gti vr6 |
| Hours of Labor: 3 |
| wires, fuel filter and plugs included |
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| Amount: $250.00 |
Tune Up Costs
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| Posted by: Franklin in Houston, TX. | Purchased: December, 2004 |
| Car Make: toyota | Car Model: corolla |
| Hours of Labor: 3-4 |
| I was in waiting area of office for at least 5 or 6 hours, however I am sure they were not working on my car the whole time. |
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| Posted by: Sandy Emory in Monroe, LA. | Purchased: February, 2004 |
| Car Make: Ford | Car Model: Mustang |
| Hours of Labor: 1hr. not sure |
Spark Plugs(6) and (6)wires
no filter, nothing else, just labor |
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| Amount: $70.00 |
did it myself!
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| Posted by: RickOKC in Oklahoma City, OK. | Purchased: March, 2004 |
| Car Make: Toyota | Car Model: Echo |
| Hours of Labor: 2 |
| Spent most of the money on tools that I didn\'t have...spark plugs came to about $25. Couldn\'t have been easier to replace these. I have gotten ripped off before for a tune-up...never again! Car runs great now with the new plugs! |
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| Amount: $450.00 |
tune up on a very on van
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| Posted by: broke lady in tampa, FL. | Purchased: April, 2009 |
| Car Make: chevy | Car Model: astro van |
Includes: change of oil, air filter, spark plugs, spark plug wires, pvc- valve, fuel filter, transmission flush, replace the gasket, filter, and transmission oil.
From what I was told I thought this was reasonable but now im not sure |
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| Amount: $195.00 |
60k Basic Tune Up
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| Posted by: Marisela in Houston, TX. | Purchased: May, 2010 |
| Car Make: Nissan | Car Model: Murano |
| Hours of Labor: 2 |
| I was later told by a friend of mine that I could have found a better deal for about $90.00 less =( |
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| Posted by: ljc in north richland hills, TX. | Purchased: June, 2010 |
| Car Make: toyota | Car Model: '92 camry |
| Hours of Labor: 1.0 |
| Maybe my car is so old that it's easier to get to the guts, but it only took an hour. Basic tune-up with platinum plugs, filters, blah blah blah. no oil change. |
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| Amount: $426.13 |
car tune up
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| Posted by: plynn in Lakeland, FL. | Purchased: November, 2004 |
| Car Make: saturn | Car Model: lw200 |
| Hours of Labor: 2 or3 |
| This also included replacing a coil. I may have been able to get it done cheaper but I didn't have the time to try to find a better price and had already waited 'til it was almost too late. |
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| Posted by: Morgan L. Domme in Topeka, KS. | Purchased: April, 2009 |
| Car Make: 2007 | Car Model: Saturn |
I went into a local shop and the guy made me a great deal he fixed all of this stuff for only $65.00! I stayed there and talked too him while he was doing the work. He gave me a major discount all he wanted in return was one date nothing more! Hey how bad could it be too spend a couple hours with this guy for a major discount its not like I wouldn't of went if I didnt get the discount, Went on date and long story short the date went great we are not engaged and all my repairs are FREE! LOL
New fan belt,6 spark plugs, Spark plug wires
New Air filter |
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| Amount: $50.00 |
do it yourself
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| Posted by: Eddie Rowe in Raleigh, NC. | Purchased: June, 2010 |
| Car Make: Jeep | Car Model: Patriot |
| Hours of Labor: 2 |
Paying RETAIL for materials, and doing the labor yourself, you can do the following for about $50.
Replace Engine Oil and Filter
Rotate Tires
Replace Sparkplugs
Replace Air Filter
Top off fluids
You may spend up to about $100 for tools and equipment to be able to do this yourself, but most of the tools you already have like screwdriver and socket wrench, tire iron, etc. A set of carbon ramps, maybe an oil filter wrench (although I've found I can usually budge it by hand).
All of these fixes are very simple to do, and several places have free oil recycling, so don't let anyone charge you a hazardous waste disposal fee.
Don't think you have to replace the wires every time you replace the plugs - you just don't. Think about it, how often do you replace the power cord to any of your appliances? The wireset is almost always the most expensive part of a tune-up (excluding transmission), and the only reason it wears out is from environment, not from use. Just check the insulation on the wires, if its good and the engine fires normally, the wires are fine.
A 30K service interval should also include a brake inspection, and a lot of places will do that for free.
Learn to do it yourself and save time, money and peace of mind - you'll know it was done by someone you trust. |
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| Amount: $50.00 |
Pay the guy without the degree
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| Posted by: Alexander the IV in Federal way, WA. | Purchased: 2010 |
| Car Make: Lexus 90-00' | Car Model: LS 400 |
| Hours of Labor: 1 hour |
| I just want every non-mechanic person to know that you dont need a degree to work on a "new" car."New" car,"old" car-it's all the same, ladies and gentlemen- style's have changed alot but engine technology has not. Anyways, this lady called me and said she wanted her plugs changed,(she had an 10' Jeep liberty)- but then she decided to question me,did i have a degree? No,I said- thats why i charge so cheap and realistically($30 for 6cyl.engine). She said "oh i probably dont need someone like you to work on my car". and hung up. How rude. what a dumbass. why would you need your plugs replaced after only bout 1 year(plugs are good for bout 100k. She probably took it somewhere else and got ripped off ooohhhh say bout $200+. That's what she gets. I have no problem doing the job right in front of you. That way you see that the job is actually getting done. Well anyways I want to tell everyone out there- trust that guy that charges cheap and has no degree- cause you dont know where or who he acquired his skills from. By the way Im a lead technician at a shop getting $20 an hour, without a degree. You think they'd pay that much if i didnt know what i was doing. Didnt think so. |
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| Posted by: Pinky in Houston, TX. | Purchased: July, 2010 |
| Car Make: Ford | Car Model: Explorer Sport Track |
| Hours of Labor: 2 |
| Was shopping around for the best price but everywhere I go it seems kind of expensive until I finally just decided to do it, since my truck really needs it, so after checking out some of the other prices you guys have posted here I guess I feel like I'm paying a reasonable price |
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| Amount: $371.00 |
Complete Tune up
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| Posted by: Chele in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Other. | Purchased: 2004 |
| Car Make: Ford | Car Model: Windstar |
| Hours of Labor: 1.0 |
| 2001 Ford Windstar Sport minivan...Engine light on, van shaking and hesitating. Service center did diagnostic with 3 error points. They said the spark plugs were never changed. They suggested a complete tune-up. *sigh of relief* Ford minivans are known to have transmission problems and I was relieved it was not that. I was happy to hear it cost under 500.00. Part, labour and tax! |
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| Posted by: Ebonythebeautifulone in Toms River, NJ. | Purchased: August, 2010 |
| Car Make: Chrysler | Car Model: Town and Country |
| Hours of Labor: ? |
Tune up 140 dollars
Ignition wires 125 dollars
Fuel injection 70 dollars |
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