Modern engines don't need a tune-up every 12,000 miles like they used to, but when the plugs are worn the car misfires, idles rough, and drinks fuel. A proper tune-up replaces spark plugs at the right gap and torque, tests the coils, and cleans the throttle body so the engine breathes like it should.
Signs you need tune-up & spark plug replacement
- Rough idle or shaking at stoplights
- Hesitation when you accelerate
- Check engine light with a misfire code (P0300–P0308)
- Fuel economy has dropped
- Hard starting
What we do on site
- Scan for misfire history and identify weak cylinders
- Remove coils and old plugs, inspect for oil, fouling, or heat damage
- Install correct iridium or platinum plugs, gapped and torqued
- Replace any failing ignition coils or boots
- Clean the throttle body and replace the engine air filter
- Clear codes and road-test
Doing this in a driveway
We do plugs on most engines in a driveway. A few V6 minivans and some turbo engines with intake manifolds in the way take longer, and we'll tell you up front if yours is one of them.
Parts we use
OEM-spec iridium or platinum spark plugs, ignition coils as needed, engine air filter, throttle body cleaner.
Pricing: Four-cylinders are the least expensive; V6 and V8 engines with hard-to-reach rear plugs take longer and cost more. Every job is quoted in writing before we start, and there's no upsell — how our pricing works.
FAQ
Tune-Up & Spark Plug Replacement: common questions
How often should spark plugs be replaced?
Most iridium plugs are rated for 80,000–100,000 miles. Copper plugs on older vehicles are closer to 30,000. Check your owner's manual, or ask us and we'll look it up for your engine.
Do I need new ignition coils too?
Not always. We test each coil while the plugs are out and only replace the ones that are weak or have cracked boots. Replacing all of them on a high-mileage engine is sometimes cheaper in the long run, and we'll show you the numbers either way.
Will a tune-up fix my check engine light?
If the code is a misfire caused by worn plugs or a bad coil, yes. If the misfire is caused by a fuel or compression problem, the tune-up alone won't fix it, which is why we scan first.