A BASIC TUNE UP USUALLY INVOLVES REPLACING THE VEHICLES SPARK PLUGS, PLUG WIRES, FUEL FILTER AND A CHECK OF THE AIR FILTER, PCV VALVE, AND SERPENTINE BELT. MOST MANUFACTURERS RECOMMEND HAVING A TUNE-UP EVERY 30,000 MILES OR TWO YEARS WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. SPARK PLUGS ARE AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF YOUR VEHICLE AS THEY ARE REQUIRED TO IGNITE THE FUEL/AIR MIXTURE IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. OVER TIME SPARK PLUGS MAY DETERIORATE OR LOSE THE ABILITY TO CREATE SPARK FOR THE IGNITION SEQUENCE CAUSING A VEHICLE TO RUN ROUGH AND CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS. PLUG WIRES CAN DETERIORATE THE SAME WAY AS THEY CARRY THE CHARGE FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR TO THE SPARK PLUGS.

FUEL FILTERS PREVENT ANY CONTAMINANTS SUCH AS DIRT AND RUST THAT MAY BE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLES MOTOR WHICH COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FOR THE ENGINE BY SCREENING THE FUEL THROUGH A FILTERING PAPER. REPLACING YOUR FUEL FILTER WILL INCREASE YOUR VEHICLES PERFORMANCE AS A RESULT OF FEWER CONTAMINATING ELEMENTS IN THE FUEL ALLOWING IT TO BURN MORE EFFICIENTLY.

AIR FILTERS, AN IMPORTANT PART OF A VEHICLES INTAKE SYSTEM, REMOVES MOST SOLID PARTICLES SUCH AS POLLEN, DUST, MOLD, AND BACTERIA FROM THE AIR. THE MAJORITY OF AIR FILTERS ARE MADE OF FIBROUS MATERIALS. A PCV VALVE IS A VALVE THAT USES A VARIABLE AND CALIBRATED AIR LEAK IN WHICH THE ENGINE RETURNS ITS CRANKCASE COMBUSTION GASES TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.

A SERPENTINE BELT IS USED TO DRIVE THE PULLEYS ON AN ENGINE SUCH THE ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING PUMP, WATER PUMP, AND A/C COMPRESSOR. BELTS ARE OFTEN GUIDED BY AN IDLER PULLEY OR A BELT TENSIONER. WITHOUT A SERPENTINE BELT THE MOTOR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY OR AT ALL. WEAR SIGNS ARE EVIDENT IN THE FORM OF CRACKS IN THE RUBBER AND SOMETIMES EVEN MISSING GROOVES.

Performance mufflers are a great addition to your automobile. Not only to do they give your car that sound you’ve always wanted, but they also relieve some back pressure created by the restrictive factory systems. Relieving back pressure not only increases engine efficiency (Horsepower and torque) but also allows you to obtain more gas mileage out of your vehicle. Performance mufflers come in all shapes and sizes as well as several different types of metals (aluminum, stainless, titanium, and coated). To name a few Flowmaster, Magnaflow, Hooker , Bassani, and Corsa, have all been thoroughly tested and gone through years of research and development.

A RESONATOR IS AN EXTRA MUFFLING DEVICE FOUND IN MOST LATE MODEL VEHICLE EXHAUST SYSTEMS. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MUFFLER TO ELIMINATE EXTRANEOUS NOISE AND QUIET INTERIOR RESONANCE IN THE VEHICLE. SOME RESONATORS WORK ON A SOUND DELFLECTION PRINCIPLE AND DO NOT CONTAIN ANY FIBERGLASS PACKING, WHILE OTHERS ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE GLASSPACK TUBES. EITHER TYPE CAN WORK WELL IF USED PROPERLY.

Q. IF MY RESONATOR GOES BAD (I.E. RUSTS OUT OR DEVELOPS A LEAK, ETC.) DO I HAVE TO REPLACE IT?

A. ACTUALLY, IF YOU DON’T MIND A MINIMAL AMOUNT MORE SOUND FROM YOUR EXHAUST, IT IS PERFECTLY FINE TO REMOVE YOUR BAD RESONATOR AND REPLACE IT WITH SOLID TUBING.