What does a "tune up" entail and how much should it cost?

Question

I have a 1998 Neon with 132,000 miles on it. I'm moving to Tennessee at the end of the month (from Ohio) and I want to make sure my car is in good shape before I leave.

Would it be best to call around to different shops and ask for their prices? What do they do when they give your car a tune up? What's the average cost of a tune up?

Sorry I asked so many questions, haha. I'm a 19 year old girl and everytime I go to get something done with my car I feel like they're pulling one over on me because I'm young and I'm a girl and I don't know what's needed or how much things cost...

Answer 1

Yea, plugs are about the only thing to change anymore. If it has original plug wires, then those should probably be changed.

I would make sure your timing belt is replaced if it is due. That will cost a few hundred.

Answer 2

on that car it shouldn't cost no more than 200 bucks total to get it tuned,there's really nothing much to do to those engines but change the plugs and wires and the air filter and then change the oil,and do a scan on it to make sure it has no trouble codes on it,i wouldn't pay anything over 250 at the most for that car,i do those for around 225 for everything ,most shops will be priced about the same,there's no need for it to cost any more than that,it takes less than 2 hours to do all of this,good luck.