Professional Engine Tune-Up — At Your Driveway
The term "tune-up" has evolved significantly from the days of adjusting carburetors and setting ignition timing with a strobe light. Today's tune-up focuses on replacing wear items that affect engine performance, fuel efficiency, and emissions — spark plugs, filters, and ignition components that degrade over time and miles. A proper tune-up restores lost horsepower, improves gas mileage, and ensures smooth, reliable engine operation.
At Auto Repair Mobile Mechanic, our ASE-certified technicians perform comprehensive tune-up services at your home or office throughout Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and all of South Florida. We bring everything needed to refresh your engine's performance and keep it running efficiently.
What's Included in Our Mobile Tune-Up
- Spark plug replacement — standard, platinum, or iridium plugs per manufacturer spec
- Air filter replacement — engine air filter for proper airflow and combustion
- Fuel filter replacement — ensuring clean fuel delivery (when externally accessible)
- Ignition coil inspection — testing and replacing faulty coils causing misfires
- Spark plug wire replacement — on vehicles with traditional wire sets
- PCV valve replacement — maintaining proper crankcase ventilation
- Throttle body cleaning — removing carbon buildup that causes rough idle
- Computer diagnostic scan — checking for any stored trouble codes
- Visual inspection of belts, hoses, and fluids — catching other issues early
Signs Your Vehicle Needs a Tune-Up
- Rough or uneven idle — the engine shakes or stumbles at stop lights
- Decreased fuel economy — you're filling up more often than usual
- Sluggish acceleration — the engine feels weak or hesitant when you press the gas
- Engine misfires — stumbling, jerking, or momentary power loss
- Hard starting — the engine cranks longer before firing up
- Check engine light — misfire codes (P0300–P0308) are common tune-up indicators
- Failed emissions test — worn plugs and dirty filters increase exhaust emissions
- Stalling — engine dies at idle or during deceleration
How Our Mobile Tune-Up Process Works
1. Diagnostic Assessment: We start by scanning your vehicle's computer for any trouble codes, then perform a visual inspection of the ignition system, air intake, and overall engine condition. This tells us exactly what your engine needs.
2. Tailored Service: Not every vehicle needs the same tune-up. A 30,000-mile four-cylinder needs different attention than a 100,000-mile V8. We customize the service to your vehicle's age, mileage, and condition — and explain every item before we start.
3. Quality Parts: We use OEM-spec or better components — NGK or Denso iridium spark plugs, quality filters, and name-brand ignition parts. Cheap spark plugs lead to poor performance and premature failure.
4. Before & After: We show you the old parts, explain what we found, and verify improved engine operation. You'll feel the difference immediately — smoother idle, better throttle response, and improved fuel economy.
Tune-Up Intervals for Florida Driving
Florida's hot climate and stop-and-go traffic create "severe service" conditions that accelerate wear on tune-up components. Here are our recommended intervals:
- Standard spark plugs: Every 30,000 miles
- Platinum/iridium spark plugs: Every 60,000–100,000 miles
- Air filter: Every 15,000–20,000 miles (more often in dusty/construction areas)
- Fuel filter: Every 30,000–50,000 miles
- Ignition coils: Replace as needed (typically 80,000–120,000 miles)
Florida's high humidity also promotes moisture in the ignition system, which can cause misfires — especially in older vehicles with plug wires instead of individual coils.
Why Mobile Tune-Up Service Is Better
- Convenience — tune-up happens at home or office, no shop visit needed
- Faster service — no waiting behind other cars in the shop queue
- Transparent — watch us work, see the old parts, understand what was done
- No upselling — we recommend what's needed, not what's profitable
- Same professional quality — same tools, parts, and expertise as any shop
Tune-Up Pricing
- Basic tune-up (4-cylinder): $150–$250 (plugs + air filter)
- Standard tune-up (V6): $200–$350 (plugs + air filter + fuel filter)
- Complete tune-up (V8): $250–$450 (plugs + filters + ignition inspection)
- Ignition coil replacement: $80–$200 per coil
- Throttle body cleaning: $80–$120
Exact pricing depends on your vehicle's engine type and plug specification. All work backed by our 12-month / 12,000-mile warranty.
Service Areas
Fort Lauderdale area: Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Plantation, Sunrise, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Davie, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, Lauderhill, Boca Raton
Tampa area: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Riverview, Wesley Chapel, Temple Terrace, Carrollwood, Lutz, Plant City, Lakeland
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a tune-up and an oil change?
An oil change replaces engine oil and the oil filter — it's lubrication maintenance. A tune-up replaces ignition and air intake components that affect how the engine runs. Both are essential but serve different purposes. Think of oil changes as keeping the engine lubricated, and tune-ups as keeping it firing properly.
Will a tune-up fix my check engine light?
If the check engine light is caused by misfires (worn plugs/coils) or air intake issues, then yes. However, the check engine light has hundreds of possible triggers. We always diagnose the specific cause before recommending a tune-up as the solution.
How much will a tune-up improve my gas mileage?
Worn spark plugs alone can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 30%. A complete tune-up on a vehicle that's overdue typically improves gas mileage by 4–10%. If your plugs are severely worn, the improvement can be even more dramatic.