Recomendations for full tune up.....????

[94GTPilot]

Hey guys. This may seem a bit basic to most of you, but I don't feel my car is running the best that it can be right now, and am wondering if anyone can point me to a decent write up that would include a FULL tune up (oil change, timing adjustment, etc.)...

Or if someone would take a few spare minutes and help out.. I've got 178,XXX miles and want to make sure I get the most out of my car.. Thanks in advance...

 

[Car Nut]

Spark Plugs (copper, not platinum or other special metals)
Wires
Cap and Rotor
PCV Valve
Clean/Replace Air Filter
Flush/Fill all fluids (brake, steering, coolant, tranny)
Oil Change
Fuel Filter Replaced
Fuel Injector Cleaning
Clean MAF sensor (carefully........special spray available at parts store)
Replace O2 sensors (if you don't know if they've ever been replaced)
Clean engine bay with degreaser and add Armor All to hoses(especially if it is very dirty)

I'm sure other can post more items, but that's what I can think of off the top of my head right now.

 

[urban96]

with that many miles maybe get a can of seafoam and run 1/3 through an vaccume line. 1/3 in the gas tank and 1/3 in the oil.

the vac line on the brake booster is a good one (pull it off before you start the car or it may stall as soon as you pull it) also suck it in kinda slow.

change the oil after running it for a day or 2

plugs (regular autolites @ .054)
plug wires
cap & rotor (summit sells the MSD one for ~20)
fuel filter


ahh ya beat me!! but yeah i didnt even think about the o2 sensors or brake/trans fluid. changing brake fluid made a big difference in how my pedal felt

 

[HISSIN50]

Don't forget the differential if not mentioned. Serp belt too.

To me, a tune up includes chassis related items. Check brake linings, suspension points for wear, engine mounts, trans mount, and so on.

When working on a car I'm not familiar with, I like to grab a Haynes manual and read through the first chapter. You'll see the factory service intervals, as well as some quick tech on how to do things and what to check out.

Good luck.

 

[94GTPilot]

Wow... perfect so far.. But what is seafoam, and what does it do? I'm assuming it cleans out the gunk that gets built up?

 

[Black Stampede]

Whatever you do do NOT forget to clean the MAF. For the first summer I owned my car it was sooooo slow. As if a stock vert isnt slow enough. When I finally cleaned the MAF there was a HUGE black chunk on it. It seriously felt like a 50 horsepower gain easy. It was that bad. Like I could dump the clutch at 3 grand and spin for like 10 feet that's it. So clean that MAF!!!!!

 

[Car Nut]

Good stuff mentioned above. I totally forgot about the serpentine belt and the rear diff.

Two more items:

1. Replace the 4 coolant hoses. If you don't mind the color blue, Mustangs Unlimited carries police grade replacement hoses for $99. These hoses will last many times longer than regular hoses, but know in advance that they are blue.

2. Clean the battery terminals. Go to Autozone and pickup a terminal cleaner, terminal grease, and those red/green rings that go on each terminal. That stuff will prevent corosion on the terminals big time and keep them nice for a very long time.

 

[zZsKyZz]

-Drain the radiator
-Change the oil
-Change the plugs [use autolite #25 plugs]
-plug wires
-distributer cap and rotor
-check serpentine belt
-fuel filter
-check brake fluid
-clean MAF, throttle body, and IAC
-clean/change the air filter depending on if you have a K&N style filter
-Check brakes/rotors/calipers for any defects
-check suspension
-2 bottles of lucas part #10020 [fuel injector cleaner] into half a tank of 93 octane gasoline and let the car sit and idle for 30 minutes, then take if for a good 20mile drive to get the cleaner through the engine.
-change PCV valve
-check tire pressure and tires
-clean battery/charge battery if needed
-tighten any lugnuts that may be loose
-vaccumn the inside of the car and armorall
-wash the car.

 

[blksn955.o]

I would maybe go a step further and get a drop in K&N filter if you can.

From what I have noticed Wal-Mart (hate the place) has the hands down best price on a 5qt full syn. mobil one oil at around 21$. Its the ONLY thing I buy at Wally world.

fuel filter would be good to replace also, go with the MSD cap and rotor the cap is cheaper and IMHO better quality with brass term.

while doing the tune up get a timing light and mark the ball. (from under tha car) and mark the Harm. Ball. at 10* and 14* and set the timing to 14* with the light after the reg. tune up is done (if you mark you can go back to 10* easier if you want later).

Check your rubber vac. lines line by line for cracks and breaks.

 

[wytstang]

-Drain the radiator
-Change the oil
-Change the plugs [use autolite #25 plugs]
-plug wires
-distributer cap and rotor
-check serpentine belt
-fuel filter
-check brake fluid replace fluid if you haven't ever or unsure if it has ever been done
-clean MAF, throttle body, and IAC
-clean/change the air filter depending on if you have a K&N style filter let sit over night to completely dry if not you will just recontaminate your MAF.
-Check brakes/rotors/calipers for any defects
-Regrease caliper slides using caliper grease
-check suspension and grease any part that has a grease fitting with a quality grease.
-1 bottle of Chemtool B12 fuel cleaner
-change PCV valve and screen mesh
-check tire pressure and tires
-clean battery/charge battery if needed
-tighten any lugnuts that may be loose
-vaccumn the inside of the car and armorall original
-wash the car.

I like this listed and some what modified it and added some items I would personally do (not that zZsKyZz wasn't good, I just didn't fell like make a similar list when his was close to what I would do).

 

[badstang123]

I like these two links for tune-up information

http://www.allfordmustangs.com//Detailed/58.shtml

http://www.allfordmustangs.com//Detailed/59.shtml