A tune-up on a modern fuel-injected engine means installing the correct spark plugs — platinum or iridium, correct heat range and thread reach for your specific engine — and testing the ignition coils that fire them. For Mountlake Terrace drivers on the I-5 corridor and 236th commute routes, Tom's B&M Auto performs tune-up service using factory part numbers, not generic replacements that cause misfires.
OBD-II scan for any stored misfire codes before starting. Spark plugs removed and inspected — electrode gap, heat discoloration, and carbon deposits indicate combustion health. Ignition coil output tested with oscilloscope to identify any weak coils.
OEM-specification spark plugs installed — factory part number match for your engine. Air filter and cabin air filter inspected. Throttle body cleaning performed on direct injection engines prone to carbon buildup.
Post-installation idle quality and misfire monitor check. Fuel injector service recommended on high-mileage engines alongside plug replacement. Tune-up typically completed in 1-2 hours.
The wrong spark plug causes real problems. A plug with the wrong heat range runs too hot (causing pre-ignition) or too cold (causing carbon fouling). A plug with the wrong thread reach contacts the piston on some engines. We use factory part numbers — not a plug that's close enough from the parts store.
Coil-on-plug ignition systems can have one weak coil that causes an intermittent misfire at high load — the kind that doesn't set a fault code but kills fuel economy. We test coil output across all cylinders and compare. A coil running 20% below output needs replacement before it fails completely.
Correct heat range and thread reach for your specific engine. Not generic.
All ignition coils tested — weak coils caught before they cause a misfire.
Throttle body and intake valve cleaning for direct injection engines.
Tune-up service includes pre-service OBD-II scan, spark plug inspection and replacement (factory part number match), ignition coil output testing, air and cabin filter inspection, throttle body cleaning on DI engines, and post-installation idle and misfire monitor check.
From Tom's B&M Auto - serving Mountlake Terrace and the greater Seattle metro.
Tom's B&M Auto · 17820 Hwy 99, Suite E, Lynnwood · Serving greater Seattle
Also serving: Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline, Mukilteo, Kenmore, Alderwood Manor