Berkeley Tune-Up Service

A man is working on the engine of a car | Berkeley Bob's

Let’s talk vehicle tune-ups. What exactly is a tune-up? Does your vehicle really need a tune-up? What do you expect to get from a tune-up? These are questions that should be asked if you think or are told your car needs a “Tune-up”. 



First, there is a tremendous amount of misinformation out there about tune-ups. It’s actually a term for a service that doesn’t exist on modern vehicles, when I say modern think 1980 onward. So, most of the driving public wasn’t born when tune-ups were needed on vehicles.

What is a tune-up? A tune-up is a service which includes changing spark plugs, distributor points and condenser and possibly adjusting the fuel mixture and engine timing. This was needed when vehicles had a “breaker point” ignition distributor. This system relied on points to open and close to either complete or interrupt a circuit to induce a spark in the ignition coil which then is sent to the spark plugs. Modern cars do that electronically. At that time most spark plugs were copper core they needed short mileage interval replacement compared to modern plugs made of iridium or platinum which last 60,000 miles or more. Fuel mixture adjustments and setting engine timing are no longer manual adjustments they are done by electronic fuel and engine components.  The time it took to do a tune-up varied by make and model and was dependent on the difficulty to access the replaceable parts and skill needed to make the adjustments. A tune-up was a necessary yearly service on cars of the past but the car you’re driving today won’t need any of those things other than spark plug replacement, about every 5 to 6 years of average mileage driving. 


A lot of people think a tune-up is a regular preventive maintenance service which is necessary to ensure your car’s longevity and drivability as time goes by. As mentioned above, a tune-up is no longer needed on today’s vehicles, but regular preventative maintenance is needed on all vehicles. Today that service consists of changing the engine oil, checking fluid levels, servicing the battery, checking auxiliary belt tension, inspecting for leaks, damage or fault with anything inside the engine compartment, inspecting the brakes, suspension, axles and exhaust for any wear, lubricating doors and hinges, rotating the tires, checking the tire air pressure, replacement of any exterior light bulbs, checking for manufacturer recalls or updates, retrieving any stored data in the onboard computer system and resetting the service reminder light or message.  That’s a detail of today’s service and it is recommended yearly for average mileage drivers. Of course we follow the vehicle manufacturer’s factory schedule when applicable.


Poor drivability is the most common reason we’re given from tune-up requesting customers. Yes, for some reason many people think if their car is stalling, getting bad gas mileage, has a rough idle or dash lights on, a tune-up is going to fix it. The problem is there are no tune-ups on modern cars. So, if your car is experiencing any drivability problems then give Berkeley Bob’s a call. Our friendly customer service staff will schedule a time for you to leave the car to have our ASE certified, trained technicians test and inspect your vehicle, isolate the problem, identify the cause and prepare a custom repair plan to get you back on the road driving problem free. 


In the Berkeley area, there’s no better auto repair shop or auto mechanics in the business than Berkeley Bob’s!


Anytime your car is in at Berkeley Bob’s we automatically provide a road test evaluation assessment, perform a detailed 27-point check list inspection, email you the results and take photos and report any concerns which could develop into potential problems down the line. Our knowledgeable service writer will phone you to follow-up and answer any questions you might have. 



At Berkeley Bob’s, you can count on our team of skilled, trained, ASE-certified auto mechanics to get your repairs done efficiently and to receive only the best in customer care and service. Just take a look at what Berkeley drivers have to say about their experience at Berkeley Bob’s in this recent 5-star review:


“Did a great job! Examined my car and fixed the problem as well as identified future problems that needed to be fixed. Very grateful I brought my car in and I feel much safer on the road. Would recommend their prompt and thorough service to anyone.” – Kelly B.


At Berkeley Bob’s, our auto repair team aims to get to know not just your vehicle; we want to get to know you too! When you come to Berkeley Bob’s, you’ll experience the utmost in customer service and expert precision in all your tune-ups and auto repairs. We’re so confident in our auto mechanics’ work that we offer a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty on all labor done at our shop. We are conveniently located at 2705 San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley, CA 94702, and we are open Mon – Fri: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed for lunch: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM). Schedule an appointment today!