In the past, tuning up your car was a regular event that you either did yourself or you had a mechanic complete. You would change the spark plugs and air filter. Maybe you would install a fuel filter. You also had to change the points and condenser. The timing had to be checked. And at about 30,000 miles, you had to grind and re-seat or replace the valves while cleaning the carbon from the cylinders. Then you would adjust the valves and carburetor. Today's vehicles need considerably less work during a tune-up. The average do-it-yourselfer with good skills can complete a tune-up in an afternoon.
Change the engine oil. Jack up the vehicle and support it with jack stands. Drain the engine oil by removing the drain plug. When the oil is drained, install the base plug. Remove the oil filter with the filter wrench, and screw on a new one hand tight. Lower the vehicle and fill it with four quarts of oil. Start the engine and check for leaks. Check the oil again and fill to the full mark on the dip stick.
Replace the air filter. Open the air cleaner housing, and remove the old filter. If you can't see daylight through the filter when you hold it up to the sun, replace it. Leave the housing disassembled at this time.
Disconnect the negative battery terminal. Jack up the rear of the vehicle and support it with jack stands. Locate the fuel filter on the left side of the fuel tank. Remove the fuel filter brackets by removing the bolts that attach them. Disconnect the fuel inlet line and return line from the fuel filter. Remove the filter from the bracket. Place the new fuel filter in the bracket and install the fuel lines using new retaining clips. Reverse the rest of the procedure to complete the installation. Cycle the ignition switch on for five seconds ant then off for ten seconds. Do this a total of three times. Crank the engine until it starts. If it doesn't start within 20 seconds, perform the cycling of the ignition switch again for three times.
Loosen the remainder of the air cleaner hoses and assembly and remove it from the vehicle. Remove all of the spark plug cables from the spark plugs by pulling them with spark plug boot pliers. Remove each of the spark plugs using the spark plug socket. Do not allow any debris to fall into the spark plug holes. Clean out the area where the plugs are located before removing them. Place a spark plug gap tool between the outer and inner electrodes. Set the spark plug gap at 0.45 inches as indicated by the gap tool. Install the new spark plugs into the cylinder head. Apply dielectric grease to the spark plug boots and install them. Replace the air cleaner assembly.
