I need to get my car tuned up, I don't know how to do them myself but I'm willing to learn. I can also just pay a reasonable amount of money to someone and have them do it.

On the Max, what does a tune up consist of? I know the car does use wires/cap so what needs to be done and where to gp?

 

I think you mean "doesn't use cap/wires" right?

just follow the severe duty maintenance schedule in your owner's manual, except change ATF every 25k (if you have an auto) and flush brake fluid every 3 years. you'll be fine.

 

the front cover that reads "V6 3000" requires the removal of 4 (?) bolts. this exposes your front three ignition coils. remove the bolt on either side and gently remove the coil. with a standard spark plug socket you can take out the plugs, then replace them [NGK OE Laser Platinums (part number 2647) should do the trick!]. put it back together and the front is done.

on the back side your coils are exposed through the intake manifold. same thing here. two bolts per coil. once that is done, you should replace the fuel filter (firewall, driver side, midways down). pcv valve located on intake manifold (has a short rubber hose going to it) might be replaced as well. and last but not least, the air filter. if you still have the stock intake, just replace the filter. you can get a better air filter like a purolator pure one, or even the K&N drop in. of course if you don't have stock, take your filter off and clean it according to manufacturer. if you have an ebay intake filter, throw it away and get an AEM dryflow filter. done.

 

So basically....

Spark Plugs
Fuel Filter
pcv valve
intake (I have the drop in k and N)

Al rightly, thanks for all the assistance....

 

yea its real easy man, trust yourself to do it.

 

How-To here. www.vqpower.com

 

Okay, I'll do this myself.....

Mechanic wanted 60 just to install spark plugs that I bought myself.... pathetic.

I'm off to get this done but will talk about it later.....

 

also...

top off fluids
coolant flush
tranny flush also (mileage pending)

 

$60 is not a bad price to do it...even though it only takes a few minutes a plug. A mechanic quoted me $300-400 for plugs+labor. I just laughed and left.

 

i was quoted $50 CAN dollars for plug replacement with MY own plugs that i bought. he said he has to consider the amount of time it takes to take out the coils since they are not just wires, they have 2 screws each. So i assume it costs like 5 dollars for the guy to take my wheel off and since screwing around with wrenches and screwdrivers is more work he charges more

i duno, i replaced my plugs today, it took a while cause i dropped a wrench into the engine bay so i had to fish it out with a pole, but after getting my wrench back it was a breeze

Do the PCV yourself ( i did it and it was easy) as well as air filter and plugs, i got the auto tranny flushed at the dealer for $100 going to do coolant when it gets warmer at the dealer, should also be around 80-100 canadian, i did the power steering fluid via the turkey baster method like 4 times within 2 weeks so thats done until next year.

 

andrei, you actually change your power steering fluid every year? Don't you think that's overkill, the fluid should last you at least 2 or 3 years unless it gets contaminated in some way or you develop a leak.

 

Curious. With an auto, is a tranny flush really recommended? How bout just a drain and fill? Car's got about 110k on it and I fear that if I give it a flush, deposits could be blasted everywhere. Had a friend of mine do a flush on his and a short while after, his tranny took a turd on him. Maybe it was just time for his to go, but i dunno. Thoughts.....

 

no i dont do it every year (yet) i got my max in late october of last year and i did the turkey thing like in february of this year, i bought a jug thats like 4 or 5 litres of dexron III ATF so i have lots of it left still, i guess i "overestimated" but it was on sale anyways, i might as well use the fluid since i have it, otherwise it will sit there for no reason

 

been there done that, JUST for the record this is what the dealer told me when i wanted to do a complete flush with takin off the pan and cleaning the magnets:

"not on these cars, u just drain and refill, thats it"

i know you can take ur car to a shop and do the complete flush there, but i rather do another flush and refill next year

 

Whatever you do...don't take your car to a chain shop (ie. Jiffy Lube) for a tranny flush. Go onto youtube.com and search jiffy lube. It shows they charge for the flush and dont even do it. Take the car somewhere you trust (should always be a must) but if you don't know who is working on the car, make sure you watch them...

 

yeah i have a regular mechanic that i know, my GF is friends with this girl whos dad and son are mechanics (its a family business) this guy is straight up with me. he tells me many cheap shops do that. but usually a mechanic thats been around for 20-30 years will honour his work and do it right.

Places like Juffy lube have young kids, apprentices, working, either for co-op out of school (like instead of going to class kids go to work) or new grads out of high school or with a certificate in mechanics. its just cheaper to pay kids than old mechanics.

i go to the dealer to get any majour work done, like my auto tranny flush i did there, i plan on doing my coolant there wihthin the next month.

 

I know what you mean. I wouldn't go to a jiffy lube for anything more than an oil change in the winter. I just hate how I have no idea of when my car had work done on it. Either the previous owner got rid of the paperwork when he sold the car, or the dealership(s) that had the car before me got rid of them. (my car was traded in then auctioned off to a small dealer who i then bought from) Its just frustrating not knowing when routine maintenance was done to your car.

 

i know same here, i got my car naked (with no previous paperwork), all i got was a transfer of ownership that said some service was done at 123.000KM on her and thats about it ( i got her with 203.000KM she now has just over 210.000KM). i dont mind tho, my car is in good running condition, i love going to work now because when i wake up i know i will drive my MAXI and enjoy the commute to work. i take it easy and replace or fix one thing at a time, today (saturday) i replaced my plugs for example.

 

The worst place to take you car is, as said previously, a chain store.

To understand why, think about marketing. Chain stores advertise, so of course they're going to get business, whether or not they do a good job (or any job, for that matter).

On the other hand, think about a small, local family owned store. The only way they get business is from recommendations. So, they're going to do a good job in the hopes that you recommend them.