tune up my legacy

[josh_90_leg]

so i have 90 legacy, 250k on her, all stock except it has exhaust. i need to give her a tune up, i asked one shop how much that would run me and they said about $250ish. is that about how much it should really cost? what ALL do they do? im not very car smart but i can learn rather quickly, is this something i could do myself? save me some dough...any help or advice would help

[subydaddy]

Probably filters, spark plugs, maybe fluids too. All things your can do on your own.

It could use a timing belt change with those miles if it hasn't had one yet, I doubt that's in with their tune up based on their price.

Is yours a turbo? Auto?

[josh_90_leg]

alright, would it just be the air filter or fuel filter too?
and no its not a turbo, but is a 5spd

would changing out the wires be an easy change?

[subydaddy]

Plugs, air filter, fuel filter, engine oil/filter, and transmission and rear diff. fluid changes, are all pretty straight forward and what I'd recommend doing. Wires are super easy if you want to change those, just make sure you push till they "click" onto the spark plugs.

If you want to change the timing belt do some research, it's not really tough but if you don't feel comfortable doing it just take it to a shop. It's a non-interference engine so if you don't get the timing marks perfect the first time it's not a big deal.

How's it running at the moment?

[josh_90_leg]

thanks, and it idles rough, around 500rpm, shakes the whole car and sounds pretty rough. if i slightly touch the gas making it idle around 800 it makes it way better, just little shaking....other then that it runs pretty good, doesnt have the power it did when i first got her about 2 years ago tho...

[subydaddy]

Spark plugs could be the problem, as well as the Air Intake Control Valve. Might benifit from spraying some cleaner through it as well as the MAF.

I'd work on getting the idle fixed first. Make sure you don't put a lot of money into tuning up the car when it's something major like the headgaskets. I'm sure someone else will jump in with more knowledge than me to help you with the idle.

In the meantime picking up a Chilton's or Haines manual could really help you out.

[josh_90_leg]

yea i dont want to put much into it, could fuel injectors be a problem? or would that trigger my check engine light?
any preference on spark plugs? and would just a performance air filter give me a few hp back into her?

[subydaddy]

Everyone likes NGK spark plugs and I'd have to agree with them.

I'd say not to waste your time with a performance drop in filter. A stock one is fine.

You could run some injector cleaner through your fuel system (bk44 or whatevery it's called is good stuff). I don't think dirty injectors will throw a cel unless it gets to the point it's causing miss fires.

While you're chaning your spark plugs you should check your compression, I bought a tester a few years ago for about $40, really easy to do on your own.

[Legacy777]

Typically a "tune up" is oil & filter change, air filter, spark plugs & spark plug wires. Some include a fuel filter change, but it's not as common. Changing the PCV valve is also a good recommendation, and is cheap.

If you're having idling issues and low on power, I'd start with the spark plugs & wires. Get NGK copper V-power plugs. If you are due for an oil & filter change, do that as well. The air filter you can remove and inspect to see how it looks. If it's dirty, replace it. If the fuel filter hasn't been changed in a while, it can't hurt to replace it. Running seafoam in the gas tank helps clean the fuel system and injectors.

[josh_90_leg]

thanks for all the help guys! ill be doin that for sure, i just got a oil change so no worries there,