
Your car has always taken you where you needed to go; through long journeys and fun adventures, you’ve accumulated many miles and many memories. However, just like you, your car can go through a lot of changes over the years, so it’s important to keep an eye on how it functions. If you’re noticing some unusual differences in how your car works, it might be time to get a tune-up. Our Avondale area Volkswagen dealership has years of experience with different car maintenance services to preserve the integrity of your ride. Our team offers some tips to know when it’s time to come in for a tune-up.
Getting Fewer Miles Out of a Gallon of Gas
It’s important to notice if you’re getting fewer gas miles than you once did out of a gallon of gas, as this can indicate that you may need to refresh different car parts. Our Avondale area team would be happy to pair drivers with the appropriate Volkswagen service and parts specials to keep both wallets and cars happy. Fuel economy can also be affected by cold weather, but we can help you distinguish what you need.
A Misfiring Engine
This happens when spark plugs ignite at the wrong time, which can be caused by worn or fouled spark plugs. Faulty spark plugs can lead to low fuel economy, hard starting, and sluggish acceleration. However, most spark plugs last 100,000 miles or more, so this might not be the cause.
A Dirty or Clogged Engine Air Filter
This is more likely to minimize acceleration than fuel economy. Since air filters become clogged slowly, you might not notice any changes until your car is accelerating very slowly.
An Illuminated Check Engine Light
This signals that something is wrong in the emissions control system, but it could also affect fuel economy or engine performance, so be sure to visit our dealership to get it checked out.
An Old Oxygen Sensor (90,000 miles or more)
A faulty oxygen sensor fails to signal the engine computer how to set the air-fuel mixture, which can reduce fuel economy. Engine performance can also be affected by valves that don’t seat properly or by restrictions in the exhaust system.

Schedule a Service Appointment Near Avondale
To make sure your car is running the way it should, visit Lunde Peoria Volkswagen and schedule a service appointment today! It’s better to consult our trained mechanics than it is to try to diagnose what the car needs yourself.
