Drive-ability is the new term to replace tune up. Car and truck engines are so advanced now that the term tune up is too vague and does not apply as it did 15 years ago. There are so many more reasons now that a car can drive poorly, it was an easy change in terminology for most of us.

The term tune up usually means that the spark plugs, points and condenser (it has to be 30 years old though to have points), distributor cap, plug wires and assorted filters were changed. The timing is then adjusted and the carburetor is tuning in to idle smooth.

Newer cars have progressively stopped using many of the parts we still refer to when we talk “tune up”. We use the word drive-ability because many cars don’t have distributors now, they may have separate coils for every cylinder. The computer controls timing so there is no need to do anything more than check to make sure the timing is working properly, or replace the bad part. Fuel injectors cause drive-ability problems and fuel system problems are notorious now. Computers can drive a mechanic crazy sometimes. Everything is computer controlled now, in most of the modern cars there is probably more than one computer, thus causing more difficulty in diagnosing problems.

The point is that modern cars are dramatically more technologically advanced, Diagnosing the problem is the first and most important thing to be done. If the engine light is on and you have a hand held code reader it is easy to find out what code you are dealing with. It may not be so easy to fix though.

I think you get the point. Everything nowadays is computerized and complicated. GotEngines.com Blog is one way to demystify many unknown automotive issues for you. Feel free to comment or ask a question. It is my pleasure to serve you.