How much would you pay a shop to do a tune up?

[oregonmon]

I'm not mechanically inclined, which is a little embarrasing to say when seeing how many people do all their own work. BUT, I'm letting the local german specialist look over a few things and let me know how much a tune up and valve adjustment is. I'm trying to resolve a rough idle and it maybe running a little rich.
It might be time for a fuel filter too?
So anyway what a good price. He has told me his hourly rate is $65 which seems pretty good.

[EarlyPorsche]

I would say between 300 and 400 and you are paying a fair rate. Thats what I usually pay for a valve adjustment and oil change. I bring my own oil and he buys the filter, gaskets, and plugs.

[berettafan]

i do my own oil changes and valve adjustments (and carb rebuilds and anything else that comes up if i can handle it) but i do think it's not a bad idea to have a GOOD wrench check the car out every so often and give you a good baseline on how the car SHOULD be running.

[oregonmon]

Good point. I'm sure I could change my own oil and change plugs/wires myself as I have on other cars but I just got the car and I'm not ready to start tinkering just yet.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

What's the car? Makes a big difference whether it's an early 911 or a 996...

[the]

And also what is exactly included in the "tune up," that can mean a lot of different things to different people.

[caliber60]

At least $500 in L.A. for valve adjustment and oil change on my '87 911.

[TWork]

Agree that $300-400 is reasonable for valves, oil and plugs.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

On a 996 Turbo??? We still haven't found out what car he's talking about.

[boxster03]

tune up could mean a lot of things but I would guess new plugs, air cleaner, fuel filter, valve adj., plug wires, rotor, points, condinser, valve adj., total lubrication including gear box and doors and all the cables, clutch adj., and top off of all fluids, tire pressure check, car wash, tire rotation, brake fluid change, wiper blade change and finally a massage by the friendly receptionist. priceless

[oregonmon]

Sorry ya'll. It's a 79 911SC

[oregonmon]

I guess if anyone wants to throw oil changes into the "tune up" which I'll probably have him do too, please give prices.

[efhughes3]

IMO, there's no time like now to jump into your own work. A "tune-up" is pretty simple and straight forward. With all of the info available here, you've got tons of support. If you got stuck with a bad timing chain, or something major right out of the box, then you may be over your head. But a tune-up is an easy chore, and allows you to work your way around the engine compartment and learn more about these cars, and how straight forward they really are.

I was intimidated about working on a Porsche at first, and I'm certainly no naturally born mechanic. But, I've rebuilt my entire suspension, upgraded brakes, dropped the engine for a clutch and some oil leaks and other things.

Now, I've got a sick engine, and will be doing my own rebuild. It's amazing how I've progressed in 5 years.

Just something to think about....

[oregonmon]

Thanks Ed. Now I know who I'm calling at 2am saying "hey I was just changing out my plugs and wires for my drive tommorrow and...."

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

There is much to be said, however, for what Oregonman in a sense proposed in his initial post: have a professional establish a baseline of 911 excellence, presumably, so that you can take it from there. An enthusiastic but inexperienced DIYer can spend a whole lot of time flailing around whacking on carburetors that are EPA Superfund sites, cam-to-valve gaps big enough to stick a nail file through, and timing so far off that the pistons are fighting their way up the compression stroke.

Every experiment needs a baseline.

[oregonmon]

Yeah, yeah what Steve said!!

[efhughes3]

Sure, the baseline is nice. But there's nothing wrong with changing plugs, oil, air and fuel filters, etc on your own labor. Again, you find your way around the engine. Who knows, it may run correctly when you're done?

If not, THEN take it to a mechanic to troubleshoot and repair. Why pay for them to do the simple stuff, that would actually help you get familiar with your baby?

PS- My phones are off at 2 am!!

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Hey, the guy's got a rough idle and is running a little rich. Plugs, oil and filters ain't gonna fix it.

[efhughes3]

Well, I'm not hear to argue: read what I said....get the easy stuff out of the way on the personal dime, then take it to repair.

[efhughes3]

BTW, "rich" could also mean poor combustion due to ignition not being 100%. Who knows? A baseline includes taking some of the variables out, I'd consider a tune-up the pre-requisite to making sure it is running as it should be.