What’s the average cost of atone-up? Seems to me I had never paid more than $100 or so. Now all of a sudden I’m being charged $800. The mechanic has been honest and straight forward before and showed an impressive list of items that needed doing. What am I to think?
Tune up is not really a valid term these days. Without seeing the list most of it is probably required service such as coolant and brake fluid exchange. Service on the 1993 could easily be 800.00 so you need to find out what is necessary now and what can be done later .
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Why are you inquiring about a tune-up? Are you experiencing drivability problems, was it recommended, is it due according to some kind of schedule, or another reason?
What exactly was done to this vehicle when you paid less than $100 for a tune-up? Are you going back to the same service facility and getting the $800 estimate?
Perhaps this vehicle has a timing belt and the shop has included that in your “tune-up.” That can be a fairly expensive maintenance item that is necessary (based on mileage/age) or in many cases neglecting that belt replacement can result in very costly engine damage.
Call the place and ask them what you’re asking us.
CSA 
“Tune up” is a lousy term in that doesn’t really mean anything, in that there’s not really a single set of tasks that are done for a “tune-up.” I think “tune-ups” meant more when there were carbureted engines that required periodic adjustment and more frequent spark plug replacement (I only owned one carbureted vehicle and just for a couple of years so I’m pretty ignorant of them).
If you’re trying to figure out pricing, you really need a list of items to be done.
You don’t go far with $800 these days. My mechanic replaced a few rusty brake lines under my car for $1000 because they had to be made from scratch.He quoted me 6 hours labor.
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A routine engine tune-up on my similar vintage Corolla takes me (a diy’er) about 2 hours, and maybe $30 in parts. So if I had that done at a shop, I’d expect to pay in the $200-$300 range. That would include
- replace spark plugs
- replace dizzy rotor and clean contacts inside dizzy cap
- set idle rpm and ignition timing
- check diagnostic system
- replace engine air filter
If there’s more stuff to do – for example replacing spark plug wires and dizzy cap, replacing fuel filter, etc – that would be more expensive of course.
Post your road list and we will help you make sense of it.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
“Tune up” doesn’t mean much anymore. Especially on a '93, that’s likely to need additional work. Fortunately, he gave you an itemized list for us to work with.