Tune-up Recommendations?

[Cephyr13]

My wife's 2005 Corolla has 140k and the engine sometimes vibrates (more here recently) and the gas mileage is a little bit less than it should be. I've never replaced the ignition coils on it. I replace the spark plugs every few years because she doesn't put many miles on the car, so I'm going to replace those most likely even though they probably don't need replacing.

When do you recommend replacing ignition coils?

What brands would you go with and which would you not go with (prices vary greatly on these)?

Any other suggestions for tune-up?

I have a ton of experience fixing my daily driver and race car and other cars, but I rarely have to mess with my wife's Corolla, so I need some input from experienced owners.

Thanks.

 

[FinalGear]

Tune-up time!

Change out the air filter & cabin filter
Change out the water pump, thermostat, pulley-tensioner & serpentine belt
* I use ZEREX Asian Vehicle Antifreeze / Coolant (Coolant WAR is getting out of control ).
Change out the PCV valve & Spark Plugs
* I use NGK or Denso spark plugs, they are a bit costly, but they don't cause my motor to knock or vibrate.
* Make sure make PCV threads are correct if it does not go in smoothly, then it's the wrong one.
Clean your Mass Air Flow Sensor and your battery terminal
* Toyota has one of the worst battery terminal corrosion
Clean out your transmission filter and transmission fluid
* Use Genuine Toyota Transmission Fluid (COSTLY )

because your wife is a part of your TEAM and the V.I,P of the family... you're going to get the BRAKES done too (NOT CHECK OUT) and add NEW TIRES

 

[Cephyr13]

FinalGear,

Thanks for the input. I do most of those things on a regular basis.

I bought new ignition coils and NGKs last week, but I hadn't thought about the PCV or thermostat, though. I'll pick those up today.

The brakes and tires are better than OEM--that's kind of a no-brainer on a car without ABS. I've always been a little bitter at the lack of ABS on the car. Seems absurd to manufacture cars without ABS.

- Brian