long trip coming up...

[Paul56]

The trip: Rouyn-Noranda, QC to San Antonio, TX... about 2000 miles.

The vehicle: 2001 Dodge Neon with about 120,000 miles.

The maintenance: Over the past 2 years just about everything on this vehicle has been looked at twice and any maintenance required was done.

What I am debating right now is this...

I purchased new Mopar O2 sensors about a year ago with plans to get them installed, but there was no urgency as the vehicle is operating great with good MPH and no CELs.

Now I'm debating what to do...

-Considering the vehicle is running fine... leave well enough alone and just bring the parts with me in case needed.

-or-

-Replace them now before leaving.

Right now I'm leaning towards leaving well enough alone. Comments folks?

 

[bepperb]

Worst case if the originals fail is a CEL and poor fuel trim for the ride? That's not terrible.

Worst case if you replace them is the same, or an exhaust leak. Not bad either.

The thing I would worry about is stripping the bungs, or damaging something else in the process trying to get a rusted in sensor loose, and rushing for parts to get the car back up and running. So... really I'd be most worried about me, not the car. Which, ironically is the one thing I have complete control over but seems to be the source of many problems in the past.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[Virtuoso]

You have already paid for new O2's - you might as well get your money's worth out of them, and get them in the car.

 

[Spykem4e]

Yeah, like Virtuoso said, you already paid for them than get the money out of it!

But if your not sure if you can do this properly, leave the car like it is for the moment and after the trip, change the sensors.

BTW, how is the weather in Rouyn-Noranda? I'm leaving sunday for Rouyn for business.

 

[Eddie]

If it is running good, I'd leave it alone.

 

[Paul56]

In terms of the O2 sensors I think I will leave well enough alone and not replace them. But, I will bring the new ones with me just in case they need replacing along the way. If they need replacing well at least I will have the parts.

It is in the shop for an alignment today. The alignment guy told me the passenger side wheel bearing needs replacement... after having been replaced last summer. Defective bearing I suppose.

That, and apparently the rear struts need to be replaced.

Have I mentioned lately cars are such high maintenance money pits?