Traveling with high mileage vehicles
- Thread starter tblt44
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High mileage drivers are a bigger worry.
Since the vehicle is well known to you, I wouldn't worry about it.
Maybe take a basic tool kit and a code reader.
I would not bother with taking spare parts along for a very common vehicle for which parts, if needed, are readily available everywhere.
My guess is that you'll have no problems beyond the dent the fuel consumption will put in your wallet.
Maybe take a basic tool kit and a code reader.
I would not bother with taking spare parts along for a very common vehicle for which parts, if needed, are readily available everywhere.
My guess is that you'll have no problems beyond the dent the fuel consumption will put in your wallet.
My back feels like it's way past warranty.
I agree you're worrying too much. If you keep it well maintained, send it.
Shake the front wheel bearings beforehand if it makes you feel better. On a solid axle rear, not much you can do -- they're either noisy, or they're not.
If it's an NP261/3, make sure it hasn't cooked off its ATF. It's probably a 246, though. Do a visual for pump rub, that's all you can do.
As stated, the things you think to check aren't what will screw you anyway.
Shake the front wheel bearings beforehand if it makes you feel better. On a solid axle rear, not much you can do -- they're either noisy, or they're not.
If it's an NP261/3, make sure it hasn't cooked off its ATF. It's probably a 246, though. Do a visual for pump rub, that's all you can do.
As stated, the things you think to check aren't what will screw you anyway.
I keep and carry the old belts whenever they're replaced. An old belt is better than no belt.
I carry a spare tire having good air pressure (check it) and tire changing tools. And a CAA/AAA card.
If it's been a reliable daily driver, check the oil, fill it up and go.
I carry a spare tire having good air pressure (check it) and tire changing tools. And a CAA/AAA card.
If it's been a reliable daily driver, check the oil, fill it up and go.
I bring a basic set of tools, a battery powered air compressor, and tire plugs. And roadside assistance through my insurance. This summer, I put 5K miles on my 230K mile car in 2 trips - I went through Helen on the first one. Sometimes I get nervous, it's surely near its end of life. But, I end up with the same logic someone else mentioned. I've been driving it almost every day for 20 years, 2 weeks of driving here has to be worse than 2K highway miles in a couple days.
If it's well maintained mileage doesn't really matter. Best thing you can bring is a AAA membership and enjoy the drive.
I will be going to Dallas in a little over a month. My Jetta is coming up on 350K miles. No worries, it is all well traveled roads. When I drive up through the open spaces of Nevada, no matter where I am, someone will come along. In the unlikely case my car does die on me I will rent a car and keep going. My only worry is what I would need to do with the carcass.
Living in the desert mean NEVER go anywhere without water.
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Would like to know more about your Jetta
I always try to do my maintenance preventatively as much as I possibly can so that I don't have this kind of existential worry. I'm constantly working on my vehicle to-do list and reviewing my maintenance logs. I'm probably a little obsessive about it quite honestly. With a wife on the road 5 days a week (metro only) and two college age kids not far away, plus my own transportation needs, we all take the reliability factor seriously. Plus I really don't have any true buds close by to rescue me in a breakdown situation: that's a call to family. I know exactly when I've I last drained and filled the coolant and transmission fluid on every car, done the oil changes, swapped out an alternator, changed the belt, etc. As a result, I haven't used a tow service since I was a teenager and I'm in my mid 50s now. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I'm not big on deferring maintenance. I'm not a trained mechanic by any means, I just read a lot, understand mechanical things, take *a lot* of notes, and watch YouTube, read forums like this, and 30+ years of experience helps a little too.
On top of that, every car has a milk crate in the trunk with wiper fluid, qt of engine oil, qt of transmission fluid, and a roll of blue paper towels, as well as a small tool box with metric wrenches, screwdrivers, various pliers, and other very basic hand tools. Nothing extraordinary; takes up very little space. More often than not, these tools are used to help other people on the road or over at friend's houses.
The only thing that's missing is some knowledge. I've never been able to get my kids interested in car maintenance. I presume that will change over time somehow.
I don't remember having my wife ever a question my parts or fluids purchases/timing in our marriage. She knows I just take care of stuff and she doesn't have to worry about it. Plus I just hate getting financially raped by shops like Midas or Car-X when I'm on a trip. 200% markup on parts plus almost $200 an hour labor. No thank you! Few things piss me off more.
All of my cars are either 1,000 mile road trip worthy all the time...or...they get parked until they are roadworthy, sold, or donated.
If all this prep work fails, I've got a cell phone.
On top of that, every car has a milk crate in the trunk with wiper fluid, qt of engine oil, qt of transmission fluid, and a roll of blue paper towels, as well as a small tool box with metric wrenches, screwdrivers, various pliers, and other very basic hand tools. Nothing extraordinary; takes up very little space. More often than not, these tools are used to help other people on the road or over at friend's houses.
The only thing that's missing is some knowledge. I've never been able to get my kids interested in car maintenance. I presume that will change over time somehow.
I don't remember having my wife ever a question my parts or fluids purchases/timing in our marriage. She knows I just take care of stuff and she doesn't have to worry about it. Plus I just hate getting financially raped by shops like Midas or Car-X when I'm on a trip. 200% markup on parts plus almost $200 an hour labor. No thank you! Few things piss me off more.
All of my cars are either 1,000 mile road trip worthy all the time...or...they get parked until they are roadworthy, sold, or donated.
If all this prep work fails, I've got a cell phone.
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Mileage wears vehicles out, but does not usually result in sudden break downs.
The only sudden failure I have ever suffered in a high mileage vehicle is am automatic transmission in an Audi.
If its burning oil, leaking fluids, missing in some cylinders, making weird sounds, leave it home. But if it is running fine, why not?
The only sudden failure I have ever suffered in a high mileage vehicle is am automatic transmission in an Audi.
If its burning oil, leaking fluids, missing in some cylinders, making weird sounds, leave it home. But if it is running fine, why not?
So true.
I had a close call on I80 in Western Nebraska, when my fuel level started reading significantly higher. With a good measure of caution, I trusted the lower fuel level measurement, and used this to decide when to fill up. After getting home, I ran out of gas, with the fuel gage reporting over 150 mile range.
The fuel pump had tipped over in the tank, causing the sensor to read artificially high.
This could have been a much bigger deal, if the care quit running in The Middle of Nowhere, Nebraska.
Why? Was the new belt suspect? Did you install it incorrectly?
In all my years of driving, I have only lost a belt once. And that was my fault, for not replacing it when it was due, and before a long road trip. And it was a v-belt. Today's serpentine belts are far superior in reliability, to the old v-belt.
By myself? I don't worry much, just give it a once over. With family on a vacation, I just rent a car. I don't want to hear about it if we get delayed for hours.
You won't have a cell signal in the middle of no where Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Nevada.
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