Getting ready for a long trip...

[Tim]

Over Thanksgiving I plan to go on an 800 mile trip in my Festy. Driving will range from desert to forest to mountains.

I don't want a breakdown on my trip so I need to know if there is anything specific to watch out for.


Brakes: They don't make any noise, but I was told that the pads and shoes will need replacing within 5,000 miles.

Bearings: Front bearings are new with 10k on them, back ones are probably original but they don't make any noise. Anything I need to watch out for?

Cooling system: The thermostat, brass radiator, and hoses are original with 135k on them, but there are no leaks and the hoses aren't rotten or bulging. The water pump and bypass hose were recently replaced.

Transmission: Was serviced a year ago at the dealer and shifts smoothly. No leaks or weird noises/slipping.

Engine: Has an oil leak somewhere, but that seems to be normal for B3s. I just changed the oil, and it makes no strange noises. I assume the timing belt was changed with the water pump but I am going to check. Has a new accessory drivebelt.

Electrical: I cleaned the grounds and terminals recently. Everything works fine, except for the radiator fan circuit. The alternator is charging and not making strange noises. Starter works great. It was tuned up recently too. The battery is ancient looking but it starts the car fine.


The only problem I can find with the car is the radiator fan. For some reason it is stuck in the "on" position so I just unplugged it for the winter.
I am also wondering about the rear bearings; I don't know how to check those and I have no tools. I assume they are fine because I hear no noise and have had no problems.

I gave the car a thorough inspection and don't see any obvious problems. It doesn't have any odd quirks or noises either.


Am I good to go? Any failure prone parts on the Festiva that might leave me stranded?


Regards,

Tim

[bobstad]

Word To The Wise(!!!)

Don't ever wash your car; the coating of dirt and dust preserves the paint job!

[Sparky]

It sounds like you have covered most all the bases....I'd go ahead and replace that old battery, though....nothing worse than hindsight telling you something you missed! Make sure you have your Festiva Tool Kit with you and you'll be fine.

[Festy46]

Jack the back end up and try to wiggle the wheels. There shouldn't be any play in the bearing adjustment. If they are loose, you should at least pull the outside bearing and look at it. It might be a good idea to take a set of rear bearings, a seal, and some grease with you. They don't cost that much.

[Levitan]

I'd grab a few extra parts for the trip. Timing belt, alternator belt, couple quarts of oil, good spare tire, to name a few. I stole these ideas from Fresh and Packrat. Made alot of sense being out in the middle of nowhere.

[SimonTuffGuy]

You'll be fine... Maybe you should post an idea of where abouts you'll be, incase there is another forum member along the way that could help if you get into a situation.

Enjoy the trip.

[WmWatt]

Check all the fluid levels. Change the oil and filtre and air filtre before you go and again when you get there. Carry extra oil and water. Watch the temperature guage and pull over if the engine starts to overheat to let it cool down. Driving a small car into a headwind all day while trying to keep up with highway traffic can overheat the engine.
If you do have a problem some parts can be hard to find. Head for the junk yards. I had to drive to junk yards in two towns on a one trip to find a replacement for a leaking brake master cyclinder. Took it to a service station to be put it on.

[eurotiva]

It is a festiva carry some oil, duck tape , a hammer ,a screwdriver, and a tow strap, and you will be fine . good luck. Mine has 217k on the clock with all origional everything. I just finished my 2800 mile trip. I spent more on oil than gas!

[FB71]

sounds like you've got the bases covered, Tim. Follow the advice about extra fluids and a spare (if available), and you should be fine.

Headed back to Houston for winter break? I should be in that area around that time, if you'd like to meet up for lunch/dinner.

[jglutz]

Check all the fluid levels. Change the oil and filtre and air filtre before you go and again when you get there. Carry extra oil and water. Watch the temperature guage and pull over if the engine starts to overheat to let it cool down. Driving a small car into a headwind all day while trying to keep up with highway traffic can overheat the engine.
If you do have a problem some parts can be hard to find. Head for the junk yards. I had to drive to junk yards in two towns on a one trip to find a replacement for a leaking brake master cyclinder. Took it to a service station to be put it on.

Well said.....Check the belts and hoses also.

[elcamino1]

I would probably repack rear bearings,looks like you have everything else covered.
If you've never had the spare out of the car take it out and check it some times valve stems will dry rot and leak.

[skimsucka]

hes got a little trip ahead of him im planing on drivin to san clemente california in late december early january currently going over everything

[bobstad]

I always carry the best Vice-Grips, Crescent Wrench and Screwdriver I can afford.

Invaluable advice generally. Make sure and have the sizes of each most suitable.

[Tim]

Fixed the radiator fan and checked out the rear bearings today. The car looks good and I feel confident that it will perform well on the trip.

My final question is about a noise the engine is making at idle. I can best describe it as the sound of a loose bolt rattling. It's coming from inside the head and will go away when I rev the engine.

Is this anything to be concerned about? The car has mechanical lifters and I wonder if they are out of adjustment.

edit: did a little searching around here... someone said that the 89 EFI autos also got hydraulic lifters. I'm confused now.


-Tim

[Tim]

I just wanted to follow up....

I made the 750 mile round trip without a single problem. The car didn't skip a beat, and I got a consistent 36 mpg the entire time.

Thanks to all who gave me advice. I packed all kinds of spare parts, and checked things that I would have otherwise overlooked.


Regards,

Tim