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Parts and Tools to have on Long Trips ? [includes my current list]
Topic Started: Jan 23 2014, 06:56 PM (1,234 Views)
metrologic
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Hi - doing 1000 mile drives between California and Washington State - up and down the i5.

EVENTUALLY ... I bet there'll be some breakdown ... a tow to somewhere and me doing the repair, OR needing help to do the repair while in the town i get towed to somewhere in California, Oregon or Washington state.

1989 LSI - I love this car astronomically more than any vehicle EVER.
The engine seems to love highway driving way more than city.

Currently collecting tools and spare parts.

Could I get some additions and guru tips on what to have handy? TOOLS and PARTS that could be needed?


TOOLS I HAVE SO FAR
- aluminum floor jack
- pair of aluminum jack stands
- full factory service manual
- metric combination wrenches: 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19
- metric socket set: 4mm-15mm


TOOLS NEEDED:
- 30mm socket 1/2 inch
- 1/2 inch torque wrench
-


PARTS I'm thinking to FIND and travel with at all times during long drives

- water pump
- fuel pump
- ignition coil
- ignition distributor?

- front and rear bearing sets
- starter
- alternator
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truckjohn


It's not really that much of a drive... like about 1.5 weeks worth of work to me.... It's not breaking down that much....

I think I would fix whatever you *KNOW* needs replacing that's reasonable ahead of time...

I think I would take...
Parts -
Alternator belt
Timing belt
Fuses
1 roll Duct tape
1 roll electrical tape
1 can Fix-a flat

Tools...
1 small toolbox with:
Screwdrivers - Phillips and regular
Combination wrenches - 8, 10, 12, 14, 17 mm
3/8" drive socket wrench with - 8, 10, 12, 14, 17mm
1 big "Prying" screwdriver
1 pair vice grips
1 pair needle nose pliers
1 pair channel loc pliers
Tire plug kit
Box knife

Oil - if your car consumes it.
Coolant - only if your car consumes it...

That would be my list....
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Since1990
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Truckjohn's list won't take up too much room, but you will rarely need tools on the road. Here's one you might use though: a volt/ohm meter.

Most mechanical issues will give you warning before they go. A hum. A squeal. A knock. You might notice it for days or weeks before it gives. You'll probably have opportunity to fix it before it goes critical (fixing what's reasonable, as truckjohn said, perhaps not that far ahead of time).

By contrast, electrical works until it doesn't. Without a meter, you're essentially blind when something electrical fails.

Smaller screw drivers will help open the wire harness connectors so you can trace out faults. A small coil of wire can be used as a jumper for testing/emergency bypass work.

In my own car travels - from Alaska down through Canada to the lower 48 and back again (last summer we went to Georgia) - I carry just a few tools, including my meter.
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Since1990
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Incidentally, would trust either of my Metros (a 92 and a 98) to drive the Alcan tomorrow, although the 98 has a marginal alternator belt. I did take a 96 Metro to Illinois and back (with our luggage strapped over the glass on the back hatch), but with my family and a travel trailer to haul I'm compelled to use our Corolla (it's made two trips south so far with the trailer in tow and absolutely no troubles other than a flat tire on the trailer and a refrigerator therein).
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Metromightymouse
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Spark plug socket
Strap wrench
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billpinsc
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How about a small electrical kit with a set of crimpers ,some wire and various connecters. You never know. My lights went out about 1 hour from home the other night in the middle of nowhere. luckily a guy gave me some wire, Tape and a pair of pliers. I was able to rig it up to get home.
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davegran
Old Fart w/Wrenches

Don't forget some shop towels and a reliable flashlight.... B-)
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metrologic
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wOOhOO!

MUCH awesomeness - guess I'll be looking into my message 'notification' setting pronto - just found these ... and now to READ.

biGGestTNX!
Edited by metrologic, Jan 24 2014, 01:27 PM.
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Metromightymouse
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metrologic
Jan 24 2014, 01:25 PM
wOOhOO!

MUCH awesomeness - guess I'll be looking into my message 'notification' setting pronto - just found these ... and now to READ.

biGGestTNX!
No such beast, unfortunately. :shake :smackface
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truckjohn


So... You saw my list above....
I missed a Flashlight... That is CRITICAL..... A Volt/Ohm meter is also a reasonable idea too... but I don't KEEP one in my car at all times... I own one - and keep it at the house.... Same for FSM.

Here's my comments about your list....
First... Your list of parts is about $1,000 worth of parts to carry along with you JUST In Case.... That's a PILE of money to just keep around in your trunk for stuff you may never need to replace....

Second... Stuff degrades in storage... It gets Rusty... Gets water in it... Gets dropped, dented, cracked, LOST... Whatever... Let the Auto parts store deal with the Cost of Storage.... How happy would you be when you find the NEW $150.00 Alternator you have been STORING for 3 years has rusty bearings and pulley because it was sitting in a wet spot..... How about if that $150.00 Fuel pump ends up full of spiders after 4 years in the back of a car.... How about if you throw away an Ignition coil by mistake because it gets mixed up in Trash on a trash run?

1. Wheel bearings, Water pump, Alternator, Starter... These typically give you LOTS Of notice before they start going.... but they also last a LONG time.... If they are squealing, leaking, intermittent, or making noise - replace them ahead of time.... Don't bother taking them with you to "Fix" when they FINALLY crap out all the way....

2. Fuel pump, Distributor, Ignition coil - these hardly EVER fail... and when they do - they don't fail all at once.. typically a long degradation over time... My 1994 still has all these Original.... NO reason to carry these along with you "Just in case"...

Tools/stuff....
Big jack... Skip. - your car already comes with one in the trunk... That one will work just fine if you need to do a repair in a parking lot.
Torque wrench - leave it at home.
30 mm socket... Leave at home... If you need to replace wheel bearings - do it at home BEFORE you go...
Wrenches... Nothing on a Geo takes a 7, 11, 13, or 19 mm wrench or socket so far as I know... Why take them? Let your friend use HIS OWN wrenches to fix his METRIC mailbox....

Thanks
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metrologic
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Happy Sunday everyone - Great to be sittin' in again.

truckjohn
 
Nothing on a Geo takes a 7, 11, 13, or 19 mm wrench or socket so far as I know... Combination wrenches - 8, 10, 12, 14, 17 mm 3/8" drive socket wrench with - 8, 10, 12, 14, 17mm ||| It's not really that much of a drive... like about 1.5 weeks worth of work to me.... ||| I think I would fix whatever you *KNOW* needs replacing that's reasonable ahead of time...


Tons of hugely helpful there. Particularly interested in all possible tools needed for just about everything Geo-wise, so knowing what's NOT ever gonna get used way interesting! ||| and over 2000 miles driving a month - whoa! I do barely any unless it's, 'the long one'. ||| Fixing what I know needs replacing makes me think rear bearings and fuel pump. I'm gonna create another post soon as I can't figure yet if I've got those two diagnosing of the sounds right, yet. Fuel pump could be normal and bearing spin fine so dunno. will post elsewhere, appropriately, hopefully.

Since1990
 
In my own car travels - from Alaska down through Canada to the lower 48 and back again ...
I believe you may have one or more kindred spirits here. I get a big confidence boost reading about long trips as ever since signing up and reading here about the Alaska to South and back trips i've remembered them whenever I think of big drives. Often! Geo long trips inspiration.


Metromightymouse
 
"No such beast, unfortunately." :shake :smackface ||| -- and separate mention of tool >> Strap wrench


"Strap wrench" Cool - didn't know the name nor the variety. ||| yeah, over the years I've gotten better at hesitating before posting too-quick and filler comments. Funny and a great remind. hehe tnx.

billpinsc
 
How about a small electrical kit with a set of crimpers ,some wire and various connecters.
oh yeah - great. not gonna miss the connectors stuff - save a lot of time and agra I bet.


davegran
 
... and a reliable flashlight....
oooh-yeaaah! - and Harbor Freight gives those little black ones away with a lot of purchases - figure I'll need to rig one up to a headband somehow.






Edited by metrologic, Jan 26 2014, 06:49 PM.
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Metromightymouse
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Lots of people log on here and wonder where that setting is, It seems so basic. This is a predone forum format and they don't offer any notifications. Kind of annoying when you have a specific thread that you have to follow and would like to respond to as soon as someone posts (say a sales thread).
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metrologic
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ooooohhh! thanks. No Notifications! So, your, "No such beast, unfortunately.", meant that! - i get it now - whoa - that's a first in my experience. Seems totally counter-productive though perhaps there's some reason - server usage? - dunno - figure that should be changed.
Edited by metrologic, Jan 27 2014, 04:16 PM.
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aartod


No flashlight, get yourself a decent led headlamp... They are the best for automotive work, or darn near anything else! I use mine daily!
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davegran
Old Fart w/Wrenches

aartod
Jan 28 2014, 12:10 AM
No flashlight, get yourself a decent led headlamp... They are the best for automotive work, or darn near anything else! I use mine daily!
Can you put it in your pocket for every day carry? I have a single AA cell LED flashlight that disappears in my pocket yet can illuminate everything I need to see. If I need both hands, I hold it in my mouth....

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