general maintenance question...

[jdhermit]

Sorry, not sure if there's a better forum or not for this.
I've never done much of my own car repair. I have a '95 V6, 4WD with 160k on it.
I'd kind of prefer not to have to buy a new car, but the other day the fuel pump crapped out. Had it towed to dealer, took a couple days for them to get to it.
My general question, and excuse if it is naive or ignorant...
What can I do to be "relatively" sure that my truck won't breakdown on me? Whether or not I learn to do it myself or have someone do it...I realize that changing out all the fluid's, battery, plugs and wires, etc will help to some degree...
But am I just destined to the be at the mercy of the used car gods? I just hate the inconvenience of having a dead car. Is it too much to ask to have "most" of the things tested that would leave me stranded?
I'm not looking for 100% guarantee, just have a better feeling that it won't.

(and I'm not a latte drinking yuppie who doesn't want to get his hands dirty, I'll learn to do the work if I can, I've just never had the time to be able to learn it, always been doing something else, and found it easier to bring it in to a mechanic...
NO offense to latte drinking yuppie's!)

asking too much?

thanks in advance...
jd

 

[floydr007]

Fluids are a good start. This especially holds true for the tranny if it hasnt been done recently (you need to flush the tranny). I dont know if your engine or tranny are original, but assuming they are, 160k miles is definitely a lot (esp on the tranny). Go on and replace the transfer case fluid, differential fluid, brake fluid, engine oil, etc. as well. Also, something to look into is whether the timing chains and tensioner have been replaced before. Good luck, and I hope things keep running.

 

[gerald booth]

I used to go to AAA to have my ford truck checked bumper to bumper and especially
the engine compression, belts, timing, plugs, ect and get a report on what maintenance and repairs were going to be necessary. AAA does not do any work so
their opinion is all you are paying for. Then i would decide what I would do according
to my budget and could compare prices with different repair shops. I usually try the independent mechanics as I find the dealerships and chain repair shops too expensive.
although they are usually good mechanics too. Good Luck.
Gerald Booth

 

[skoal_mint]

just start step by step..when you coming home from work of what ever, stop by a auto store and buy little stuff, like a battery,oil,brakes whatever you think you are able to do your self..

when you have nothing to do at night go in the garage and change the parts or fluids...mark down the date you did it and what you did then start another thing then you got time...when you really bord open the hood and look around at wires for a bad connection and clean them and put a non-conductive gel in it..check ur air filter..

go under the truck and check you u joints and check ball joints and grease them if not bad..

but like i said, just start one thing at a time replacing or inspecting

 

[spta97]

I used to go to AAA to have my ford truck checked bumper to bumper and especially
the engine compression, belts, timing, plugs, ect and get a report on what maintenance and repairs were going to be necessary. AAA does not do any work so
their opinion is all you are paying for. Then i would decide what I would do according
to my budget and could compare prices with different repair shops. I usually try the independent mechanics as I find the dealerships and chain repair shops too expensive.
although they are usually good mechanics too. Good Luck.
Gerald Booth

Is this service offered in NY? I'm a AAA member but all I have heard of is that they certify certian shops as AAA and will give a longer warantee on the work. I would love for someone competent to check out my truck and advise me as to why my gas mileage is so horrible.

 

[snocross1985]

Is this service offered in NY? I'm a AAA member but all I have heard of is that they certify certian shops as AAA and will give a longer warantee on the work. I would love for someone competent to check out my truck and advise me as to why my gas mileage is so horrible.

Your poor gas mileage could be attributed to the fact that you drive a 5000lb sled with an AWD V8....

 

[BradE.]

Fluids are a good start. This especially holds true for the tranny if it hasnt been done recently (you need to flush the tranny). I dont know if your engine or tranny are original, but assuming they are, 160k miles is definitely a lot (esp on the tranny). Go on and replace the transfer case fluid, differential fluid, brake fluid, engine oil, etc. as well. Also, something to look into is whether the timing chains and tensioner have been replaced before. Good luck, and I hope things keep running.

95's had the OHV's, the chain tensioner was a SOHC problem.

If he has 160k miles on that tranny I wouldn't be power flushing it with a machine either, dislodging stuff after that long can plug the filter and cause it to fry. With that many miles he'd be better off dropping the pan and doing a filter change, add 5 quarts or so, then repeat in 10k miles.

 

[jdhermit]

Heh...still not getting a good feeling that I should keep the truck. Maintenance is fine, but this thing has averaged me $100 per month since I bought it in maintenance. (purchased it 2 years ago w/ 150k on it).
I DO know the original owner did regular maint on it...and that she had the trans replaced at about 110k (she mucked it up in 4WD). But i don't know what has been done to the tranny since then to maintain.

oh well, thanx for replies, my conclusion is that i probably can't have any kind of testing done that will tell me "your x.. is about to go, your zzz is kind of weak, your qqq usually only lasts 50k miles", etc.

jd

 

[spta97]

Your poor gas mileage could be attributed to the fact that you drive a 5000lb sled with an AWD V8....

That seems to be the current diagnosis - but the other sliegh riders are still getting better than me.