What Would Your Road Trip Emergency Fix Kit Look Like?

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R

rick j.

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Jun 27, 2001
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83
Those of you who like to put some miles on your TR, do Power Tour, etc.: what would you put in your trunk to ensure that if she broke down, you could get her moving again?
Not talking AAA card, flashlights etc, but things a somewhat mechanically inclined TR owner can fix minor problems with:

Vacuum hose
Short intercooler/turbo hose connectors
Hose clamps
Radiator hoses/s hoses
Brake master parts
Extra sensors like tps, cam, maf etc
Specialty electronics like cam sensor tool
Specialty tools (along with regular tools/jack/etc)
Chemicals like jb weld for fixing broken nipple on fuel press regulator etc
 
Most of the stuff on your list can be purchased at a parts store but for a long tour, I would keep an extra ignition module and coil pack, one of those cam fix harnesses from Caspers, a couple of empty anti-freeze bottles, long neck funnel and a small tool box with common sockets, screwdrivers, locking pliers, etc. I would for sure have a translator and modern MAF on the car to eliminate that as a possible breakdown. A can of Slime in case you get a nail in a tire.
 
hand tools.
12 volt air compressor
tire plug kit
breaker bar and whatever deep well socket fits the lug nuts- way better than trying to use that stupid stock lug wrench on the side of the road in the rain.
maybe a quart of oil and trans fluid.
 
I can't imagine myself with a trunk full of clutter for the "what if I break down" scenario. All you need is your cell phone to call a towing service. I don't rely on AAA either, too long of a wait for them.


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Yep, a cell phone and a couple quarts of oil. You can take a spare of everything, but that's ridiculous.
 
It you can fit it a spare short block would do!!
 
I carry a good known maf, crank sensor, cam sensor, ecm, ignition module and coil pack, tps, and the diagnostic part of the Buick shop manual that pertains to code 7 engines. I don't carry much in the way of tools, because you can buy tools anywhere, not so much with parts. Also AAA and the cell phone:cool:
 
Nothing. Well, I'd toss in a few extra Dolly Madison doughnuts and orange juice but's that's all.

ks
 
Back in the late 80's and all through the 90's i did a lot of driving in my turbo regals. Which included 2 trips a year from either SC or Fla to Oh and the only part that ever failed on the road was the factory type maf sensors that i had bought from the local parts stores and an o-ring on the fuel press. regulator.
 
its nerve racking but where does it stop. like my brother joked w me don't forget timing chain gasket water pump.. lollol def a metric set of sockets and wrenches a booster pack and i always carry a spare alt… idk why though. extra gas can not if u run out but to burn it when u get pissed lollol
 
psycho6cyl said:
extra gas can not if u run out but to burn it when u get pissed lollol
Click to expand...
That's classic!
I was going from Atlanta to Tucson one time when the digital dash quit in La., busted a tire in West Tx. (it happens) and woke up the next morning after buying a new tire to a bad maf. After an hour of messing with it I tapped gently on the maf and she started and ran. My guru advised not shutting the car off until I got to Tucson, but filling up with gas in El Paso she died at the pumps. After tapping and pleading and praying and swearing for about 3 hours she started back up. Got rolling again and the truckers were screaming down the road and I just fell in with them and made it to Tucson in about 2.5 hours! The guru met me at the Chevron outside of town and while I was filling her with gas he replaced my maf and I drove happily ever after until the next episode:eek::mad::cry::ROFLMAO:
 
All good ideas on what to take however as most of you probably realize no matter how well you may plan if something does go wrong chances are it will involve a part or require a tool that you don't have with you.

Assuming the turbo regal is a 1986-1987 vintage and all original its best to take mostly items that are not readily available at local auto stores. Coil pack and module as mentioned upper radiator hose which is unique ,a good used brake bowl (a knowledgeable mechanic) just to name a few pertinent items.

Years ago I gambled a lot before I got smart and bought a open trailer to haul back the turbo regals I would buy. In those early days I only had one instance that created a problem.

Drove down to Florida met the buyer in a small town Lake Wales, Florida at dinner time. Basically a one traffic lite town. Test drove the 1987 Turbo-T before dinner and paying for the car. Car had no issues. Had dinner bid him the seller goodbye (Had Pete the window rattle guy with me) my car I drove to Florida was a late model black ETC Caddy coupe. Pete wanted to drive the Caddy I said fine..I got in the Buick turned the key and nothing not even a click.

Fortunately Petes mechanical skills exceed my own figured the started was locked up or something. Went in the trunk to remove the jack handle. Banged on the starter car started up....hated to turn it off for the nite but no way could we make it home in one day from Florida Repeated process the next am and then decided every time we got gas or stopped to eat we would simply let the car run and block it in with the Caddy. That idea worked until we got around Washington DC and it was around 2 am in the morning I was getting very tired as was Pete. Pete was behind me in the Caddy and I could see my Caddy starting to sway like he was having trouble staying awake.

Not a trip I wanted to ever repeat.

Truck and trailer after that eliminates all the problems that can go wrong.

Perhaps another worry as far as taking one on a trip is wondering if it wil be there in the morning....


true story!

denniskirban@yahoo.com
 
I carry nothing at all in the way of parts. That is a waste of space.

No matter what you carry in spare parts it will be the one that you aren't carrying that will go bad!!!!

I carry a 120 piece tool kit, phone and cash/credit card, that's it.

Junk food and good music is all that I need for a road trip. Oh yea and a thermos full of coffee that holds a whole pot of coffee.(y)
 
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