Long trip prep? ('04 XC)

[abscate]

A spare ignition coil and spark plug.

Dont try to run your tank down to 50 miles range, since the one way trip is 600 miles, stop every 200 miles / 3 hours and fill up. Good for your body too.

[Rattnalle]

If the trip computer shows you still have range you've stopped too early

Regarding spare parts. My reasoning is that whatever breaks it won't be the parts I've brought so I don't bother bringing any apart from a few spare bulbs since those do break every once in a while.

[oragex]

In case you want to look at the fuel gauge in the future, this is what I did to mine, ever since has been perfect - in fact, I sometimes drive the car into the empty position well after the light comes on - this is how confident I am now on the accuracy. I cleaned the potentiometer contacts and also I bent open a little the U section of the long metal bar because it wasn't moving that freely (I describe this more in the video comments). Mind you, this is the metal fuel tank of a non turbo 2003. I think there are other configurations/locations for the fuel level sender unit which will differ (plastic tanks also need a tool to access the sender unit) www.youtube.com/watch?v=-egNDgTdUYE

[850 LPT]

All good suggestions, although I wouldn't worry to much about the front suspension issues. Things aren't likely to just fall apart on you However keeping the ATF fresh is super important , as is fresh engine oil.

All our cars have a basic Harbor Freight tool kit along with an emergency kit ,a tire inflator and a 30 inch breaker bar with a 19mm socket.
I also make sure there are spare 10amp fuses in the cars in case the one for the power outlet blows. This happened to me once when I used a tire inflator.

The tire inflator came in handy the other day. My older daughter is driving the 850 right now which developed a very slow leak in the front driver side tire. This gave me a chance to have her practice using it. If you develop a slow leak from picking up a screw or nail, this can save the day. Also, you don't have to worry about checking the pressure in your spare tire before you leave.

I have never had to use anything out of the emergency kits, but you just never know. I have used the breaker bars multiple times, and I wouldn't go anywhere without one.

This is what I have bought before and I can recommend these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078N ... UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012 ... UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EP ... UTF8&psc=1


Just like you, I also have my own toolbox with me all the time. This has all the stuff in it to do more serious diagnosing and repairs. Plus, if I ever pass a junk jard and feel the urge, I'm prepared

Food for thought.

Have a safe trip and enjoy and let us know how it went.

Dirk

[abscate]

I put My expired boating flares in my cars for roadside lightup. Technically it’s a violation but I put them in the road, at least 100 meters behind me. I’ll gladly take a citation over getting killed by an unaware driver

[BlackBart]

So much nervous over here boss. And it's not an emergency trip, but it came up pretty recently so I haven't planned ahead. And now FCP likely can't get suspension bolts to me on Saturday, and Monday's a holiday.....

So, maybe some looseness and a clunk now and then isn't worth rushing the control arms. It's straight down an interstate, no rough roads, no real twisties. I'll lift it up Sat AM and pry on some things, see what the condition is. The only real critical new bolts are the axle to hub. I've re-used caliper bolts many times. Getting those ball joints back in sounds like it might be a roadblock.

It doesn't seem to have any serious electrical quirks, but then they pop up with no warning (maybe I'm reading MVS too much!)

As far as range, my trip computer doesn't know how much fuel is left because of the float issue, so I'll go by miles. I agree with abscate - take breaks, fuel up at intervals.

A car full of parts usually doesn't help you, I've found. A few critical spares would be smart.

Is the regulator not internal on this alternator? Someone mentioned replacing it pre-emptively. My charging seems good, new battery.

[BlackBart]

My sender worked fine before I replaced the fuel pump, so I clearly got a hose hung up on the sender somehow.

[abscate]

600 miles for the average driver is about two+ weeks of commute to work plus weekends

If you don't think about carrying anything extra for your car every two weeks, no reason to fret - unless you have a guitar.

My T5 is the only one in my fleet that a 1000 miles trip would make me double check the oil and have one liter of synthetic in the back.

[BlackBart]

I worry too much, maybe because of that Audi engine blowing up literally in the middle of nowhere. Haven't had this car long enough to know what's "normal" and what's off. My wife drives it short trips to work. We've put 5000 miles on it in three years.

We drove the 850 everywhere - Seattle, Denver, Canada, camping, pulling a boat. It never quit once - transmission got hot on a steep pass once and we pulled over for 10 minutes. Vac leak caused it to stumble and I limped it home once.

[Rattnalle]

Related question: When is it a long trip? 1000 miles round trip is a bit but is it a long bit?

I don't even stop to consider when I go on a 600 km round trip. 1800 km takes a bit of prep but really only the luggage that a week long downhill mountain biking trip (why I even own a car to begin with) with no way of going home for spares entails the car just gets filled up and the oil level checked.

3-4000 km round trip I bring along an extra bottle of oil. Not that I've needed it so far but better safe than sorry.