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Hi guys, I am taking the Contour from upstate New York to Los Angeles in a few weeks and I was wondering if anyone had any tips for some prep-work I should be putting into the car in order to make the trip safer for it. Here is what I already plan to do:
-Early Oil Change, Mobil 1
-Flush Coolant
-Rotate Tires (they're due)
-Get thermostat fixed (Hardly ever works)
-New Brakes (bad response, thumping when braking on the highway)
It is a 96 Zetec with a CTA intake. It's stock otherwise, and the spark plugs, wires, fuel filter are all under 10 months old.
Thanks for any advice you can give me.
-Dylan
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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That sounds good. Happy trails.
Are you driving through or are you going to stop and see thinks......Custer's Last Stand , The Trail of the Anisazi , Colorado Gold fields - with the highest roadway in the world.
2012 Lotus Evora
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95 Mystique MTX - GONE 395,000 Kms
--------- Both Zetecs
'97 Contour Mtx - stock - GONE
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 85
CEG\'er
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OP
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Im kinda gonna drive straight through unfortuantely because I am cramped for time; I am doing a 6 week internship. Although, I will be stopping at Yellowstone.  On the way back I plan to make it more worthwhile. Thanks for the help! -Dylan
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 92
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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Posts: 92 |
Two words for you: Fuzz Buster!
There are too many long stretches of open road of nothing between NY and LA that screems for pedal to the metal.
'95 Mystique ATX I4 2.0 134,000mi
'96 Contour MTX I4 2.0 36,000mi
My Rides
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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i actually might go on a roadtrip with my friends to cali this summer too!  have you changed your tranny fluid recently too?
1998 T-Red CSVT 3.0L
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,117
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Originally posted by Dylan:
Hi guys, I am taking the Contour from upstate New York to Los Angeles in a few weeks
Here is what I already plan to do:
-Early Oil Change, Mobil 1
-Flush Coolant
-Rotate Tires (they're due)
-Get thermostat fixed (Hardly ever works)
-New Brakes (bad response, thumping when braking on the highway)
It is a 96 Zetec with a CTA intake. It's stock otherwise, and the spark plugs, wires, fuel filter are all under 10 months old.
If you've got more than 50,000 miles on your current timing belt, change it before a long trip like that. The added stresses of an extended drive could push your belts, hoses, and tires to their heat/pressure limits.
If your tires are regular passenger car tires with less than 1/2 their tread life left, you might consider getting a proper set of touring tires. Tirerack.com has Yokohama Avid Touring tires for about $45 each - a great deal on a very good all-around tire with an 80,000 mile treadwear warranty.
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Originally posted by TourDeForce:
If you've got more than 50,000 miles on your current timing belt, change it before a long trip like that.
I disagree....Ford recommends belt change at 120 000 miles , Don't scare the poor dude! I changed mine at 90 000 and I could have waited
2012 Lotus Evora
---------
95 Mystique MTX - GONE 395,000 Kms
--------- Both Zetecs
'97 Contour Mtx - stock - GONE
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,117
Hard-core CEG'er
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Originally posted by WestCoastAjax:
Originally posted by TourDeForce:
If you've got more than 50,000 miles on your current timing belt, change it before a long trip like that.
I disagree....Ford recommends belt change at 120 000 miles , Don't scare the poor dude! I changed mine at 90 000 and I could have waited
WHAT !!!! I've got a Zetec ZX2 that I was gonna do the timing belt thing on this summer. If it's not due for another 50k, I'll skip it!!
Seriously, the ZX2 is not my daily driver so I haven't read the owners manual on the change interval. That is the longest replacement interval I've ever seen on a timing belt. They're usually closer to 1/2 that, 60k to 70k.
Well, pays to read... 
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Originally posted by TourDeForce:
Originally posted by WestCoastAjax:
Originally posted by TourDeForce:
If you've got more than 50,000 miles on your current timing belt, change it before a long trip like that.
I disagree....Ford recommends belt change at 120 000 miles , Don't scare the poor dude! I changed mine at 90 000 and I could have waited
WHAT !!!! I've got a Zetec ZX2 that I was gonna do the timing belt thing on this summer. If it's not due for another 50k, I'll skip it!!
Seriously, the ZX2 is not my daily driver so I haven't read the owners manual on the change interval. That is the longest replacement interval I've ever seen on a timing belt. They're usually closer to 1/2 that, 60k to 70k.
Well, pays to read...
Ford says for the ZX2 - 60,000 miles
2012 Lotus Evora
---------
95 Mystique MTX - GONE 395,000 Kms
--------- Both Zetecs
'97 Contour Mtx - stock - GONE
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,117
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,117 |
Originally posted by WestCoastAjax:
Originally posted by TourDeForce:
Originally posted by WestCoastAjax:
Originally posted by TourDeForce:
If you've got more than 50,000 miles on your current timing belt, change it before a long trip like that.
I disagree....Ford recommends belt change at 120 000 miles , Don't scare the poor dude! I changed mine at 90 000 and I could have waited
WHAT !!!! I've got a Zetec ZX2 that I was gonna do the timing belt thing on this summer. If it's not due for another 50k, I'll skip it!!
Seriously, the ZX2 is not my daily driver so I haven't read the owners manual on the change interval. That is the longest replacement interval I've ever seen on a timing belt. They're usually closer to 1/2 that, 60k to 70k.
Well, pays to read...
Ford says for the ZX2 - 60,000 miles
Thanks. I went to check the manual & it is MIA. I'll change the belt & maybe pick up a manual on Ebay.
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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