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.
| 
