Planning Road Trip - What To Check

[LordFly]

I'm planning a road trip the weekend of the 27th. So far the D has never given me any issues related to driving, other than a minor oil leak from Item Number 3 (http://store.delorean.com/c-329-1-1-4-timing-chains.aspx). I can always carry some extra oil though. But since this trip is rather long, Google Maps (http://goo.gl/maps/ZTYBn), I was wondering what everyone thinks I should check into a little more thoroughly before setting out. Any and all recommendations are appreciated, thanks guys!

[WelmoedJ]

Your trip has about the same lenght as the trip 6 of us are going to do beginning of May.
We drive some 560~620 Kilometers (to ferry from Kiel, Germany to Göteborg), and the last leg is approx 20 kms.

My car usually has the following stuff on board, regardless the lenght of the trip:
- Container with 2.5 Gallons/10 Liters of fuel;
- V-belt for the alternator;
- Set of car bulbs & fuses;
- Emergency wire to replace defective RPM relay;
- Various tools: wrenches, screwdrivers, four-way wrench (for changing wheels), electricity test tool;
- Jumpstart and towing cables;
- Flashlight;
- Old T-shirts for cleaning hands;
- Shop manual and personal collection of tech info;
- Umbrella (obviously :) );

Up to now I have been lucky and only have used from this collection to help other owners.

[David T]

It is difficult to carry enough parts and tools for every eventuality. If you have been keeping up with your PM you should not need anything except some oil (which you can usually find locally anyway). If you wind up doing enough mileage that you have to do an oil change and grease job you might want to carry a filter. One thing every 5-speed should have is an extra pivot bolt. If that breaks you cannot get anything locally to get going again. Some extra bulbs and fuses, some short jumper wires with male spade ends and the instructions for knowing what to do with them to jump out a bad relay. A tire pressure gauge, a roll of electrical tape, a battery jumper box with air compressor, a flashlight, some flares, a cell phone and a AAA card. You can't carry so many things that there is no room for you, a passenger, and some luggage!
David Teitelbaum

[sdg3205]

I carry extra coolant. Only a few litres of it, but in the event of a leak, it's great to have on hand. I've had 2 leaks in 2 years. One was a hose clamp failure and the other was the heater hose rubbing on the axle as it was too long.

[sdg3205]

By and by, I lived at 731 Waterloo at the corner of Oxford for a number of years while at UWO. I love that town.

[LordFly]

1300km without a single problem :) Although I feel my alternator may be on it's way out. At idle, with everything off, the battery meter only shows about 12V. Have to be doing a couple thousand RPM to get up to 14ish.

[john 05141]

I think he wants to know what to check before he goes, but a list of things to take along is also a good thing.
I'm one of the participants to the trip to Sweden, so I also prepare for a big trip.

A good maintenance a first thing.
I am planning a test trip before I go too.

Besides the list that is here I also carry 2 spare toolbooth windows. Made from 2mm tranparant plexy. you push it into the top rail like the window closes and it rests on the sealant below. I have a roll of tape to seal it off. It is 99%watertight too.
In case your window fails on you (especially when it rains) that spare will be heaven sent.
I have it under the carpet of the bonnet. no spare and weight.

Jan

[Jonathan]

Credit obviously goes to the gentleman whose name is on the document (Bill Ballard) as I did not write this (just happened to have downloaded a copy of it at some point).

18615

[Dangermouse]

1300km without a single problem :) Although I feel my alternator may be on it's way out. At idle, with everything off, the battery meter only shows about 12V. Have to be doing a couple thousand RPM to get up to 14ish.

Excellent job.