Tips for new owner/long drive Options

[mwpayne]

Hi all

I just bought a 1995 Celica for my son from ebay. I fly to florida day after tomorrow, then drive back to east tennessee.
Obviously, I know little about the car except that the seller just changed the timing belt, otherwise the car is (hopefully) in great shape. It's blue with 117K miles.
Any tips on what I should be looking for on the way back as potential trouble spots for an 11 hour drive?
Perhaps some sounds or something that you experienced folks might have me listen for.
Thanks, I look forward to learning from this and other forums.

[b1gr3d]

the normal stuff. shaking while in cruise = unbalanced wheels, bad alignment or bad struts(balancing wheels and alignment easy fix,struts easy but costs more than alignment), htaths really th only problem i have ever had besides the clutch going out (hardly any resistance in clutch pedal) i've got about 106500 on mine and all i have did is put the clutch in and prev owner put a timing belt on.....toyota's are damn good
enjoy the drive too! and just imagine what kinds of stuff you/he will want to do to the car
LOL

not sure what the squeeking is but my g/f's brand new jeep does it so don't think its a big deal.

[lilsteeg]

listen to the engine and make sure you dont hear any loud ticking from it or any abnormal signs, make sure all of your lihgts works, and all that stuff and enjoy the gas mileage on it, you will appreciate it on a 11hr drvie, also make sure you hav a good seating position, the seats are so comfy HAVE FUN and make sure that your son looks around the site for tips on how to maintain it, oh and check all the fluids before the trip and myabe bring a few extra bucks if you need to top em' off

[mwpayne]

Thanks guys, good tips. Assuming the car has been well cared for, what should I expect as far as
oil useage? Personally, I'm a mazda RX-7 nut, but my youngest son's first car needs to be reliable, economical, yet a bit sporty. Celica's can't be beat IMO on this criteria, and I'm looking forward to teaching him proper washing/waxing techniques, how to change oil, etc.
Oh yes..how many miles between spark plugs and wires?

[blu94gt]

Thanks guys, good tips. Assuming the car has been well cared for, what should I expect as far as
oil useage? Personally, I'm a mazda RX-7 nut, but my youngest son's first car needs to be reliable, economical, yet a bit sporty. Celica's can't be beat IMO on this criteria, and I'm looking forward to teaching him proper washing/waxing techniques, how to change oil, etc.
Oh yes..how many miles between spark plugs and wires?

Oil useage should be pretty low on a car with those miles. I bought mine with 117k on it and it didn't leak a single bit. Now at 132k it leaks a tiny bit out of the valve cover gasket but that's getting fixed this weekend.

Spark plugs and wires are recommended by the manual to be platinum plugs changed every 60k.

You mention washing and waxing...what's your views on proper washing and waxing?

[hitcachi]

I drove 9 hours one way to get the my celi and 9 hours back with it. that was rough but i bonded with her the whole time! lol. What i would watch for is everything that they said and also take note of this. Dont just listen and look but while your driving the next best thing to do is to watch for smells. Oil burning, antifreeze burning, or anything getting too hot. You'll be fine though. Be safe.

[playr158]

where in florida...i've driven my celica from VA to FL to LA and back again its a great ride!

careful not to fall asleep as the car gets VERY comfortable

mentioned things already...shaking at speeds..pulls in either direction..unsteady throttle at cruise..wheel shakes durring braking (pedal could as well)..OIL..engine temperature..bouncy ride...and your gas level..

those are things i normally pay attention to, also tire pressure is a good thing to start with

[presure2]

check all your fluids before you leave.
i always like to carry a few small things with me, as a "just in case" kinda thing..roll of duct tape, can of fix-a-flat (as much as i HATE it..)
maybe a mini-tool kit with a 8, 10, 12 and 14mm socket and wrench.
dont use the radio for the first couple hrs...just listen to the car..you'd be suprized at some of the things you can find by just listening well.
enjoy the ride!

[mwpayne]

Flying in to sarasota to pick car up. After brief visit to the beach, I'll head north to
east tennessee. Once I get it back, it'll go in the garage for a good going over. New fluids, etc.
I understand you guys are big on using the toyota red coolant, right? It'll also get pennzoil syncromesh
in the tranny. Any particular oil preference?
It'll get a proper wash job with 2 buckets and wash mit, clay, then a good polishin' with my porter cable DA and Klasse AIO, that is, assuming it won't need any more intense work beforehand.
Then, I'll throw up a pic or two..I appreciate the advise and will take it!

[CelicaZR]

Congrats on the purchase
Sounds like the car is in good nick.
Like others has mention check fluids, lights,
steering and suspension etc.
I hope your son will take care of it and treasure it.

Edit: For transmission fluid I recommend redline.
I dont know if you've them over there.
But they are very good.

This post has been edited by CelicaZR: Mar 3, 2006 - 8:13 AM

[NaKeD]

bring stockings
a friend of mine that bought an 1989 rx7 from a 10 hours drive away from our place, and we drove it back.
the fan belt snap... luckilly we were near a petrol station, we used stockings as fan belt (we read this from a sorta play dude mags) and the car actually jack up, we drove it for 2km to the nearest town... then it snapped

stocking = woman stocking

p.s STOCKING saved our arses from sleeping in the bushes

NaKeD

[b1gr3d]

can anyone say gloss? lol

[playr158]

blah toyota red....just use good'ol prestone antifreeze

[BlackSTX]

bring stockings
a friend of mine that bought an 1989 rx7 from a 10 hours drive away from our place, and we drove it back.
the fan belt snap... luckilly we were near a petrol station, we used stockings as fan belt (we read this from a sorta play dude mags) and the car actually jack up, we drove it for 2km to the nearest town... then it snapped

stocking = woman stocking

p.s STOCKING saved our arses from sleeping in the bushes

NaKeD

Yeah, I've seen them do that in movies. Thank goodness no one uses fan belts anymore that I know of. They're all electrical aren't they?

[lilsteeg]

im not sure if they are all electric, i know that ford used them a few years ago like in 97 or so but im not sure about now

[mwpayne]

I had an RX-7 with a scratchy 3rd syncro. Ordered and installed red-line fluid, problem continued. Drained redline, installed GM Syncromesh (before I found out it was cheaper at autozone), cured problem instantly. Been sold on syncromesh ever since.