Hi all. I'm about to take the Zed om its first long trip and was wondering what a few of you guys do as preparation and what spares and fluids you might take with you. The car had all filters changed about 2K ago, so apart from checking fluid levels, I'm not sure what else should be done. Any help appreciated. Cheers, Cletus :thumbsup:
How long a trip? If it's Intersate I'd suggest getting full RACV cover, just-in-case. Have you had cooling system pressure tested? Do you have ConZult or Nissan DataScan? If not, know how to obtain diagnostics & have error codes written down! Brake pads all good? Check tyre tread & pressure. [38psi] Spares... carry as many as possible : PTU, hoses, zip ties, water, p/steer fluid etc. Murphy's law... be prepared for the worst ~ expect the least.
There is a song.......>> ....can't remember the name, but goes on about "where were they going, when they didnt know the way"...listen to it carefully, and follow exactly. Seriously, you could be paranoid, and take a spare of everything,but if you are that unsure about your car, perhaps you shouldnt be taking it, and if you did need it, chances are you couldnt replace it on the roadside anyway! On the other hand, you should be extremely confident in the preperation of your car, and take nothing but luggage. Personally, I believe a small selection of good tools, and perhaps 5 litres of coolant is sufficient, unless of course you are going to the middle of nowhere, and that wont be in a zed. Remember, Service stations are frequent, and every time you fill up with fuel, check the fluids etc. Pre trip checks and maintenance include, change oil, grease if applicable, check brake pads and wheel bearings, check tyres for correct pressure and enough tread to complete the trip. Check fluids and filters and windscreen wiper rubbers. Check radiator for obstructions (leaves, paper, bugs, leaks etc). Final thing to do... ring bank to see if loan has come through.... to buy fuel for trip... Happy Zedding GT:thumbsup:
My Zed has always loved long trips....I was aprehensive thinking she really wasnt reliable enough, too old for big km trips. No so! With basic preparation she has done quite a few long trips now, some harder than others..hey Franz, and she does them with ease. Great fuel economy on trips too.
Mine too, I've done about 8 return trips from Melbourne to Adelaide in the last 2 years without a problem at all. If your car runs fine for a 1 or 2 hour trip then why wouldn't it keep going for another 10?
Re: Mine too, I've done about 8 return trips from Melbourne to Adelaide just think how many k's you do in a week or two.. just because you do them all at once.. doesnt make it any more likey to break down (less likely infact)..
Depending on where hes going There is every chance a car will brake down in the middle of the city as well as there is driving interstate. However its much more convienient to brake down in a metro area then it is out in the middle of woop woop. But I think the zed could better handle that sort of driving then a much older cheaper car. I'd be more worried in that old cheapo car braking down then I would be in the zed.
Newcastle to Cairns and back.... .... Did a basic service a few days before hand (change of oil and filters). Took a bottle of premixed coolant and a bottle of engine oil just in case, plus things like electical tape, radiator repair, hook up wire and some tools etc for emergency bodgies. I checked the oil, coolant, power steering and brake/clutch fluid levels at every fuel stop, plus gave the car a brief inspection for any damage (tyres, leaking fluids under car). I didnt go via the coast either, went straight up the guts of Queensland on some very remote roads which saved me a lot of drive time in the long run :thumbsup:
